Physicochemical characteristics, oxidative capacities and cytotoxicities of sulfate-coated, 1,4-NQ-coated and ozone-aged black carbon particles

Black carbon (BC) particles play important roles in climate change, visibility impairment, atmospheric reaction process, and health effect. The aging processes of BC alter not only atmospheric composition, but also the physicochemical characteristics of BC itself, thus impacting the environment and health effects. Here, three types of BC including sulfate-coated, 1,4-naphthoquinone (1,4-NQ)-coated, and O3-aged BC are presented. The morphologies, structures, extraction components, the amount of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and free radical intensities of the three types of BC particles are examined by transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry, total organic carbon detector and electron paramagnetic resonance, respectively. Dithiothreitol (DTT) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide assays are utilized to assess the changes in oxidative capacity and cytotoxicity towards murine alveolar macrophage cells. The orders of DTT activities and cytotoxicities of the particles are both arranged as follows: BC/1,4-NQ > BC/O3 > BC > BC/sulfate, mainly because 1,4-NQ owned high oxidative potential and cytotoxicity, while sulfate did not exhibit oxidative capacity and cytotoxicity. The insoluble components of particles contribute most of the total DTT activity, whereas either water or methanol extract is minor contributor. DTT activity was positively correlated with both WSOC content and free radical intensity, with the correlation between DTT activity and WSOC content was stronger than that between DTT activity and free radical intensity.