Determination of the organic fraction in the fine particles emitted from the vehicular fleet in São Paulo city

• Grant number: 11/17754-2
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2011
• Effective date (End): October 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Meteorology
• Principal researcher: Maria de Fátima Andrade
• Grantee: Beatriz Sayuri Oyama
• Home Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 08/58104-8 - Narrowing the uncertainties on aerosol and climate changes in São Paulo State: NUANCES-SPS, AP.PFPMCG.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 12/21456-0 - Determination of the organic fraction in the fine particles emitted from the vehicular fleet in São Paulo City, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

There are many studies about the atmospheric aerosol discussing the interaction with radiation, processes of cloud formation, also its characterization of elemental composition, and physical structure, however the organic composition is not well known. There is much uncertainty regarding the sources of primary and secondary organic aerosols in the atmosphere, which has direct interference on results obtained from global models and still in the inventories of emissions. The proposal of this work is to analyze the fraction of organic compounds (identification of sources, groups, and signatures) in the particulate matter in the atmosphere of São Paulo. The aerosol samples will be analyzed at the University of Utrecht, where there is a renowned research group devoted to the study of the aerosol. The work will take place under the guidance of Professor. Dr. Maria de Fatima Andrade and with the collaboration of Professor Röckmann, Dr. Thomas and Dr. Rupert Holzinger from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. New equipment for analysis of organic aerosol has been developed by that group for the study of the organic fraction of particulate matter. The method is very efficient in identifying organic compounds: more species are identified when the equipment is compared to others that offers the same goal, in addition sensitivity is higher. This project is important for further study regarding change of conventional fuels by bio-fuels (which changes the emissions profile), besides the collaboration between two universities, University of São Paulo and University of Utrecht. This project will allow the use of the equipment and will provide training in the use of the methodology by the PhD student.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

OYAMA, BEATRIZ SAYURI; ANDRADE, MARIA DE FATIMA; HERCKES, PIERRE; DUSEK, ULRIKE; ROCKMANN, THOMAS; HOLZINGER, RUPERT. Chemical characterization of organic particulate matter from on-road traffic in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, v. 16, n. 22, p. 14397-14408, NOV 18 2016. Web of Science Citations: 9.

DUSEK, U.; MEUSINGER, C.; OYAMA, B.; RAMON, W.; DE WILDE, P. A.; HOLZINGER, R.; ROCKMANN, T. A thermal desorption system for measuring delta C-13 ratios on organic aerosol. JOURNAL OF AEROSOL SCIENCE, v. 66, p. 72-82, DEC 2013. Web of Science Citations: 7.