TY - JOUR
T1 - Chemical and morphological characterization by SEM–EDS of PM2.5 collected during winter in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
AU - Park, Ji In
AU - Kim, Min Sung
AU - Yeo, Myoung
AU - Choi, Mira
AU - Lee, Ji Yi
AU - Natsagdorj, Amgalan
AU - Kim, Changhyuk
AU - Song, Mijung
AU - Jang, Kyoung Soon
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2023/6/15
Y1 - 2023/6/15
N2 - In this study, the morphological and elemental properties of airborne fine particles (PM2.5) collected during winter (15 December 2020–14 January 2021) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). SEM analysis of the PM2.5 samples revealed that the particle shape distribution on haze days (daily mean PM2.5 concentration of over 100 μg m−3) was irregular (62%), spherical (24.6%), cluster (10.7%), and chain-like (2.7%), while the particle shape on clean days (daily mean PM2.5 concentration of less than 30 μg m−3) was distributed as follows: irregular (56%), cluster (22%), spherical (17.3%), and chain-like (4.7%). The apparent mean particle size on haze days (2.07 μm) was twofold greater than that on clean days (1.13 μm). Based on the EDS spectra, carbonaceous particles were the most abundant (38%), followed by mineral dust (36%), Fe-rich particles (4.7%), N-rich particles (4.7%), calcium sulfate (4%), fly ash (4%) and others (2%) on clean days. On haze days, carbonaceous particles accounted for 86% of the total, and Fe-rich, mineral, transition metal, and calcium sulfate particles accounted for 6.7, 4.7, 1.3 and 0.7%, respectively, indicating that carbonaceous particles were the main contributor on haze days. In particular, the sample filters collected on haze days were predominantly covered with tar/soot-like sticky matter, in contrast to those collected on clean days. Spearman's rank correlation analysis of PM2.5 with inorganic gaseous components as well as meteorological conditions further revealed that high levels of PM2.5 in winter in Ulaanbaatar were significantly associated with SO2 (ρ = 0.95), and CO (ρ = 0.94). These associations indicated that ambient SO2 and CO gases are indicative of haze episodes during the study period, and suggested a strong contribution of solid fuel combustion producing those gases in Ulaanbaatar during winter.
AB - In this study, the morphological and elemental properties of airborne fine particles (PM2.5) collected during winter (15 December 2020–14 January 2021) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). SEM analysis of the PM2.5 samples revealed that the particle shape distribution on haze days (daily mean PM2.5 concentration of over 100 μg m−3) was irregular (62%), spherical (24.6%), cluster (10.7%), and chain-like (2.7%), while the particle shape on clean days (daily mean PM2.5 concentration of less than 30 μg m−3) was distributed as follows: irregular (56%), cluster (22%), spherical (17.3%), and chain-like (4.7%). The apparent mean particle size on haze days (2.07 μm) was twofold greater than that on clean days (1.13 μm). Based on the EDS spectra, carbonaceous particles were the most abundant (38%), followed by mineral dust (36%), Fe-rich particles (4.7%), N-rich particles (4.7%), calcium sulfate (4%), fly ash (4%) and others (2%) on clean days. On haze days, carbonaceous particles accounted for 86% of the total, and Fe-rich, mineral, transition metal, and calcium sulfate particles accounted for 6.7, 4.7, 1.3 and 0.7%, respectively, indicating that carbonaceous particles were the main contributor on haze days. In particular, the sample filters collected on haze days were predominantly covered with tar/soot-like sticky matter, in contrast to those collected on clean days. Spearman's rank correlation analysis of PM2.5 with inorganic gaseous components as well as meteorological conditions further revealed that high levels of PM2.5 in winter in Ulaanbaatar were significantly associated with SO2 (ρ = 0.95), and CO (ρ = 0.94). These associations indicated that ambient SO2 and CO gases are indicative of haze episodes during the study period, and suggested a strong contribution of solid fuel combustion producing those gases in Ulaanbaatar during winter.
KW - Morphology
KW - PM
KW - Particle type
KW - SEM-EDS
KW - Tar/soot-like substance
KW - Ulaanbaatar
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85151657222&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2023.119752
DO - 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2023.119752
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85151657222
SN - 1352-2310
VL - 303
JO - Atmospheric Environment
JF - Atmospheric Environment
M1 - 119752
ER -