HBCU-Excellence in Research: Biomass Burning Aerosol-Molecular Level Characterization of Aging Conditions on Optical and Chemical Properties

该项目的目标是提高对生物质燃烧气溶胶光学特性的认识，特别是来自非洲生物质燃料燃烧的气溶胶。本研究旨在研究燃烧过程中由于燃烧条件的变化而引起的BB气溶胶光学性质的变化。该项目旨在提高北卡罗来纳州AT州立大学（NCAT）的大气化学和物理学研究培训能力。合作实验室研究将在NCAT以及查佩尔山的北卡罗来纳州大学进行。研究将解决以下问题：（1）非洲燃料衍生的BB衍生气溶胶的分子水平组成如何作为老化条件的函数变化（即，新鲜对黑暗/光化学/云水老化）以及这些气溶胶光学性质（即，单次散射的折射率、折射率和修正的燃烧效率）的变化，因为任何潜在的分子水平的化学变化？(2)原生（新鲜）BB衍生气溶胶和气体排放的老化是否会改变气溶胶的物理化学性质，包括挥发性、密度、形态和水溶性？(3)形态学（分形维数）和改进的燃烧效率之间的关系是什么，以及这如何影响选择正确方法（米氏、瑞利-德拜-甘斯或T-矩阵方法）的标准，以模拟光学特性和由此产生的RI提取？(4)在云滴蒸发后，BB衍生的水溶性气体排放能否经过云水处理产生二次有机气溶胶？（5）非洲燃料衍生的水溶性气体排放的前体是什么？该项目由NSF的大气化学，卓越研究以及综合与合作教育和研究计划资助。这一努力为所有参与机构的学生和教师提供了合作的机会。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The goal of this project is to improve knowledge of the optical properties of biomass burning (BB) aerosol, especially those derived from the combustion of African biomass fuels. This research is directed toward the study of changes in the optical properties of BB aerosol due to changes in the burning conditions during combustion. This project is designed to enhance atmospheric chemistry and physics research training capacity at North Carolina A&T State University (NCAT). Collaborative laboratory studies will take place at NCAT, as well as at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.The research will address the following questions: (1) How does the molecular-level composition of African fuel-derived BB-derived aerosol change as a function of aging conditions (i.e., fresh versus dark/photochemical/cloud water aging) and how do these aerosol optical properties (i.e., single scattering albedo, refractive index, and modified combustion efficiency) change because of any potential molecular-level chemical changes? (2) Does aging of primary (fresh) BB-derived aerosol and gas emissions alter the aerosol physicochemical properties, including volatility, density, morphology, and water-solubility? (3) what is the relationship between morphology (fractal dimensions) and modified combustion efficiency and how does this influence the criteria for selecting the correct method (Mie, Rayleigh-Debye-Gans or T-matrix approach) to modeling optical properties and the resulting extraction of RIs? (4) Can BB-derived water-soluble gas emissions undergo cloud water processing to yield secondary organic aerosol after cloud droplet evaporation? and (5) What are the precursors for African fuel- derived water-soluble gas emissions?This project is funded by the Atmospheric Chemistry, Excellence in Research, and Integrative and Collaborative Education and Research Programs at NSF. This effort provides opportunities for students and faculty from all participating institutions to work collaboratively.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.