Sulfur isotopic fractionation and source appointment of PM2.5 in Nanjing region around the second session of the Youth Olympic Games

Abstract

Sulfur isotopic compositions (δ34S) of PM2.5 in Nanjing region were determined in order to evaluate sulfur sources of PM2.5 around the second session of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG). Meanwhile, δ34S values from different potential sources of PM2.5, such as coal combustion, vehicle exhaust, and straw burning, were synchronously measured for the first time. The results showed that PM2.5 concentrations and δ34S values were much lower during the YOG (2 August to 11 September 2014) compared to those before (6 July to 1 August 2014) and after (15 September to 20 September 2014) the YOG. δ34S values of PM2.5 were generally located in a small range of 3.5‰ to 4.6‰, suggesting a stable sulfur sources in Nanjing region around the YOG. Combining with δ34S values of potential sources and SO2, ion concentrations of PM2.5 and MODIS fire spot photos, we inferred that sulfur in PM2.5 was mainly from direct emission of coal combustion and vehicle exhaust as well as the secondary sulfate from SO2 oxidation in the atmosphere. Besides, biologic sulfur release might make a contribution to sulfur content in PM2.5. High [NO3−]/[SO42−] ratio of PM2.5 indicated that vehicle exhaust emission was predominant over coal combustion during the YOG. In addition, we studied sulfur isotopic fractionation coefficients during SO2 oxidation to sulfate in PM2.5 and found the contribution ratio (51.3%) of SO2 homogeneous oxidation was slightly higher than that (48.7%) of SO2 heterogeneous oxidation around the YOG.