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Updated: Aug 6, 2025

Additive Manufacturing-Enabled Low-Cost Particle Detector
Published on: March 24, 2023
Estimates of Future New Particle Formation under Different Emission Scenarios in Beijing
James Brean1, Alex Rowell1, David C S Beddows1
1School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
New particle formation (NPF) is a leading source of particulate matter by number and a contributor to particle mass during haze events. Reductions in emissions of air pollutants, many of which are NPF precursors, are expected in the move toward carbon neutrality or net-zero. Expected changes to pollutant emissions are used to investigate future changes to NPF processes, in comparison to a simulation of current conditions. The projected changes to SO2 emissions are key in changing future NPF number, with different scenarios producing either a doubling or near total reduction in sulfuric acid-amine particle formation rates. Particle growth rates are projected to change little in all but the strictest emission control scenarios. These changes will reduce the particle mass arising by NPF substantially, thus showing a further cobenefit of net-zero policies. Major uncertainties remain in future NPF including the volatility of oxygenated organic molecules resulting from changes to NO and amine emissions.

