Comparative Analysis of Urban Atmospheric Aerosol by Particle-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE), Proton Elastic Scattering Analysis (PESA), and Aerosol Mass Spectrometry (AMS)

A multifaceted approach to atmospheric aerosol analysis is often desirable in field studies where an understanding of technical comparability among different measurement techniques is essential. Herein we report quantitative intercomparisons of Particle-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) and Proton Elastic Scattering Analysis (PESA), performed off-line under vacuum, with analysis by Aerosol Mass Spectrometry (AMS) carried out in real-time during the MCMA-2003 Field Campaign in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area. Good agreement was observed for mass concentrations of PIXE-measured sulfur (assuming it was dominated by SO42-) and AMS-measured sulfate during the most of the campaign. PESA-measured hydrogen mass was separated into sulfate H and organic H mass fractions assuming the only major contributions were (NH4)2SO4 and organic compounds. Comparison of the organic H mass with AMS organic aerosol measurements indicates that about 75% of the mass of these species evaporated under vacuum. However ~25% of the organics does remain under vacuum, which is only possible with low vapor pressure compounds, and which supports the presence of high molecular weight and/or highly oxidized organics consistent with atmospheric aging. Approximately 10% of the chloride detected by AMS was measured by PIXE, possibly in the form of metal-chloride complexes, while the majority of Cl was likelymore » present as more volatile species including NH4Cl. This is the first comparison of PIXE/PESA and AMS, and to our knowledge also the first report of PESA hydrogen measurements for urban organic aerosols.« less