Reapportioning the sources of secondary components of PM2.5: combined application of positive matrix factorization and isotopic evidence

Sun, Z; Zong, Z; Tian, C; Li, Jun; Sun, R; Ma, W; Li, T; Zhang, Gan

HERO ID

7751454

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2021

Language

English

PMID

33268246

HERO ID 7751454
In Press No
Year 2021
Title Reapportioning the sources of secondary components of PM2.5: combined application of positive matrix factorization and isotopic evidence
Authors Sun, Z; Zong, Z; Tian, C; Li, Jun; Sun, R; Ma, W; Li, T; Zhang, Gan
Journal Science of the Total Environment
Volume 764
Page Numbers 142925
Abstract Secondary particles account for a considerable proportion of fine particles (PM2.5) and reasonable reapportioning them to primary sources is critical for designing effective strategies for air quality improvement. This study developed a method which can reapportion secondary sources of PM2.5 solved by positive matrix factorization (PMF) to primary sources based on the isotopic signals of nitrate, ammonium and sulfate. Actual PM2.5 data in Beijing were used as a case study to assess the feasibility and capacity of this method. In the case, 20 chemical components were used to apportion PM2.5 sources and source contributions of nitrate were applied to reapportion secondary source to primary sources. The model performance was also estimated by radiocarbon measurement (14C) of organic (OC) and elemental (EC) carbons of eight samples. The PMF apportioned seven sources: the secondary source (36.1%), vehicle exhausts (18.7%), industrial sources (13.6%), biomass burning (11.4%), coal combustion (8.10%), construction dust (7.93%) and fuel oil combustion (4.24%). After the reapportionment of the secondary source, vehicle exhausts (28.7%) contributed the most to PM2.5, followed by biomass burning (25.1%) and industrial sources (18.9%). Fossil oil combustion and coal combustion increased to 8.00% and 11.4%, respectively, and construction dust contributed the least. The average gap between contributions of identified sources to OC and EC and the 14C measurements decreased 2.5 ± 1.2% after the reapportionment than 13.2 ± 10.8%, indicating the good performance of the developed method.
Doi 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142925
Pmid 33268246
Wosid WOS:000614249600104
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword Secondary particulate matter; Source apportionment; PMF model; Isotope