Multi elemental compound specific isotope analysis of water-soluble organic carbon for source apportionment

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K20463
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 63040:Environmental impact assessment-related
• Research Institution: Japan Automobile Research Institute
• Principal Investigator: Suto Nana 一般財団法人日本自動車研究所, 環境研究部, 研究員 (70791424)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 粒子状物質 / 水溶性有機炭素 / 安定同位体比 / 発生源推定 / 有機エアロゾル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The sources and seasonal trends of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) in carbonaceous aerosols are of significant interest. From July 2017 to July 2019, we collected samples of PM2.5 from one suburban and one rural site in Japan. At the rural site, the average carbon isotope ratio of WSOC (δ13CWSOC) was significantly heavier from autumn to spring than in summer. The heaviest δ13CWSOC was observed from February to April 2019, which may be explained by long-range transport of C4 plant burning such as corn from overseas. Thus, the present study indicates that δ13CWSOC is potentially useful for elucidating the sources and atmospheric processes that contribute to seasonal variations of WSOC concentration.

Free Research Field

環境分析学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では，PM2.5中の水溶性有機炭素の炭素安定同位体比を測定することで，国内および国外からの影響について発生源の特定につながる知見が得られたことは，学術的に大きな意義があると考えている．また，安定同位体を用いて詳細な発生源を特定することは，環境対策の視点からも社会的に意義のある結果だと思われる．