Title

Revising the use of potassium (K) in the source apportionment of PM2.5

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5094/APR.2013.002

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2013

Publication Title

Atmospheric Pollution Research

Abstract

Elemental potassium has been extensively used as an indicator of biomass burning in the source apportionment of PM . We present a method to estimate the fraction of potassium associated with biomass burning (K ) based on a linear regression with iron that can be applied at any site where PM chemical speciation is available. The estimated fraction has a significantly greater correlation with levoglucosan (R =0.63), an organic tracer of biomass burning, than total potassium (R =0.39). We explore temporal and spatial variability of K over a period of six years in the Atlanta area. K is larger in spring when biomass burning activity is more prevalent and during weekends due to the use of fireplaces in winter and outdoor charcoal cooking in summer. K is the predominate form of potassium for the rural site in this study. The use of K in a receptor model results in a lower fraction of PM apportioned to biomass burning and a greater fraction to mobile sources when compared to the use of total K. Results suggest that K is a good indicator of biomass burning. © Author(s) 2012. 2.5 b 2.5 b b b b 2.5 b 2 2

Volume

4

Issue

1

First Page

14

Last Page

21

ISSN

13091042

Identifier

SCOPUS_ID:84882793818

Documento original

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