[Studies on microscopic characteristics of atmospheric particles]

Distribution of 15 elements on the surface of and morphological characteristics of 776 atmospheric particles collected from six air monitoring spots in Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, were analyzed with scanning electronic microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, to study their chemical compositions in air pollution. Results showed silicon and aluminum were abundant in the particles, accounting for 49.4% and 25%, respectively, which indicated they were major components of the particles. Contents of lithophilic elements, such as silicon, aluminum and potassium, on the particle surface were decreased relatively with gradual decrease of particle diameter. Silicon and aluminum in the particles were detected frequently, also, accounting for 96.55% and 89%, respectively, which indicated alumina-silicate particles accounted for the dominant part in atmospheric aerosol, and dust particles from varied sources showed different characteristics and distributions.