Characterization of iron compounds from urban and rural aerosol sources

Iron plays an important role in the chemistry and physics (by varying the h ygroscopicity) of the atmosphere. Bulk samples were taken from an air-condi tioning device, from the electrofilter of a gas-oil power station of the Te chnical University of and from rural sites near Darmstadt, situated between medium-altitude mountains and with a climate dominated by air masses from the west. Samples were collected in urban and rural (meadow) air, from diff erent waste incineration power stations, from the exhausts of a gasoline an d from a diesel motor car, and from a private gas fired heating system. The samples were characterized for elemental composition by total reflection X -ray fluorescence (TXRF), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), Mossbauer sp ectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The total Fe conten t varied in a large range from 10 to 1900 ng Fem(-3) air or from 10 to 560 mg Fe g(-1) aerosol. Iron compounds were identified as goethite, hematite, magnetite, Fe silicates, Fe sulfates, and Fe containing alloys. (C) 2000 El sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.