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PNNL-13501 - Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

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The Nature, Occurrence, and Origin of Atmospheric Aerosols and Their Role in Gas-Particle<br />

Chemistry<br />

Leonard A. Barrie, Herman Cho, Greg Patton, Michael Alexander, Chris Aardahl, V. Shuttahanandan, Don Baer,<br />

Dan Gaspar, Robert Disselkamp, James Cowin, Alex Laskin<br />

Study Control Number: PN00086/1493<br />

This research enhances the Department of Energy’s ability to understand and manage problems involving atmospheric<br />

aerosol pollution related to energy production through application of sophisticated measurement capabilities. It<br />

contributes to a national effort to reduce the impacts of aerosols on human health, urban smog, visibility, and climate.<br />

Project Description<br />

<strong>Pacific</strong> <strong>Northwest</strong> <strong>National</strong> <strong>Laboratory</strong> staff are involved<br />

in the application of aerosol and related gas measurement<br />

methodologies to research on aerosol-related<br />

environmental problems associated with energy<br />

production. Measurement capabilities and methods are<br />

developed based on particle-induced x-ray emission<br />

spectrometry, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic<br />

resonance, laser spectroscopy, and micro-particle devices.<br />

These will be applied to yield new insight into the nature,<br />

occurrence, and origin of atmospheric aerosols and their<br />

role in gas-particle chemistry through measurements at<br />

the <strong>Laboratory</strong> and as part of Department of Energy<br />

research programs. Measurements are adapted for use in<br />

field campaigns using the Department of Energy research<br />

aircraft facility.<br />

Introduction<br />

The objective of this research is to apply the analytical<br />

capability of the <strong>Pacific</strong> <strong>Northwest</strong> <strong>National</strong> <strong>Laboratory</strong> to<br />

better understand, through laboratory and field<br />

measurement research, the important role of atmospheric<br />

particulate matter (aerosols) in environmental issues such<br />

as human health, urban smog, visibility, and climate<br />

change.<br />

Approach<br />

Specific hypotheses driving this project are that<br />

1. Significant insights into the elemental composition<br />

and organic fraction of ambient aerosols—are gained<br />

using a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance<br />

spectroscopy, particle-induced x-ray emission<br />

spectroscopy, membrane ion trap mass spectrometry,<br />

242 FY 2000 <strong>Laboratory</strong> Directed Research and Development Annual Report<br />

micro-particle analysis, and conventional aerosol<br />

measurement techniques.<br />

2. Proton transfer mass spectrometry and ion trap mass<br />

spectrometry—can be used to measure the<br />

transformation of gaseous precursors of aerosols and<br />

improve understanding of aerosol production<br />

mechanisms.<br />

Specific activities incorporated in the project to test these<br />

hypotheses include<br />

1. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of aerosol<br />

extracts to investigate speciation of water soluble<br />

organics yielding insight into the origin of aerosols.<br />

2. Volatile organic gas measurements using proton<br />

transfer mass spectrometry and membrane<br />

separation-ion trap mass spectrometry to study the<br />

mechanism of gas to particle conversion.<br />

3. Proton-induced x-ray emission and proton elastic<br />

scattering analysis of atmospheric aerosols using the<br />

Environmental Molecular Sciences <strong>Laboratory</strong><br />

tandem ion accelerator to make high time resolution<br />

multi-elemental aerosol analyses.<br />

4. High resolution individual particle analyses to<br />

determine the origin and nature of atmospheric<br />

particles that enter the lung and potentially cause<br />

respiratory problems.<br />

5. Nucleation detection of atmospheric mercury vapor<br />

to study the exchange of atmospheric mercury<br />

between Earth and atmosphere.

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