Characteristics and Source Apportionment of PM2.5 in the Core Area of Ili River Valley in Spring

Abstract

To explore the characteristics and sources of PM2.5 in the core area of Ili River Valley in spring, a total of 140 PM2.5 samples were collected at six sampling sites during April 20-29, 2021, and 51 chemical components including inorganic elements, water-soluble ions, and carbon components were analyzed. The results showed that ρ(PM2.5) was at a low level during sampling, ranging from 9 μg·m-3 to 35 μg·m-3. Si, Ca, Al, Na, Mg, Fe, and K were the most abundant elements, accounting for 12% of PM2.5, indicating that PM2.5 was affected by the dust sources in spring. The spatial distribution characteristics of elements depended on the surrounding environments of the sampling sites. The new government area was affected by coal-fired sources, so the value of As concentration was high. Yining Municipal Bureau and the Second Water Plant were greatly affected by motor vehicle sources, so the values of Sb and Sn concentration were higher. The enrichment factor results showed that Zn, Ni, Cr, Pb, Cu, and As were mainly emitted from fossil fuel combustion and motor vehicles. The concentration of water-soluble ions accounted for 33.2% of PM2.5. Among them, ρ(SO42-), ρ(NO3-), ρ(Ca2+), and ρ(NH4+) were (2.48±0.57), (1.22±0.75), (1.18±0.49), and (0.98±0.45) μg·m-3, respectively. The higher Ca2+ concentration also reflected the contribution of dust sources. The ratio of n(NO3-)/n(SO42-) was between 0.63 and 0.85, which indicated that the influence of stationary sources was more important than that of mobile sources. Both Yining Municipal Bureau and the Second Water Plant were affected by motor vehicle exhaust; therefore, their n(NO3-)/n(SO42-) ratios were high. Yining County was in a residential area, and therefore its n(NO3-)/n(SO42-) ratio was lower. The average ρ(OC) and ρ(EC) in PM2.5 were 5.12 μg·m-3(4.67-6.25 μg·m-3) and 0.75 μg·m-3(0.51-0.97 μg·m-3), respectively. Yining Municipal Bureau was significantly affected by motor vehicle exhaust from both sides, so the values of OC and EC concentration were slightly higher than those in other sampling sites. The SOC concentration was calculated by the minimum ratio method, and the results showed that the values of SOC concentration in the New Government Area, the Second Water Plant, and Yining Ecological Environment Bureau were higher than those in other sampling sites. The results of the CMB model showed that PM2.5 in this area mainly came from the contribution of secondary particulate matter and dust sources, which accounted for 33.3% and 17.5%, respectively. Secondary organic carbon (16.2%) was the main contribution source of secondary particulate matter.