VH-TDMA: A description and verification of an instrument to measure aerosol particle hygroscopicity and volatility

Abstract

The aim of this study was to provide a description and characterize the performance of a volatility hygroscopicity tandem differential mobility analyzer (VH-TDMA) by calibration measurements. In our investigations, we used the two calibration standards most often used by the TDMA community: ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4) and sodium chloride (NaCl) particles. The hygroscopic growth factors, volatility factors, and the hygroscopic growth factors of the nonvolatile particle core were measured in different relative humidity and thermal denuder temperature conditions. The measured hygroscopic growth and deliquescence relative humidities for ammonium sulfate and sodium chloride particles are in line with theory and results from previous measurements, as are the measurements for volatility and hygroscopicity of the particle core. We summarize the measurement campaigns, where the VH-TDMA has been deployed, and show the instrument is capable of measuring high quality data of atmospheric particle properties in various environments, in the laboratory and in the field. Copyright © 2017 American Association for Aerosol Research