Articles | Volume 20, issue 8
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-5019-2020
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-5019-2020
Research article
 | 
28 Apr 2020
Research article |  | 28 Apr 2020

Nitrate-dominated PM2.5 and elevation of particle pH observed in urban Beijing during the winter of 2017

Yuning Xie, Gehui Wang, Xinpei Wang, Jianmin Chen, Yubao Chen, Guiqian Tang, Lili Wang, Shuangshuang Ge, Guoyan Xue, Yuesi Wang, and Jian Gao

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Cited articles

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Short summary
As a result of strict emission control, nitrate-dominated PM2.5 in pollution episodes was observed in urban Beijing during the winter of 2017–2018. With the help of sufficient ammonia, particle pH could increase to near neutral (5.4) as particulate nitrate fraction increases. Further tests imply that airborne particle hygroscopicity would be enhanced at moderate RH in nitrate-dominated particles, and pH elevation will be accelerated when ammonia and particulate nitrate both increase.
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