Employment of novel tools for the continuous characterization of the carbonaceous fraction in ambient aerosol
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DOI der Originalpublikation
Projekttyp
angewandte Forschung
Projektbeginn
01.01.2018
Projektende
31.01.2023
Projektstatus
abgeschlossen
Projektkontakt
Projektmanager:in
Beschreibung
Link
Während FHNW Zugehörigkeit erstellt
Yes
Zukunftsfelder FHNW
Hochschule
Hochschule für Technik
Institut
lnstitut für Sensorik und Elektronik
Finanziert durch
Global Atmosphere Watch Programme (GAW)
Bundesamt für Meteorologie und Klimatologie MeteoSchweiz
Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU
Bundesamt für Meteorologie und Klimatologie MeteoSchweiz
Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU
Projektpartner
Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt EMPA
Institut PSI Schweiz IPSIS
Institut PSI Schweiz IPSIS
Auftraggeberschaft
SAP Referenz
Schlagwörter
Fachgebiet (DDC)
600 - Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften
Publikationen
Publikation
High resolution unattended particle-bound total carbon measurements and source identification at the Jungfraujoch global GAW station
(18.05.2021) Keller, Alejandro; Specht, Patrick; Steigmeier, Peter; Weingartner, Ernest
Total aerosol carbonaceous mass (TC) is a major constituent of atmospheric fine aerosol not yet continuously monitored with adequate time resolution. Adding a TC measurement to existing measurement programs is crucial for comprehensive interpretation of the impact of aerosols. To fill this gap, we developed the “fast thermal carbon totalizator” (FATCAT) for long-term unsupervised monitoring of TC. FATCAT has been deployed since 2019 at diverse sites including the Jungfraujoch global GAW station (JFJ). FATCAT collects particles on a metallic filter, and subsequently heats it to 800°C under an oxidizing atmosphere. The limit of detection is LoD=0.2 µg of carbon (µg-C). At the reduced atmospheric pressure of the JFJ, which limits the sampling flow, this corresponds to TC=0.3 µg-C/m3 using a time resolution of two hours.
We discuss our experience during the first two year of continuous TC measurements and the possibility of using our instrument to distinguish carbonaceous aerosol from different source using fast, 50 seconds, thermograms. This unique feature allows us to identify source specific fingerprints. Several high TC episodes during September 2020 at JFJ show the typical pattern for biomass combustion. Back trajectories attribute them to long-range transported emissions from Californian wildfires. Graphitic carbon from, e.g., local fossil fuel combustion evolves at higher temperatures. The data collected at the JFJ is already the longest produced TC dataset for this site without instrument related interruptions.
The dataset generated by our instrument and post-analysis data products represent an improvement to the available measurement inventory. It can serve as quality control for other measurement systems. Prominently, measurements of eBC via MAAP or Aethalometer and organic mass using ToF-ACSM. TC data can be used in parallel to these devices as a quality check, and to warrant carbon mass closure and reduce systematic biases.
06 - Präsentation
Publikation
High resolution unattended particle-bound total carbon measurements and source identification at the Jungfraujoch global GAW station
(2021) Keller, Alejandro; Specht, Patrick; Steigmeier, Peter; Weingartner, Ernest
06 - Präsentation
Publikation
Performance of the new continuous carbonaceous aerosol measurement system FATCAT during long term unattended measurement campaigns
(23.06.2021) Keller, Alejandro; Specht, Patrick; Steigmeier, Peter; Weingartner, Ernest
06 - Präsentation
Publikation
Employment of novel tools for the continuous characterization of the carbonaceous fraction in ambient aerosol
(13.09.2021) Keller, Alejandro; Specht, Patrick; Steigmeier, Peter; Weingartner, Ernest
06 - Präsentation
Publikation
A novel measurement system for unattended, in situ characterization of carbonaceous aerosols
(Copernicus, 22.12.2023) Keller, Alejandro; Specht, Patrick; Steigmeier, Peter; Weingartner, Ernest [in: Aerosol Research]
Carbonaceous aerosol is a relevant constituent of the atmosphere in terms of climate and health impacts. Nevertheless, measuring this component poses many challenges. There is currently no simple and sensitive commercial technique that can reliably capture its totality in an unattended manner, with minimal user intervention, for extended periods of time. To address this issue we have developed the fast thermal carbon totalizator (FATCAT). Our system captures an aerosol sample on a rigid metallic filter and subsequently analyses it by rapidly heating the filter directly, through induction, to a temperature around 800°C. The carbon in the filter is oxidized and quantified as CO2 in order to establish the total carbon (TC) content of the sample. The metallic filter is robust, which solves filter displacement or leakage problems, and does not require a frequent replacement like other measurement techniques. The limit of detection of our system using the 3σ criterion is TC =0.19 µg-C (micrograms of carbon). This translates to an average ambient concentration of TC =0.32 µg-C m^−3 and TC =0.16 µg-C m^−3 for sampling interval of 1 or 2 h respectively using a sampling flow rate of 10 L min^−1. We present a series of measurements using a controlled, well-defined propane flame aerosol as well as wood-burning emissions using two different wood-burning stoves. Furthermore, we complement these measurements by coating the particles with secondary organic matter by means of an oxidation flow reactor. Our device shows a good correlation (correlation coefficient, R^2>0.99) with well-established techniques, like mass measurements by means of a tapered element oscillating microbalance and TC measurements by means of thermal–optical transmittance analysis. Furthermore, the homogeneous fast-heating of the filter produces fast thermograms. This is a new feature that, to our knowledge, is exclusive of our system. The fast thermograms contain information regarding the volatility and refractoriness of the sample without imposing an artificial fraction separation like other measurement methods. Different aerosol components, like wood-burning emissions, soot from the propane flame and secondary organic matter, create diverse identifiable patterns.
01A - Beitrag in wissenschaftlicher Zeitschrift