Seasonal Variation and Source Analysis of Water-soluble Inorganic Ions in Fine Particulate Matter in Zhengzhou

Abstract

In order to explore the characteristics of PM2.5 concentration and water-soluble inorganic ions in Zhengzhou City, a total of 170 PM2.5 samples were collected in the spring, summer, autumn, and winter seasons of 2016, with 30 days continuous sampling during each season. The mass concentration of PM2.5 was analyzed gravimetrically, water-soluble inorganic ions were determined by ion chromatography, and principle component analysis was employed for source apportionment. The results showed that the mass concentration of PM2.5 was 150.72μg·m-3 during the sampling period. The mass concentration was highest in winter and lowest in summer, and that of autumn is higher was higher than that of spring. The ions SO42-, NO3-, and NH4+ were the major WSIs found in PM2.5, accounting for 92.55%, 92.94%, 93.06%, and 93.15% of the total amount of the seven ions found in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. The anion-to-cation ratio was 0.886, which indicated that PM2.5 was slightly alkaline in Zhengzhou. Secondary inorganic species, including NH4+, NO3-, and SO42- were the major components of the water-soluble ions. These ions most likely existed in the form of NH4NO3 and (NH4)2SO4 during spring and summer, while they were present as NH4NO3, (NH4)2SO4 and NH4HSO4 in autumn. In addition to these three forms, NH4Cl or other forms may exist in winter. Industrial emissions, combustion, secondary transformation, soil, and construction dust were the major sources of the water-soluble ions in PM2.5.