Size-fractionated measurement of coarse black carbon particles in deposition samples

Abstract

In a 1-year field study, particle deposition flux was measured by transparent collection plates. Particle concentration was simultaneously measured with a cascade impactor. Microscopic evaluation of deposition samples provided the discrimination of translucent (mineral or biological) and black carbon particles, i.e. soot agglomerates, fly-ash cenospheres and rubber fragments in the size range from 3 to 50 μm. The deposition samples were collected in two different sampling devices. A wind- and rain-shielded measurement was achieved in the Sigma-2 device. Dry deposition data from this device were used to calculate mass concentrations of the translucent and the black particle fraction separately, approximating particle deposition velocity by Stokes' settling velocity. In mass calculations an error up to 20% has to be considered due to assumed spherical shape and unit density for all particles. Within the limitations of these assumptions, deposition velocities of the distinguished coarse particles were calculated. The results for total particulate matter in this range are in good agreement with those from impactor measurement. The coarse black carbon fraction shows a reduced deposition velocity in comparison with translucent particles. The deviation depends on precipitation amount. Further measurements and structural investigations of black carbon particles are in preparation to verify these results.