Hygroscopicity of aerosol particles at low temperatures. 2. Theoretical and experimental hygroscopic properties of laboratory generated aerosols

Environ Sci Technol. 2002 Jan 1;36(1):63-8. doi: 10.1021/es010055g.

Abstract

A Hygroscopicity Tandem Differential Mobility Analyzer (H-TDMA) system has been used to measure hygroscopic growth curves and deliquescence relative humidities (DRH) of laboratory generated (NH4)2SO4, NaCl, and NaNO3 particles at temperatures T= 20 degrees C and -10 degrees C. Good agreement (better than 3.5%) between measured growth curves and Köhler theory was found using empirical temperature and concentration dependent values for water activity, solution density, and surface tension. The measured growth curves only experience a small temperature dependence in the observed temperature range. Therefore, to a first approximation, it is possible to neglect the temperature dependence of the water activity for theoretical calculations in the temperature range -10 degrees C < T < 25 degrees C. The small differences between experiment and theory, which were predominantly observed for NaCl particles, are probably caused by a small amount of water adsorbed on the "dry" crystals. It was also observed that these particles experience a significant restructuring at relative humidity RH < DRH, which was also taken into account for a comparison with theoretical curves. If salt particles are used for instrument calibration, precautions regarding the dry particle diameter have to be taken.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Aerosols / analysis
  • Air Pollutants / analysis*
  • Calibration
  • Crystallization
  • Environmental Monitoring / instrumentation*
  • Particle Size
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Aerosols
  • Air Pollutants