Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds in the Pearl River Delta Region, China: Chemical Reactivity, Source, and Emission Regions
Weiqiang Yang,
Qingqing Yu,
Chenglei Pei,
Chenghao Liao,
Jianjun Liu,
Jinpu Zhang,
Yanli Zhang,
Xiaonuan Qiu,
Tao Zhang,
Yongbo Zhang,
Xinming Wang
Affiliations
Weiqiang Yang
Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Guangzhou 510450, China
Qingqing Yu
School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Guangdong Industry Polytechnic, Guangzhou 510300, China
Chenglei Pei
State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
Chenghao Liao
Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Guangzhou 510450, China
Jianjun Liu
Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Guangzhou 510450, China
Jinpu Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
Yanli Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
Xiaonuan Qiu
Guangzhou Sub-Branch of Guangdong Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
Tao Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
Yongbo Zhang
Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Guangzhou 510450, China
Xinming Wang
State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are important precursors of photochemical ozone and secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Here, hourly variations of ambient VOCs were monitored with an online system at an urban site (Panyu, PY) in the Pearl River Delta region during August–September of 2020 in order to identify reactive VOC species and major sources of VOCs, OH loss rate (LOH), SOA formation potential (SOAFP), and corresponding emission source regions. The average concentration of VOCs at PY was 31.80 ± 20.82 ppbv during the campaign. The C2–C5 alkanes, aromatics, and ≥C6 alkanes contributed for the majority of VOC, alkenes and aromatics showed the highest contribution to LOH and SOAFP. Further, m/p-xylene, propene, and toluene were found to be the top three most reactive anthropogenic VOC species, with respective contributions of 11.6%, 6.1%, and 5.8% to total LOH. Toluene, m/p-xylene, and o-xylene constituted a large fraction of calculated SOAFP. Seven major sources were identified by using positive matrix factorization model. Vehicle exhaust made the most significant contribution to VOCs, followed by liquefied petroleum gas and combustion sources. However, industrial-related sources (including industrial solvent use and industrial process emission) had the largest contribution to LOH and SOAFP. By combining source contribution with wind direction and wind speed, the regions of different sources were further identified. Based on high-resolution observation data during ozone pollution, this study clearly exhibits key reactive VOC species and the major emission regions of different VOC sources, and thus benefits the accurate emission control of VOCs in the near future.
