AAAR 34th Annual Conference
October 12 - October 16, 2015
Hyatt Regency
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Abstract View
Chemical and Hygroscopic Characterization of Photochemically Processed Laboratory Generated Aerosol
CHRISTOPHER OXFORD, Michael Walker, Claire Fortenberry, Dhruv Mitroo, Eric Sussman, William Brune, Brent Williams, Washington University in St. Louis
Abstract Number: 497 Working Group: Aerosol Chemistry
Abstract Key gaps exist in our understanding of the relationship between particle chemical composition and resulting hygroscopicity. Here, expressions relating the evolution of particle hygroscopicity as a function of oxidative age for several laboratory generated aerosols have been developed. Test aerosols are generated by nebulization of simple standard solutions, by combusting various fuels, or by oxidizing volatile organic precursors to produce a range of secondary organic aerosols (SOA). A Potential Aerosol Mass (PAM) reaction chamber acts to produce SOA or oxidizes the primary aerosols to simulate atmospheric aging. A Tandem Differential Mobility Analyzer (TDMA) measures the hygroscopicity of the aerosol while a Thermal desorption Aerosol Gas chromatograph (TAG), a Volatility And Polarity Separator (VAPS), and an Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) measures chemical speciation information. The resulting measurements are used to predict the evolution of hygroscopicity in a simulated atmospheric environment.