Affiliations: Shanghai Applied Radiation Institute, School of
Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 201800,
China | Department of Earth Science, China University of
Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, China
Abstract: This work mainly focuses on the mineralogical study of particulate
matter (PM_{10}) in Beijing. Samples were collected on
polycarbonate filter from April, 2002 to March, 2003 in Beijing urban area.
Scanning electronic microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDX)
was used to investigate individual mineral particles in Beijing
PM_{10}. 1454 individual mineral particulates from 48
samples were analysed by SEM/EDX. The results revealed that mineral
particulates were complex and heterogeneous. 38 kinds of minerals in
PM_{10} were identified. The clay minerals, of annual
average percentage of 30.1%, were the main composition among the identified
minerals, and illite/smectite was the main composition in clay minerals,
reaching up to 35%. Annual average percentage of quartz, calcite, compound
particulates, carbonates were 13.5%, 10.9%, 11.95%, 10.31%, respectively.
Annual average percentage less than 10% were gypsum, feldspar, dolomite, and so
on. Fluorite, apatite, halite, barite and chloridize zinc
(ZnCl_{2}) were firstly identified in Beijing
PM_{10}. Sulfurization was found on surface of mineral
particles, suggested extensive atmospheric reaction in air during summer.
Keywords: inhalable particulate matter (PM[TeX:] _{10}), individual analysis, mineral composition
