Gasoline aromatics: a critical determinant of urban secondary organic aerosol formation

J. Peng; J. Peng; M. Hu; M. Hu; Z. Du; Y. Wang; J. Zheng; W. Zhang; Y. Yang; Y. Qin; R. Zheng; Y. Xiao; Y. Wu; S. Lu; Z. Wu; S. Guo; H. Mao; S. Shuai

doi:10.5194/acp-17-10743-2017

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (Sep 2017)

Gasoline aromatics: a critical determinant of urban secondary organic aerosol formation

J. Peng,
J. Peng,
M. Hu,
M. Hu,
Z. Du,
Y. Wang,
J. Zheng,
W. Zhang,
Y. Yang,
Y. Qin,
R. Zheng,
Y. Xiao,
Y. Wu,
S. Lu,
Z. Wu,
S. Guo,
H. Mao,
S. Shuai

Affiliations

J. Peng: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
J. Peng: now at: Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
M. Hu: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
M. Hu: Beijing Innovation Center for Engineering Science and Advanced Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Z. Du: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Y. Wang: State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
J. Zheng: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
W. Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Y. Yang: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Y. Qin: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
R. Zheng: State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Y. Xiao: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Y. Wu: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
S. Lu: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Z. Wu: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
S. Guo: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
H. Mao: College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
S. Shuai: State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-10743-2017
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 17
pp. 10743 – 10752

Abstract

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Gasoline vehicle exhaust is an important contributor to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation in urban atmosphere. Fuel composition has a potentially considerable impact on gasoline SOA production, but the link between fuel components and SOA production is still poorly understood. Here, we present chamber experiments to investigate the impacts of gasoline aromatic content on SOA production through chamber oxidation approach. A significant amplification factor of 3–6 for SOA productions from gasoline exhausts is observed as gasoline aromatic content rose from 29 to 37 %. Considerably higher emission of aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using high-aromatic fuel plays an essential role in the enhancement of SOA production, while semi-volatile organic compounds (e.g., gas-phase PAHs) may also contribute to the higher SOA production. Our findings indicate that gasoline aromatics significantly influence ambient PM2. 5 concentration in urban areas and emphasize that more stringent regulation of gasoline aromatic content will lead to considerable benefits for urban air quality.

Published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics

ISSN: 1680-7316 (Print); 1680-7324 (Online)
Publisher: Copernicus Publications
Country of publisher: Germany
LCC subjects: Science: Physics; Science: Chemistry
Website: http://www.atmospheric-chemistry-and-physics.net/

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