Water-soluble dicarboxylic acids, oxoacids and α-dicarbonyls in the tropical aerosols in coastal megacity Mumbai: molecular characteristics and formation processes

Daytime and nighttime PM10 samples were collected during summer (June) and winter (February) at a representative urban site in Mumbai, located on the western coast of Indian subcontinent. Samples were studied for molecular distribution of water-soluble dicarboxylic acids, oxoacids and dicarbonyls as well as total carbon (TC), water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), inorganic ions along with specific markers (levoglucosan, K+) to better understand sources and formation processes of organic aerosols in Mumbai. The distribution of water-soluble organics was characterised by high abundance of oxalic acid (C-2), followed by phthalic (Ph), terephthalic (tPh), azelaic (C-9), malonic (C-3), and succinic acids (C-4). Positive correlations between C-2, sulfate and glyoxal (omega C-2) suggest secondary production of C-2 predominantly via aqueous phase chemistry. C-2 also showed positive correlation with K+ and levoglucosan indicating that biomass/biofuel burning is the potential source of diacids in the Mumbai aerosols. In addition, higher average contributions of total diacids to WSOC and OC in winter than in summer suggest that aerosols were aged i.e., photochemically well processed in winter in Mumbai. On the other hand, diurnal change in their ratios is observed with higher ratio in daytime samples than that of previous and succeeding nighttime samples, suggesting diacids are also influenced from local sources in both the seasons. This study demonstrates that biomass burning as well as biogenic sources are important sources influencing the distributions of aerosols in Mumbai.

Automated summary

This study investigates the molecular distribution and composition of organic aerosols in Mumbai by analyzing PM10 samples collected during summer and winter. The results reveal oxalic acid as the dominant component of water-soluble organics and highlight biomass burning and biogenic sources as important contributors to the aerosol composition in Mumbai.