Study of Water-Soluble Ions in Ambient Air Suspended Particles in Taichung, Taiwan

Received: May 31, 2002
Revised: May 31, 2002
Accepted: May 31, 2002
Download Citation: RIS|BibTeX|https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2002.06.0005  

Cite this article:
Fang, G.C., Chang, C.N., Wu, Y.S., Fu, P.P.C., Chen, C.D. and Chang, S.C. (2002). Study of Water-Soluble Ions in Ambient Air Suspended Particles in Taichung, Taiwan. Aerosol Air Qual. Res. 2: 41-52. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2002.06.0005

ABSTRACT

This experiment was conducted during November in 2000 and February in 2001 in Taichung, central Taiwan. The study used a TE-PUF sampler, Universal air sampler and MOUDI (Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor) sampler to collect the ambient air suspended particles and analyzed their water-soluble ions (Cl^-, NO^3-, SO₄^2-, Na⁺, NH₄⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺). Analytical results indicate that the mean mass concentration for PM_2.5, PM_2.5-10 and TSP measured at the CCRT (traffic) sampling site are 54.5, 27.8 and 158 μm/m³, respectively. Additionally, the mean mass concentration for PM_2.5, PM_2.5-10 and TSP measured at the THUC sampling site are 23.6, 16.3 and 85.6 μm/m³, respectively. Furthermore, the major water-soluble ion of PM_2.5 measured in this sampling region are SO₄^2- and NH₄⁺, while those of PM_2.5-10 are Cl^-, NO₃^- and SO₄^2-, respectively. At the CCRT (traffic) sampling site, the mean size distributions of mass, SO₄^2- and NH₄⁺ exhibit a bimodal distribution whereas those of Cl^-, NO₃^-, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ have a bimodal distribution. At the THUC (campus) sampling site, the mean size distributions of mass, Cl^-, NO^3-, SO₄^2- and Ca²⁺ are bimodal whereas those of Na⁺, NH₄⁺, K⁺ and Mg²⁺ have display a unimodal distribution.

Keywords: Suspended particles; Anion; Cation; Size distribution; Relationship