Measurements of hygroscopicity and volatility of atmospheric ultrafine particles in the rural Pearl River Delta area of China

A hygroscopicity and volatility tandem differential mobility analyzer (HVTDMA) technique was used to determine the time- and size-resolved properties of ultrafine particles and to infer relative volume fractions of non-volatile and non-hygroscopic (NV_NH), volatile and non-hygroscopic (V_NH), volatile and hygroscopic (V_H), and non-volatile and hygroscopic (NV_H) groups. Cluster analysis of wind direction and air mass backward trajectory have revealed that enhanced ultrafine particle concentrations were often observed when air mass was transported with high wind speed (>3 m s−1) from the polluted northeast region containing a significant amount of SO2 and experienced a strong photochemical activity. We found the photochemically-produced ultrafine particles to consist primarily of NV_H with a little V_NH and V_H. In morning traffic events, we estimated ultrafine particles to consist of 61% NV_NH, 36% V (volatile group = the sum of V_NH and V_H), and 2% NV_H, while during biomass burning events, ultrafine particles consisted of 69% NV_NH, 21% V and 10% NV_H. Further, as determined by TEM/EDS analysis, the increase in NV_H during the biomass burning event was consistent with the frequent existence of K element in ultrafine particles. Comparison of data among different geometric locations in China and Korea revealed ultrafine particle hygroscopicity and volatility during the photochemical event as being highly variable in locations affected by diverse sources and variable precursor gases (e.g., SO2 and VOC), while during the combustion events, less hygroscopicity variation across different locations was observed.

► Time-resolved measurements of hygroscopicity and volatility of ultrafine particles were done.
► Volume fractions of similarly-propertied groups were determined.
► Photochemically-produced ultrafine particles were affected by diverse sources.
► Less hygroscopicity variation was found for combustion-related ultrafine particles.