Size resolved chemical mass balance of aerosol particles over rural Hungary

The mass size distribution of atmospheric aerosol particles was determined by means of an electric low pressure impactor (ELPI) in rural air in Hungar y. The particles captured on different stages of the impactor were chemical ly analyzed by capillary zone electrophoresis to quantify ionic components as well as by catalytic combustion method to detect total carbon in the sam ples. The results show that fine aerosol consists mainly of ammonium sulfat e and organic carbon. These two species have rather different size distribu tions since very small particles are composed almost of carbon compounds. T he analysis of fine aerosol samples collected simultaneously on filters ind icates that an important part of organics is soluble in water. The mass bal ance of fine particles as a function of their size is estimated by taking i nto account the liquid water adsorbed by ammonium sulfate and by converting the mass of carbon to the mass of carbon compounds. Finally, the size reso lved mass balance of fine aerosol particles is presented and discussed as a function of the origin of air masses. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All r ights reserved.