Submicrometer Particles Are in the Liquid State during Heavy Haze Episodes in the Urban Atmosphere of Beijing, China

Citation:

Liu YC, Wu ZJ, Wang Y, Xiao Y, Gu FT, Zheng J, Tan TY, Shang DJ, Wu YS, Zeng LM, et al. Submicrometer Particles Are in the Liquid State during Heavy Haze Episodes in the Urban Atmosphere of Beijing, China. Environmental Science & Technology Letters. 2017;4:427-432.

摘要:

The particle phase state is a key factor for determining gas particle partitioning, particle reactive gas uptake, and multiphase chemical reactions, with associated links to secondary aerosol formation. In this study, the particle phase state was investigated by measuring particle rebound fraction fin the highly polluted atmosphere of Beijing, China. The particle phase state was sensitive to ambient relative humidity (RH). The particles changed from rebounding to adhering when the RH increased above 60%, suggesting a transition from the semisolid to liquid state. This transition RH was below the deliquescence RH of both (NH4)(2)SO4 and NH4NO3. Submicrometer particles were in the liquid state during heavy haze episodes. This might be because the elevated RH and inorganic fraction in particles resulted in an increase in aerosol liquid water content. The transition to a liquid phase state, marking the beginning of the haze episode, might kick off a positive feedback loop. The liquid particles might readily take up pollutants that then react to form inorganics, thereby further increasing the rate of water uptake. We propose that the liquid phase state facilitates the mass transfer and multiphase reactions of the particles, thereby accelerating secondary particle growth in haze over the North China Plain.

附注:

ISI Document Delivery No.: FJ7WPTimes Cited: 12Cited Reference Count: 36Liu, Yuechen Wu, Zhijun Wang, Yu Xiao, Yao Gu, Fangting Zheng, Jing Tan, Tianyi Shang, Dongjie Wu, Yusheng Zeng, Limin Hu, Min Bateman, Adam P. Martin, Scot T.Zeng, Limin/D-3948-2013; Martin, Scot/G-1094-2015; Wu, Zhijun/A-7041-2012Martin, Scot/0000-0002-8996-7554;Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China [2016YFC0202801]; National Natural Science Foundation of China [41475127, 41571130021]This work is supported by the following projects: Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China (2016YFC0202801) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (41475127, 41571130021). The authors thank Pengfei Liu and Zhaoheng Gong for useful discussion.121764Amer chemical socWashington