Effective density and light absorption cross section of black carbon generated in a spark discharger

We measured physical properties and optical properties of the black carbon (BC) generated in a spark discharger which did not produce soluble organic fractions. Effective densities and absorption cross-sections of the fresh BC were estimated using the electrical mobility diameter, the number concentration and the mass concentration. Size distribution measurements using a differential mobility analyzer (DMA) and a condensation particle counter (CPC) showed that the mode diameter and the number concentration increased with increasing spark frequency of the spark discharger. The primary particle size was also measured through the analysis of images observed using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), decreasing from 36.3 to 15.1 nm with increasing a spark frequency. The effective densities were estimated from 0.054 to 1.392 g/cm3 and compared to be lower than those of atmospheric aerosols which might be aged. The absorption cross-sections were estimated as 1.0×10-15 to 1.7×10-15 m2 depending on spark frequency. For the BC generated at a fixed constant spark frequency, the absorption cross-section was estimated to be larger as the BC became bigger in electrical mobility diameter. For the BC having the same electrical mobility diameter generated at different spark frequencies, however, the absorption cross-section generated at a faster spark frequency was smaller. Fractal dimension for the BC larger than 160 nm was measured to be 1.79, which is very similar to that for the spark-generated BC studied by other research group. In conclusion, the effective density allowed us to distinguish the core BC from aged BC.