Articles | Volume 25, issue 13
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6975-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-6975-2025
Research article
 | 
08 Jul 2025
Research article |  | 08 Jul 2025

Significant contributions of biomass burning to PM2.5-bound aromatic compounds: insights from field observations and quantum chemical calculations

Yanqin Ren, Zhenhai Wu, Fang Bi, Hong Li, Haijie Zhang, Junling Li, Rui Gao, Fangyun Long, Zhengyang Liu, Yuanyuan Ji, and Gehui Wang

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Cited articles

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Bandowe, B. A. M., Meusel, H., Huang, R.-j., Ho, K., Cao, J., Hoffmann, T., and Wilcke, W.: PM 2.5-bound oxygenated PAHs, nitro-PAHs and parent-PAHs from the atmosphere of a Chinese megacity: seasonal variation, sources and cancer risk assessment, Sci. Total. Environ., 473, 77–87, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.11.108, 2014b. 
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Short summary
The daily concentrations of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), oxygenated PAHs (OPAHs), and nitrated phenols (NPs) in PM2.5 were all increased during the heating season. Biomass burning was identified to be the primary source of these aromatic compounds, particularly for PAHs. Phenol and nitrobenzene are two main primary precursors for 4NP, with phenol showing lower reaction barriers. P-Cresol was identified as the primary precursor for the formation of 4-methyl-5-nitrocatechol.
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