ACPD Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions ACPD 1680-7375 Copernicus GmbH Göttingen, Germany 10.5194/acpd-11-10265-2011 Acyl peroxy nitrate measurements during the photochemical smog season in Beijing, China Xu Z. 1 Zhang J. 1 Yang G. 1 Hu M. 1 Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, State Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Control, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China 30 03 2011 11 3 10265 10303 This is an open-access article ditributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. This article is available from http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/11/10265/2011/acpd-11-10265-2011.html The full text article is available as a PDF file from http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/11/10265/2011/acpd-11-10265-2011.pdf

In situ measurements of acyl peroxy nitrates (PANs), including peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), peroxypropionyl nitrate (PPN), and peroxymethacryloyl nitrate (MPAN), were conducted using a gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD) system during the photochemical smog season in Beijing, China. The maximum mixing ratios were 17.81, 2.48, and 0.27 ppbv for PAN, PPN, and MPAN, respectively. During the measurement period, PAN levels twice exceeded the maximum recommended mixing ratio established by the World Health Organization (WHO). Average ratios of PAN/PPN, PAN/MPAN, and PPN/MPAN were 7.41, 47.65, and 6.91, respectively. The average ratio of PAN/O<sub>3</sub> (0.15) in Beijing was significantly higher than those in other areas studied. The frequencies of PANs showed both Gaussian and Weibull modes of distribution. Wind direction was closely related to PAN variation. Anthropogenic sources played an important role in PAN formation, as estimated from PPN and MPAN levels. Relative humidity (RH) and total particle surface area were related with the heterogeneous reactions of PANs with surface concentrations of particulate matter ≤10 μm in diameter.

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