Thermal distribution of size-resolved carbonaceous aerosols and water soluble organic carbon in emissions from biomass burning

Abstract

The study of carbonaceous aerosols in the atmosphere is critical to understand the role of aerosols in human health and climate. Using standardized thermal optical transmittance methods, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) were determined using a combustion sampling system for four types of agricultural crop residues (rice straw, red pepper stems, soybean stems, and green perilla stems) and eight types of forest trees (pine stems, pine needles, ginkgo stems, ginkgo leaves, maple stems, maple leaves, cherry stems, and cherry leaves). The aerosol particles between 0.056 and 5.6 μm in size were analyzed using a Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor (MOUDI). In the current study, the Carbonaceous Thermal Distribution (CTD) by carbon analyzer was discussed in order to understand the carbon fractions from the twelve types of biomass burning. Also, the concentration of OC, EC, WSOC, and water insoluble organic carbon (WIOC) detected in the emissions were described.