Real-time chemical characterization of primary and aged biomass burning aerosols derived from sub-Saharan African biomass fuels in smoldering fires

Abstract

The influence of biomass burning (BB)-derived organic aerosol (OA) emissions on solar radiation via absorption and scattering is related to their physicochemical properties and can change upon atmospheric aging. We systematically examined the compositionally-resolved mass concentration and production of primary and secondary organic aerosol (POA and SOA, respectively) in the NC A&T University smog chamber facility. Mass spectral profiles of OA measured by the Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ACSM) revealed the influence of dark- and photo-aging, fuel type, and relative humidity. Unit mass resolution (UMR) mapping, the ratio of the fraction of the OA mass spectrum signal at m/z 55 and 57 (f₅₅/f₅₇) vs. the same fraction at m/z 60 (f₆₀) was used to identify source-specific emission profiles. Furthermore, Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) analysis was conducted using OA mass spectra, identifying four distinct factors: low-volatility oxygenated OA (LV-OOA), primary biomass-burning OA (BBOA), BB secondary OA (BBSOA), and semi-volatile oxygenated OA (SV-OOA). Data supports a robust four-factor solution, providing insights into the chemical transformations under different experimental conditions, including dark- and photo-aged, humidified, and dark oxidation with NO₃ radicals. This work presents the first such laboratory study of African-derived BBOA particles, addressing a gap in global atmospheric chemistry research.