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Char dominates black carbon aerosol emission and its historic reduction in China

Author

Listed:
  • Junjie Cai

    (Fudan University)

  • Hongxing Jiang

    (Fudan University)

  • Yingjun Chen

    (Fudan University
    Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security)

  • Zeyu Liu

    (Fudan University)

  • Yong Han

    (Fudan University)

  • Huizhong Shen

    (Southern University of Science and Technology)

  • Jianzhong Song

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Chinese Academy of Science)

  • Jun Li

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Chinese Academy of Science)

  • Yanlin Zhang

    (Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology
    Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology)

  • Rong Wang

    (Fudan University)

  • Jianmin Chen

    (Fudan University)

  • Gan Zhang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Chinese Academy of Science)

Abstract

Emission factors and inventories of black carbon (BC) aerosols are crucial for estimating their adverse atmospheric effect. However, it is imperative to separate BC emissions into char and soot subgroups due to their significantly different physicochemical properties and potential effects. Here, we present a substantial dataset of char and soot emission factors derived from field and laboratory measurements. Based on the latest results of the char-to-soot ratio, we further reconstructed the emission inventories of char and soot for the years 1960–2017 in China. Our findings indicate that char dominates annual BC emissions and its huge historical reduction, which can be attributable to the rapid changes in energy structure, combustion technology and emission standards in recent decades. Our results suggest that further BC emission reductions in both China and the world should focus on char, which mainly derives from lower-temperature combustion and is easier to decrease compared to soot.

Suggested Citation

  • Junjie Cai & Hongxing Jiang & Yingjun Chen & Zeyu Liu & Yong Han & Huizhong Shen & Jianzhong Song & Jun Li & Yanlin Zhang & Rong Wang & Jianmin Chen & Gan Zhang, 2023. "Char dominates black carbon aerosol emission and its historic reduction in China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-42192-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42192-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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