Characteristics and mixing state of S-rich particles in haze episodes in Beijing

Abstract

Four types of S-rich particles are identified by SEM/FESEM-EDX

With on-line observation, characteristics of S-rich particles are discovered

Intensities of formation of S-rich particles are seasonally different

Direct individual analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy combined with online observation was conducted to examine the S-rich particles in PM_2.5 of two typical polluted haze episodes in summer and winter from 2014 to 2015 in Beijing. Four major types of S-rich particles, including secondary CaSO₄ particles (mainly observed in summer), S-rich mineral particles (SRM), S-rich water droplets (SRW) and (C, O, S)-rich particles (COS) were identified. We found the different typical morphologies and element distributions of S-rich particles and considered that (C, O, S)-rich particles had two major mixing states in different seasons. On the basis of the S-rich particles’ relative abundances, S concentrations and their relationships with PM_2.5 as well as the seasonal comparison, we revealed that the S-participated formation degrees of SRM and SRW would enhance with increasing PM_2.5 concentration. Moreover, C-rich matter and sulfate had seasonally different but significant impacts on the formation of COS.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

S-rich particles / Morphology / Element distribution / Mixing state

References

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Science and Technology Support Program of China (No. 2014BAC22B01), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 21107061, 21190054, and 81571130090), the Science-technology Program of State Grid Corporation of China (No. 521700140004) and the Development and Application of Field Emission Gun Scanning Electron Microscopy National Special Projects on Scientific Instrument Development (No. 2013YQ120353). The authors also thank the Energy Saving and Pollution Control Association of East Asia (ESPA), for their help in the management of the field observation program.

Funding

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2016 Higher Education Press and Springer–Verlag Berlin Heidelberg