title: Substrate-Deposited Sea Spray Aerosol Particles: Influence of Analytical Method, Substrate, and Storage Conditions on Particle Size, Phase, and Morphology.
abstract: Atmospheric aerosols are often collected on substrates and analyzed weeks or months after the initial collection. We investigated how the selection of substrate and microscopy method influence the measured size, phase, and morphology of sea spray aerosol (SSA) particles and how sample storage conditions affect individual particles using three common microscopy techniques: optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Micro-Raman spectroscopy was used to determine changes in the water content of stored particles. The results show that microscopy techniques operating under ambient conditions provide the most relevant and robust measurement of particle size. Samples stored in a desiccator and at ambient conditions leads to similar sizes and morphologies, while storage that involves freezing and thawing leads to irreversible changes due to phase changes and water condensation. Typically, SSA particles are deposited wet and, if possible, samples used for single-particle analysis should be stored at or near conditions at which they were collected in order to avoid dehydration. However, if samples need to be dry, as is often the case, then this study found that storing SSA particles at ambient laboratory conditions (17-23% RH and 19-21 °C) was effective at preserving them and reducing changes that would alter samples and subsequent data interpretation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Iowa , Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Laskina
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Iowa , Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States.
authors.forename: Holly S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Iowa , Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States.
authors.forename: Joshua R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Grandquist
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Iowa , Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States.
authors.forename: Armando D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Estillore
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Iowa , Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Iowa , Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States.
authors.forename: Vicki H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Grassian
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Iowa , Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States.
authors.forename: Alexei V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Tivanski
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010316:Particle Size; D012623:Seawater; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols