Preliminary studies on applications of micro-PIXE to atmospheric aerosols

To characterize the physical and chemical properties of the individual aero sol particles during Asian dust storm in Japan, micro-PIXE technique was ap plied in this study. Aerosol particles were sampled in Kyoto, Japan from th e middle of March to the end of April 1999. Mass concentration in Asian dus t storm events was roughly 3-5 times higher than that of the highest concen tration measured in non-Asian dust storm seasons. Single particles were gen erally sharp-edged and irregular in shape and contained mostly crustal elem ents such as Si, Fe and Ca. Although in soils of the desert and loess areas in northwest of China S and Cl were not detected, significant concentratio ns of S and CI were detected in coarse fraction during Asian dust storm eve nt. Nearly all single particles in the coarse fraction existed as a mixed s tate of soil components and S. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights re served.