ATR–FTIR Spectral Analysis and Soluble Components of PM 10 And PM 2.5 Particulate Matter over the Urban Area of Palermo (Italy) during Normal Days and Saharan Events

Daniela Varrica, Elisa Tamburo, Marcello Vultaggio and Ida Di Carlo
Additional contact information
Daniela Varrica: Dipartimento Scienze della Terra e del Mare (DiSTeM), Via Archirafi 22, 90123 Palermo, Italy
Elisa Tamburo: Dipartimento Scienze della Terra e del Mare (DiSTeM), Via Archirafi 22, 90123 Palermo, Italy
Marcello Vultaggio: Risorse Ambiente Palermo (RAP), Piazzetta B. Cairoli, 90123 Palermo, Italy
Ida Di Carlo: CNRS/INSU-Université d’Orléans—BRGM, UMR 7327, Institut des Sciences de la Terre d’Orléans, 1A rue de la Férollerie, 45071 Orléans, France

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 14, 1-14

Abstract: Several epidemiological studies have shown a close relationship between the mass of particulate matter (PM) and its effects on human health. This study reports the identification of inorganic and organic components by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) analysis in PM 10 and PM 2.5 filters collected from three air quality monitoring stations in the city of Palermo (Sicily, Italy) during non-Saharan dust events and Saharan events. It also provides information on the abundance and types of water-soluble species. ATR-FTIR analysis identified sulfate, ammonium, nitrate, and carbonate matter characterized by vibrational frequencies at 603, 615, 670, and 1100 cm –1 (SO 4 2– ); at 1414 cm –1 (NH 4 + ); at 825 and 1356 cm –1 (NO 3 – ); and at 713, 730, and 877 cm –1 (CO 3 2– ) in PM 10 and PM 2.5 filters. Moreover, aliphatic hydrocarbons were identified in the collected spectra. Stretching frequencies at 2950 cm –1 were assigned to CH 3 aliphatic carbon stretching absorptions, while frequencies at 2924 and 2850 cm –1 indicated CH 2 bonds. In filters collected during Saharan dust events, the analysis also showed the presence of absorbance peaks typical of clay minerals. The measurement of soluble components confirmed the presence of a geogenic component (marine spray and local rocks) and secondary particles ((NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , NH 4 NO 3 ) in the PM filters. ATR-FTIR characterization of solid surfaces is a powerful analytical technique for identifying inorganic and organic compounds in samples of particulate matter.

Keywords: particulate matter; PM 10 and PM 2.5; ATR-FTIR; ionic soluble components; saharan dust events; sirocco winds (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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