Emissions and potential tracer screening of semivolatile/intermediate-volatility organic compounds from urban vehicle fleets

Abstract Semi-/intermediate volatile organic compounds (S/IVOCs) are important precursors for secondary organic aerosols (SOA) and ozone formation. Vehicle emissions from real-world vehicle fleets are significant anthropogenic source, but their emission profiles and chemical fingerprints remain inad...

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Main Authors: Yajun Wu, Jianfei Peng, Xiaoguo Wang, Peiji Liu, Yan Liu, Fuyang Zhang, Jinsheng Zhang, Bin Sun, Jingqiao Zhang, Kai Song, Pengfei Song, Lin Wu, Ting Wang, Song Guo, Hongjun Mao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-01078-w
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author Yajun Wu
Jianfei Peng
Xiaoguo Wang
Peiji Liu
Yan Liu
Fuyang Zhang
Jinsheng Zhang
Bin Sun
Jingqiao Zhang
Kai Song
Pengfei Song
Lin Wu
Ting Wang
Song Guo
Hongjun Mao
author_facet Yajun Wu
Jianfei Peng
Xiaoguo Wang
Peiji Liu
Yan Liu
Fuyang Zhang
Jinsheng Zhang
Bin Sun
Jingqiao Zhang
Kai Song
Pengfei Song
Lin Wu
Ting Wang
Song Guo
Hongjun Mao
author_sort Yajun Wu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Semi-/intermediate volatile organic compounds (S/IVOCs) are important precursors for secondary organic aerosols (SOA) and ozone formation. Vehicle emissions from real-world vehicle fleets are significant anthropogenic source, but their emission profiles and chemical fingerprints remain inadequately characterized. Here, we combined tunnel observation with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry to investigate vehicular S/IVOCs emissions. We identified 256 vehicle-related compounds with fleet-average emission factors (EFs) of 16.4 ± 12.1 mg·km−1·veh− 1, comprising 67.2% VOCs, 24.3% IVOCs, and 8.5% SVOCs. VOCs accounted for the majority of ozone formation potential (OFP, 84.8%), whereas VOCs, IVOCs, and SVOCs contributed to SOA formation potential at different times. Importantly, our speciated-based SOA estimation enhanced SOA production estimates by 44.1–76.9% compared to traditional approach. We identified eight potential vehicle-related tracers in S/IVOC range through volcano plots and hierarchical clustering analysis, which could benefit future source apportionments. Our work also offers a novel perspective for screening tracers from various sources beyond vehicle-related emissions.
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spelling doaj-art-0a5d346d20434582b690143a2f2e6ce72025-08-20T02:32:08ZengNature Portfolionpj Climate and Atmospheric Science2397-37222025-05-018111110.1038/s41612-025-01078-wEmissions and potential tracer screening of semivolatile/intermediate-volatility organic compounds from urban vehicle fleetsYajun Wu0Jianfei Peng1Xiaoguo Wang2Peiji Liu3Yan Liu4Fuyang Zhang5Jinsheng Zhang6Bin Sun7Jingqiao Zhang8Kai Song9Pengfei Song10Lin Wu11Ting Wang12Song Guo13Hongjun Mao14Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Transport Emission Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai UniversityTianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Transport Emission Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai UniversityTianjin Eco-Environmental Monitoring CenterTianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Transport Emission Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai UniversityTianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Transport Emission Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai UniversityTianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Transport Emission Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai UniversityTianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Transport Emission Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai UniversityTianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Transport Emission Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai UniversityState Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental SciencesState Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, International Joint Laboratory for Regional Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Ministry of Education, Peking UniversityTianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Transport Emission Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai UniversityTianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Transport Emission Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai UniversityTianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Transport Emission Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai UniversityState Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, International Joint Laboratory for Regional Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Ministry of Education, Peking UniversityTianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Transport Emission Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai UniversityAbstract Semi-/intermediate volatile organic compounds (S/IVOCs) are important precursors for secondary organic aerosols (SOA) and ozone formation. Vehicle emissions from real-world vehicle fleets are significant anthropogenic source, but their emission profiles and chemical fingerprints remain inadequately characterized. Here, we combined tunnel observation with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry to investigate vehicular S/IVOCs emissions. We identified 256 vehicle-related compounds with fleet-average emission factors (EFs) of 16.4 ± 12.1 mg·km−1·veh− 1, comprising 67.2% VOCs, 24.3% IVOCs, and 8.5% SVOCs. VOCs accounted for the majority of ozone formation potential (OFP, 84.8%), whereas VOCs, IVOCs, and SVOCs contributed to SOA formation potential at different times. Importantly, our speciated-based SOA estimation enhanced SOA production estimates by 44.1–76.9% compared to traditional approach. We identified eight potential vehicle-related tracers in S/IVOC range through volcano plots and hierarchical clustering analysis, which could benefit future source apportionments. Our work also offers a novel perspective for screening tracers from various sources beyond vehicle-related emissions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-01078-w
spellingShingle Yajun Wu
Jianfei Peng
Xiaoguo Wang
Peiji Liu
Yan Liu
Fuyang Zhang
Jinsheng Zhang
Bin Sun
Jingqiao Zhang
Kai Song
Pengfei Song
Lin Wu
Ting Wang
Song Guo
Hongjun Mao
Emissions and potential tracer screening of semivolatile/intermediate-volatility organic compounds from urban vehicle fleets
npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
title Emissions and potential tracer screening of semivolatile/intermediate-volatility organic compounds from urban vehicle fleets
title_full Emissions and potential tracer screening of semivolatile/intermediate-volatility organic compounds from urban vehicle fleets
title_fullStr Emissions and potential tracer screening of semivolatile/intermediate-volatility organic compounds from urban vehicle fleets
title_full_unstemmed Emissions and potential tracer screening of semivolatile/intermediate-volatility organic compounds from urban vehicle fleets
title_short Emissions and potential tracer screening of semivolatile/intermediate-volatility organic compounds from urban vehicle fleets
title_sort emissions and potential tracer screening of semivolatile intermediate volatility organic compounds from urban vehicle fleets
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-01078-w
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