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Measurements and Characteristics of Nitrogen-Containing Compounds in Atmospheric Particulate Matter in Beijing, China

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Abstract

The total nitrogen (TN) and water-soluble nitrogenous ions were determined by using CHN Elemental Analyzer and ion chromatography method, respectively, from November 24, 1998 to February 12, 1999 in Beijing. The average concentrations of TN, NH4 + and NO3 − were 10.62 μg N m−3, 6.67 μg m−3 and 10.01 μg m−3, respectively. The total inorganic nitrogen (IN) calculated from NH4 + and NO3 − was 7.45 μg N m−3, accounting for 70% of TN, i.e., 30% of TN existed as organic nitrogen form (ON). The correlation between ON and other pollution tracers showed that, coal combustion, biomass burning, soil humic matter and secondary formation were the important sources of ON in particulate matter in Beijing.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (20177036, 20477042).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People’s Republic of China

    Fengkui Duan & Kebin He

  2. Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, People’s Republic of China

    Xiande Liu

  3. National Research Center for Environmental Analysis and Measurements, Beijing, 100029, People’s Republic of China

    Shuping Dong

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  1. Fengkui Duan
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  2. Xiande Liu
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  4. Shuping Dong
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Correspondence to Fengkui Duan.

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Duan, F., Liu, X., He, K. et al. Measurements and Characteristics of Nitrogen-Containing Compounds in Atmospheric Particulate Matter in Beijing, China. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 82, 332–337 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-008-9560-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-008-9560-0

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