• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.675-688
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• 2007

To characterize organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC), and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) contents, daily $PM_{2.5}$ measurements were performed in August 2006 (summer) and Jan $11{\sim}Feb$ 12 2007 (winter) at an urban site of Gwangju. Daily size-segregated aerosol samples were also collected for WSOC analysis. No clear seasonal variations in EC and WSOC concentrations were observed, while seasonal differences in OC concentration, and OC/EC and WSOC/EC ratios were shown. The WSOC/OC ratio showed higher value in summer (0.56) than in winter (0.40), reflecting the greater enhancement of secondary WSOC formation at the site in summer. Secondary WSOC concentrations estimated using EC tracer method were in the range $0.0{\sim}2.1\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (average $0.42\;{\mu}g/m^3$) and $0.0{\sim}1.1\;{\mu}g/m^3\;(0.24\;{\mu}g/m^3)$, respectively, accounting for $0{\sim}51.6%$ (average 16.8%) and $0{\sim}52.5%$ (average 13.1 %) of the measured WSOC concentrations in summer and winter. Sometimes higher WSOC/OC ratio in winter than that in summer could be attributed to two reasons. One is that the stable atmospheric condition often appears in winter, and the prolonged residence time would strengthen atmospheric oxidation of volatile organic compounds. The other is that decrease of ambient temperature in winter would enhance the condensation of volatile secondary WSOC on pre-existing aerosols. In summertime, atmospheric aerosols and WSOC concentrations showed bimodal size distributions, peaking at the size ranges $0.32{\sim}0.56\;{\mu}m$ (condensation mode) and $3.2{\sim}5.6\;{\mu}m$ (coarse mode), respectively. During the wintertime, atmospheric aerosols showed a bimodal character, while WSOC concentrations showed a unimodal pattern. Size distributions of atmospheric aerosols and WSOC with a peak in the size range $0.32{\sim}0.56\;{\mu}m$ were observed for most of the measurement periods. On January 17, however, atmospheric aerosols and WOSC exhibited size distributions with modal peaks in the size range $1.0{\sim}1.8\;{\mu}m$, suggesting that the aerosol particles collected on that day could be expected to be more aged, i.e, longer residence time, than the aerosols at other sampling periods.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2010

Water soluble organic and inorganic species are important components in atmospheric aerosol particles and may act as cloud condensation nuclei to indirectly affect the climate. To characterize organic and elemental carbon(OC and EC), water-soluble organic carbon(WSOC) and inorganic ionic species contents, daily $PM_{2.5}$ measurements were made during the wintertime at an urban site of Gwangju. Average concentrations of WSOC, $NO_3^-$, $SO_4^{2-}$ and $NH_4^+$, which are major components in the water-soluble fraction in PM2.5, are 2.11, 5.73, 3.51 and $3.31{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively, representing 12.0(2.9~23.9%), 21.0(12.9~37.6%), 11.6(2.5~25.9%) and 11.7%(3.8~18.6%) of the $PM_{2.5}$, respectively. Abundance of water soluble organic compounds ranged from 5.4 to 35.9% of total water soluble organic and inorganic components with a mean of 17.6%. Even though the sampling was performed during the winter, the average contributions of secondary OC and WSOC, as deduced from primary OC/EC(or WSOC/EC) ratio, were relatively high, accounting for 17.9%(0~44.4%) of the total OC and 11.2%(0.0~51.4%) of the total WSOC, respectively. During the sampling period, low $SO_4^{2-}/(SO_4^{2-}+SO_2$) ratio of 0.14(0.03~0.32) and relative humidity condition in the winter time suggest an possibility of impact of long-range transport and/or aqueous transformation processes such as metal catalyzed oxidation of sulfur, in-cloud processes, etc.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.239-254
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• 2015

Little information on HUmic-Like Substances (HULIS) in ambient particulate matter has been reported yet in Korea. HULIS makes up a significant fraction of the water-soluble organic mass in the atmospheric aerosols and influence their water uptake properties. In this study 24-hr $PM_{2.5}$ samples were collected between December 2013 and October 2014 at an urban site in Gwangju and analyzed for organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), water-soluble OC (WSOC), HULIS, and ionic species, to investigate possible sources and formation processes of HULIS. HULIS was separated using solid phase extraction method and quantified by total organic carbon analyzer. During the study period, HULIS concentration ranged from 0.19 to $5.65{\mu}gC/m^3$ with an average of $1.83{\pm}1.22{\mu}gC/m^3$, accounting for on average 45% of the WSOC (12~ 73%), with higher in cold season than in warm season. Strong correlation of WSOC with HULIS ($R^2=0.91$) indicates their similar chemical characteristics. On the basis of the relationships between HULIS and a variety of chemical species (EC, $K^+$, $NO_3{^-}$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, and oxalate), it was postulated that HULIS observed during summer and winter were likely attributed to secondary formation and primary emissions from biomass burning (BB) and traffics. Stronger correlation of HULIS with $K^+$, which is a BB tracer, in winter ($R^2=0.81$) than in summer ($R^2=0.66$), suggests more significant contribution of BB emissions in winter to the observed HULIS. It is interesting to note that BB emissions may also have an influence on the HULIS in summer, but further study using levoglucosan that is a unique organic marker of BB emissions is required during summer. Higher correlation between HULIS and oxalate, which is mainly formed through cloud processing and/or photochemical oxidation processes, was found in the summer ($R^2=0.76$) than in the winter ($R^2=0.63$), reflecting a high fraction of secondary organic aerosol in the summer.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.91-96
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• 2003

This study was intended as an investigation of characteristics of background site atmospheric respirable particulate matters(RPM), and fine particles(<2.5 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$). The particle size distributions during the phenomenon of Yellow Sand(YS) occurs from April, 2001. Atmospheric aerosol particulate matter was directly collected on the Jeju island between 1 to 30, April, 2001 using an eight-stage cascade impacter(particle size range: 0.43-11 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$), and cyclone separator(cut size: 2.5, 10 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$). The episode of YS observed in background monitoring site, Kosan and appeared 2 times at sampling period. The mass concentrations of fine and coarse particles for YS episode were 34.2 and 59.6 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥, respectively, which were significantly increased amounts compared to 13.3 and 13.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ for NonYS(NYS). Most size distributions had two peaks, one at 0.43∼.65 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ and the other at 3.3${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$4.7 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$. The result of analysis of water-soluble ion component indicated that sulfate was mainly ion component, but nitrate and calcium ion was significantly increased at the YS episode.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 1995

Atmospheric aerosols were collected by a High Volume Tape Sampler from March 1992 to December 1993 ar Korean, Cheju, Korea. The water soluble ion concentrations in aerosol were analyzed. The concentrations of cations (N $a^{+}$, $K^{+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, N $H_{4}$$^{+}$) were determined by an Inductively Coupled Plazma(ICP) or an Atomic Absorption Spectrometer(AAS), and those of anions (C $l^{[-10]}$ , N $O_{3}$$^{[-10]}$ , S $O_{4}$$^{2-}$) were analayzed by the capillary electrophoresis method. The $Ca^{2+}$, S $O_{4}$$^{2-}$ and N $O_{3}$$^{[-10]}$ concentrations in spring were higher than those in other seasons. The lowest concentrations of these elements were found in summer, largely due to scavenging by frequent rains. Especially the $Ca^{2+}$ concentration on April was three to four times higher than the annual mean concentration. The enrichment factor(E.F.) of each element was calculated. The annual mean E.F. values of the $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$ and C $l^{[-10]}$ in 1992 were the same as those in 1993 except $k^{+}$ and S $O_{4}$$^{2-}$. The correlation formula between all cations and anions for the whole period was Anions = 0.759 * Cations + 0.066.Cations + 0.066.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.461-476
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• 2014

Continuous Water-Soluble Organic Carbons (WSOC) by the Particle Into Liquid Sampler - Total Organic Carbon (PILS-TOC) analyzer were measured at the Seoul intensive monitoring site from June 17 through July 5 in 2014. In addition, the 24 hour integrated PM2.5 collected by Teflon and Quartz filters were analyzed for water soluble ions by Ion chromatography (IC), WSOC by TOC from water extracts, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC) by carbon analyzer using the thermal optical transmittance (TOT) method, and mass fragment ions (m/z) related to alkanes and PAHs (Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons) by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer-Thermal Desorption (GC/MS-TD). Based on the statistical analysis, four different Carbonaceous Thermal Distributions (CTDs) from OCEC thermal-gram were identified. This study discusses the primary and secondary sources of WSOC based on the Classified CTD, organic mass fragments, and diurnal patterns of WSOC. The results provide knowledge regarding the origins of WSOC and their behaviors.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.400-401
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• 2003

Atmospheric fine aerosol particles play an important role in controlling a number of atmospheric processes, such as the deposition of different compounds, the optical properties etc. (Molnar et al., 1999). In this report, water-soluble species of PM$_{2.5}$ obtained from simultaneous measurements at four Asia sites (Beijng (39.56$^{\circ}$N, 116.17$^{\circ}$E), China; Gwangju (35.10$^{\circ}$N, 126.53$^{\circ}$E), South Korea; Kyoto (35.01$^{\circ}$N, 135.44$^{\circ}$E), Japan; and Ulan-Bator (47.55$^{\circ}$N, 106.52$^{\circ}$E), Mongolia) during the periods of 14-22 August, 30 October-06 November 2000, 14-21 January 2001, 23 July-02 August and 05-16 November 2002, within the framework of an APN (The Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research) project are reported. Ion components in 23 July-02 August 2002 were not obtained because of the technical problem of equipments.s.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.64-74
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• 2017

In this study, we have analyzed relationship between the measured Water Soluble Organic Carbon (WSOC) concentrations and the estimated aerosol water content of $PM_{10}$ (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than or equal to $10{\mu}m$) for the period between September 2006 and August 2007 at Seoul, Korea. Water content of $PM_{10}$ was estimated by using a gas/particle equilibrium model, Simulating composition of Atmospheric Particles at Equilibrium 2 (SCAPE2). The WSOC concentrations showed low correlation with Elemental Carbon (EC), but Water Insoluble Organic Carbon (WISOC) were highly correlated with EC. It seemed that hydrophilic groups were produced by secondary formation rather than primary formation. As with the previous studies, WSOC showed good correlation with secondary ions ($NO_3{^-}$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, $NH_4{^+}$), especially WSOC was highly correlated with $NO_3{^-}$ that is a secondary ion formed by photochemical oxidation from more local sources than $SO_4{^{2-}}$. No apparent correlation between the measured WSOC and estimated water content was observed. However, WSOC showed good correlation with estimated water content when it was assumed that relative humidity was higher than the deliquescence relative humidity of the system. In conclusion, WSOC is correlated with water content by hygroscopic ions and it is expected that nitrate play an important role among the water content and WSOC.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.627-641
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• 2006

Atmospheric $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$ were measured to investigate their levels and water-soluble ions(${SO_4}^{2-},\;{NO_3}^-,\;{NO_2}^-,\;Cl^-,\;{NH_4}^+,\;Na^+,\;Ca^{2+},\;Mg^{2+},\;and\;K^+$) in Daegu between February 17 and April 18, 2006. Four Asian dust episodes during the period were examined for the influence of Asian dust on the particulate properties. Daily $PM_{2.5}\;and\;PM_{2.5-10}$ concentrations ranged between $10.83{\sim}136.76{\mu}g/m^3$ with a mean of $38.43{\mu}g/m^3$ and $16.13{\sim}409.13{\mu}g/m^3$ with a mean of $79.98{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. For all measured ions the mean fractions of $PM_{2.5}\;and\;PM_{2.5-10}$ were 51.8% and 28.9% being lowered to 30.7% and 9.4%, respectively, during the dust episodes. Secondary ions (i.e., non-sea salt ${SO_4}^{2-},\;{NO_3}^-,\;and\;{NH_4}^+$) contributed 44.3% and 14.8% to $PM_{2.5}\;and\;PM_{2.5-10}$, respectively, with a decreased contribution during the episodes. The average equivalent ratio of ${NH_4}^+$ to the sum of ${SO_4}^{2-}\;and\;{NO_3}^-$ was 0.99 and 0.89 for $PM_{2.5}\;and\;PM_{2.5-10}$, respectively, indicating high source strength of $NH_3$ and its dominance in the neutralization of the acidic ions. Correlations and charge balance between ions suggest that neutralization of the acidic ions results in substantial depletions of carbonate both in $PM_{2.5}\;and\;PM_{2.5-10}$ and chloride only in $PM_{2.5}$.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 1996

In order to study the scavenging mechanism as a final goal, the characteristics of chemical components in the rain water were examined as a function of the amount of rainfall. The rain drops were collected sequentially with a rainfall interval amount of each 0.1 .sim. 0.5 mm from the beginning of rain. Rain water was separated into the soluble and insoluble components and the concentrations of 15 elements in both components were determined by the PIXE analysis. The elemental cencentrations decreased quickly till about 0.3 .sim. 0.5 mm of rainfall was obtained and then decreased gradually afterward. Fe, Ti, and Si in the aerosol particles caught in rain water were in high insoluble state. In contrast, almost whole of S and Cl were dissolved in rain water.