Comparative study of single particle characterisation by Transmission Electron Microscopy and time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometry in the London atmosphere

Steve Smith, Mike Ward, Ray Lin, R. Brydson, M. Dall'Osto, R.M. Harrison

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Size fractionated airborne particle samples were collected from the top of the BT Tower and a ground-based site in Regents Park in London by deploying MOUDI instruments at the two locations. Particles were examined by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX) and selected area electron diffraction patterns to determine the morphology, crystallinity and composition of individual particles in aggregated and non-aggregated forms. Eight different types of particles were observed which were common both to the ground-based location and some 160 m above the conurbation of London at the top of the BT Tower. Of these different types, amorphous carbonaceous aggregates (soot-like) containing C and O and often extending to the inclusion of Ca, K and Fe were the most common type of particles that occurred across all stages of the impactors but were most common in the fractions
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)400-407
Number of pages8
JournalAtmospheric Environment
Volume62
Early online date4 Sept 2012
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2012

Bibliographical note

Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Transmission Electron Microscope
  • ATOFMS
  • Airborne particles
  • Particulate matter
  • Atmospheric aerosol

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