Bonding structure and mineral analysis of size resolved atmospheric particles nearby steelmaking industrial sites in Australia

Comprehensive understanding of organic and inorganic compounds in atmospheric particles of different size fractions ranging from coarse to ultrafine is essential for assessment of the impact of particles on the radiation balance. In this work the size resolved atmospheric particles were collected in the vicinity of three iron and steelmaking sites and one urban background site in Australia using an eight staged micro orifice uniform deposit impactor (MOUDI) sampler. The sampled particles were assessed using FTIR technique to determine the dominant functional groups, and XRD technique for determining the mineral content of the inorganic compounds. This study revealed variable distributions between and among bonding groups in urban and industrial areas. The hydroxyl (–OH) group (in alcohol compounds, surface OH on crystals, salt hydrate), aliphatic carbon (–CH₂) group (in methylene compounds, n-alkane), carbonyl (–CO) group (in acid halide, aryl carbonate, ketone, conjugated ketone), and amino (–NH₂) group (in primary amino compounds such as n-butylamine) in atmospheric particles were identified and most likely originated from combustion processes (industrial, transport, and domestic), sea spray, long range transport particles, and secondary organic particles sources nearby industrial and urban areas. Hematite mineral in the inorganic fraction of the atmospheric particles was found predominantly in the vicinity of the iron and steelmaking industries, which most likely originates from raw materials handling and process emissions.13 page(s