Analysis of PM 10 using Scanning Electron Microscopy Comparison between a Traffic Site and a Forest Site S. Wagener 1, J.K. Gietl, O. Klemm University of Münster, Institute of Landscape Ecology, Germany 1 now IUTA Duisburg e.V. Introduction Airborne atmospheric particulate material with a diameter < 10 μm (PM 10 ) was collected on 12 days between November 2006 and January 2007 at a traffic site in Münster, and a forest site in the “Eggegebirge” mountain range (NW Germany). The measurements were performed synchronously twice per day. About 3000 individual particles were analyzed for morphology and element contents applying SEM-EDX. Method and Analysis Five-stage Berner type impactors with aluminium and Tedlar® foils were used for sampling. Single particle analysis was carried out by using a scanning electron microscopy, type JEOL 840 for morphology, and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrometry for element contents. Based on the element analysis, particles were assigned to groups. The percentage of each group of the whole of all analysed particles was computed. With the morphology and the correlations between the percentages of all groups, the particle groups were identified.  sulphate  iron-rich  silicate-rich  oxygen-rich For this study, data access was granted by the Landesamt für Natur, Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz NRW. Equipment access was granted by the Institute for Planetology, University of Münster, especially with the help of Thorsten Grund. For further information please contact: 2 Percental composition of particulate material as function of impactor stages To investigate the different influences on particle composition, the aerosol was analysed regarding the following aspects: Influence of the air masses A correlation between sea salt and air masses of marine origin is found at both measurement sites Influence of the time of day Iron-rich and silicate-rich particle occurrence are higher in the afternoon Influence of the location Soot and oxygen-rich particles are much more abundant at the traffic site, sodium- rich particles in the Eggegebirge Influence of the particle size The most obvious difference has been found between the impactor stages; whereas the first two stages (smallest particles) are dominated by soot and sulphate, all groups are found in stages 3 and 4 (stage 5 has not been analysed) European Aerosol Conference, 24 – 29. August 2008; Helexpo Thessalonike, Greece Poster T10A042P; Session PM x / PM 10 / PM 2.5 Corresponding author: Otto Klemm 2 Conclusions The sampling location, the time of day and the air masses essentially affect the percental allocation of the aerosol composition. The appearance of the particle groups is mainly determined by the different stages. Thus it appears, that the largest differences of particle composition is affected rather by the different size classes than by any other aspects. A five stage Berner type impactor for the sampling ; Cutoff diameters: Stage 1: µm; stage 2: 0.19 µm; stage 3: 0.42 µm; stage 4: 1.2 µm; stage 5: 3.5 µm Source Identification Using the information from these results and the morphology, source identification could be performed. Possible sources of the identified particle groups MünsterEggegebirge soot traffic, domestic fueldomestic fuel, (traffic) C-residual presumably traffic, domestic fuel unknown, presumably traffic, domestic fuel sea salt seaspray, other unknown anthropogenic sources seaspray Na-rich seaspray, combustion of biomass, other unknown anthropogenic sources seaspray sulphate (mainly (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 ) agriculture, trafficagriculture Fe-rich soil dust, resuspension, combustion, traffic soil dust, resuspension Si-rich soil dust, resuspension, combustion, traffic soil dust, resuspension O-rich presumably NH 4 NO 3 unknown sources The JEOL 840 scanning electron microscopy used for single particle analysis Fresh soot (Münster) Aged soot (Eggegebirge) Fresh sea salt (Eggegebirge) Aged sea salt (Münster) Examples of particles analysed with the SEM Results The identified particle groups are  soot  C-residual  sea salt  sodium-rich M = Measurements; the same lettering represents simultaneous measurements