Chemical characterization of emissions from vegetable oil processing and their contribution to aerosol mass using the organic molecular markers approach

The organic fraction of aerosol emitted from a vegetable oil processing plant was studied to investigate the contribution of emissions to ambient particles in the surrounding area. Solvent-soluble particulate organic compounds emitted from the plant accounted for 10% of total suspended particles. This percentage was lower in the receptor sites (less than 6% of total aerosol mass). Nonpolar, moderate polar, polar, and acidic compounds were detected in both emitted and ambient aerosol samples. The processing and combustion of olive pits yielded a source with strong biogenic characteristics, such as the high values of the carbon preference index (CPI) for all compound classes. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) detected in emissions were associated with both olive pits and diesel combustion. The chromatographic profile of dimethylphenanthrenes (DMPs) was characteristic of olive pit combustion. Organic aerosols collected in two receptor sites provided a different pattern. The significant contribution of vehicular emissions was identified by CPI values (approximately 1) of n-alkanes and the presence of the unresolved complex mixture (UCM). In addition, PAH concentration diagnostic ratios indicated that emissions from catalyst and noncatalyst automobiles and heavy trucks were significant. The strong even-to-odd predominance of n-alkanols, n-alkanoic acids, and their salts indicated the contribution of a source with biogenic characteristics. However, the profile of DMPs at receptor sites was similar to that observed for diesel particulates. These differences indicated that the contribution of vegetable oil processing emissions to the atmosphere was negligible.     

Measurement of particulate aliphatic and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in Santiago de Chile: source reconciliation and evaluation of sampling artifacts

Using a novel sampler, particulate organic compounds were collected in Santiago de Chile from June 9 to August 10, 1997. This sampler consists of a diffusion denuder to remove gas-phase organics prior to particle collection, a Teflon filter, and a PUF cartridge downstream of the filter. PAHs and n-alkanes were measured using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. Volatilization of particles collected on the Teflon filter varied from 15 to 85% for both n-alkanes and PAHs, with strong dependence on molecular weight. The relative distribution of n-alkanes and the values of molecular diagnostic ratios, such as Carbon preference index, indicated a mixed origin with strong anthropogenic input. Indeed, CPI values ranged from 0.66 to 1.96 (for the whole range of n-alkanes). The percent contribution of leaf “wax” n-alkanes (4.55–20.83%) indicated the low contribution of biogenic sources. In addition, the distribution pattern of PAHs was characteristic of anthropogenic emissions. The dominant contribution of combustion-related PAHs (CPAHs), 74–84%, indicated that vehicular emissions was the major source of PAHs.     

Oxidation of ketone groups in transported biomass burning aerosol from the 2008 Northern California Lightning Series fires

Submicron particles were collected from June to September 2008 in La Jolla, California to investigate the composition and sources of atmospheric aerosol in an anthropogenically-influenced coastal site. Factor analysis of aerosol mass spectrometry (AMS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy measurements revealed that the two largest sources of submicron organic mass (OM) at the sampling site were (1) fossil fuel combustion associated with ship and diesel truck emissions near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and (2) aged smoke from large wildfires burning in central and northern California. During non-fire periods, fossil fuel combustion contributed up to 95% of FTIR OM, correlated to sulfur, and consisted mostly of alkane (86%) and carboxylic acid groups (9%). During fire periods, biomass burning contributed up to 74% of FTIR OM, consisted mostly of alkane (48%), ketone (25%), and carboxylic acid groups (17%), and correlated to AMS-derived factors resembling brush fire smoke, wood smoldering and flaming particles, and biogenic secondary organic aerosol. The two AMS-derived biomass burning factors were identified as oxygenated and hydrocarbon biomass burning aerosol on the basis of spectral similarities to smoldering and flaming smoke particles, respectively. In addition, the ratio of oxygenated to hydrocarbon biomass burning OM shows a clear diurnal trend with an afternoon peak, consistent with photochemical oxidation. Back trajectory analysis indicates that 2–4-day old forest fire emissions include substantial ketone groups, which have both lower O/C and lower m/z 44/OM fraction than carboxylic acid groups. Air masses with more than 4-day old emissions have higher carboxylic acid/ketone group ratios, showing that atmospheric processing of these ketone-containing organic aerosol particles results in increased m/z 44 and O/C. These observations may provide functionally-specific evidence for the type of chemical processing that is responsible for biomass burning particle composition in the atmosphere.     

Canada’s Mobile Sources Air Pollution Control Program

The chemical and optical properties of particle emissions from onroad vehicles were investigated at the Allegheny Tunnel on the Pennsylvania Turnpike during July 1981. The optical results are in agreement with earlier data: (1) in terms of light extinction per km driven, diesel particle emissions are at least an order of magnitude more important than particle emissions from spark-ignition vehicles; (2) for diesel particle emissions, light absorption is about twice as efficient as light scattering. Chemical analyses showed that: (1) 24% of the vehicle aerosol was extractable material, (2) 75% of the total mass was carbon, (3) 55% of the total mass was unextractable (elemental) carbon, and (4) the stoichiometry of the extractable fraction of the diesel particle emissions was C_nH_t.7nN_0.05n , i.e., the extractable material was composed predominantly of alkanes. The results of the chemical analyses allow the calculation of the massspecific light absorption coefficient for the elemental carbon component of the diesel particle emissions, i.e., 10.9 ± 1.8 m²/g (500 nm).     

Modeling speciated terpenoid emissions from the European boreal forest

We present the first estimates of speciated monoterpene emissions from the North European coniferous forests. Measured emission factors and emission profiles of boreal tree species (Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris, Betula pendula, Salix phylicifolia, Populus tremula, and Alnus incana) were used together with detailed satellite land cover information and meteorological data in an emission model based on the Guenther emission algorithms. The variation of the coniferous biomass within the boreal region (60°N to 70°N) was obtained from forest inventory data, and the seasonal variability of the deciduous biomass was taken into account through simple boreal climatology parameterisation. The annual biogenic emissions in the boreal zone are dominated by coniferous species, but in the summer months, the deciduous contribution to the monoterpene and isoprene emissions is considerable. Norway spruce (Picea abies) is the most important isoprene emitter in the north European boreal forests. The biogenic emission fluxes in the South boreal zone are approximately twice as high as fluxes in the North boreal zone. α- and β-pinene, carene, and cineole are the most abundant emitted terpenes, with a strong contribution of isoprene and linalool during the summer months.     

Study of Miller timing on exhaust emissions of a hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO)-fueled diesel engine

The effect of intake valve closure (IVC) timing by utilizing Miller cycle and start of injection (SOI) on particulate matter (PM), particle number, and nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions was studied with a hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO)-fueled nonroad diesel engine. HVO-fueled engine emissions, including aldehyde and polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emissions, were also compared with those emitted with fossil EN590 diesel fuel. At the engine standard settings, particle number and NO_x emissions decreased at all the studied load points (50%, 75%, and 100%) when the fuel was changed from EN590 to HVO. Adjusting IVC timing enabled a substantial decrease in NO_x emission and combined with SOI timing adjustment somewhat smaller decrease in both NO_x and particle emissions at IVC??50 and??70 °CA points. The HVO fuel decreased PAH emissions mainly due to the absence of aromatics. Aldehyde emissions were lower with the HVO fuel with medium (50%) load. At higher loads (75% and 100%), aldehyde emissions were slightly higher with the HVO fuel. However, the aldehyde emission levels were quite low, so no clear conclusions on the effect of fuel can be made. Overall, the study indicates that paraffinic HVO fuels are suitable for emission reduction with valve and injection timing adjustment and thus provide possibilities for engine manufacturers to meet the strictening emission limits.

Implications: NO_x and particle emissions are dominant emissions of diesel engines and vehicles. New, biobased paraffinic fuels and modern engine technologies have been reported to lower both of these emissions. In this study, even further reductions were achieved with engine valve adjustment combined with novel hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) diesel fuel. This study shows that new paraffinic fuels offer further possibilities to reduce engine exhaust emissions to meet the future emission limits.

Supplementary Materials: Supplementary materials are available for this paper. Go to the publisher's online edition of the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association for a complete list of analysed PAH compounds.     

Overview of surface measurements and spatial characterization of submicrometer particulate matter during the DISCOVER-AQ 2013 campaign in Houston,TX

The sources of submicrometer particulate matter (PM₁) remain poorly characterized in the industrialized city of Houston, TX. A mobile sampling approach was used to characterize PM₁ composition and concentration across Houston based on high-time-resolution measurements of nonrefractory PM₁ and trace gases during the DISCOVER-AQ Texas 2013 campaign. Two pollution zones with marked differences in PM₁ levels, character, and dynamics were established based on cluster analysis of organic aerosol mass loadings sampled at 16 sites. The highest PM₁ mass concentrations (average 11.6 ± 5.7 µg/m³) were observed to the northwest of Houston (zone 1), dominated by secondary organic aerosol (SOA) mass likely driven by nighttime biogenic organonitrate formation. Zone 2, an industrial/urban area south/east of Houston, exhibited lower concentrations of PM₁ (average 4.4 ± 3.3 µg/m³), significant organic aerosol (OA) aging, and evidence of primary sulfate emissions. Diurnal patterns and backward-trajectory analyses enable the classification of airmass clusters characterized by distinct PM sources: biogenic SOA, photochemical aged SOA, and primary sulfate emissions from the Houston Ship Channel. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicates that secondary biogenic organonitrates primarily related with monoterpenes are predominant in zone 1 (accounting for 34% of the variability in the data set). The relevance of photochemical processes and industrial and traffic emission sources in zone 2 also is highlighted by PCA, which identifies three factors related with these processes/sources (~50% of the aerosol/trace gas concentration variability). PCA reveals a relatively minor contribution of isoprene to SOA formation in zone 1 and the absence of isoprene-derived aerosol in zone 2. The relevance of industrial amine emissions and the likely contribution of chloride-displaced sea salt aerosol to the observed variability in pollution levels in zone 2 also are captured by PCA.

Implications: This article describes an urban-scale mobile study to characterize spatial variations in submicrometer particulate matter (PM₁) in greater Houston. The data set indicates substantial spatial variations in PM₁ sources/chemistry and elucidates the importance of photochemistry and nighttime oxidant chemistry in producing secondary PM₁. These results emphasize the potential benefits of effective control strategies throughout the region, not only to reduce primary emissions of PM₁ from automobiles and industry but also to reduce the emissions of important secondary PM₁ precursors, including sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, ammonia, and volatile organic compounds. Such efforts also could aid in efforts to reduce mixing ratios of ozone.     

Improving Source Apportionment of Fine Particles in the Eastern United States Utilizing Temperature-Resolved Carbon Fractions

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to examine the use of carbon fractions to identify particulate matter (PM) sources, especially traffic‐related carbonaceous particle sources, and to estimate their contributions to the particle mass concentrations. In recent studies, positive matrix factorization (PMF) was applied to ambient fine PM (PM_2.5) compositional data sets of 24‐hr integrated samples including eight individual carbon fractions collected at three monitoring sites in the eastern United States: Atlanta, GA, Washington, DC, and Brigantine, NJ. Particulate carbon was analyzed using the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments/Thermal Optical Reflectance method that divides carbon into four organic carbons (OC): pyrolized OC and three elemental carbon (EC) fractions. In contrast to earlier PMF studies that included only the total OC and EC concentrations, gasoline emissions could be distinguished from diesel emissions based on the differences in the abundances of the carbon fractions between the two sources. The compositional profiles for these two major source types show similarities among the three sites. Temperature‐resolved carbon fractions also enhanced separations of carbon‐rich secondary sulfate aerosols. Potential source contribution function analyses show the potential source areas and pathways of sulfate‐rich secondary aerosols, especially the regional influences of the biogenic, as well as anthropogenic secondary aerosol. This study indicates that temperature‐resolved carbon fractions can be used to enhance the source apportionment of ambient PM_2.5.     

Experimental investigation of tribological characteristics and emissions with nonedible sunflower oil as a biolubricant

Plant (vegetable) oil has been evaluated as a substitute for mineral oil–based lubricants because of its natural and environmentally friendly characteristics. Availability of vegetable oil makes it a renewable source of bio-oils. Additionally, vegetable oil–based lubricants have shown potential for reducing hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions when utilized in internal combustion (IC) engines and industrial operations. In this study, sunflower oil was investigated to study its lubricant characteristics under different loads using the four-ball tribometer and the exhaust emissions were tested using a four-stroke, single-cylinder diesel engine. All experimental works conformed to American Society for Testing and Materials standard (ASTM D4172-B). Under low loads, sunflower oil showed adequate tribological characteristics (antifriction and antiwear) compared with petroleum oil samples. The results also demonstrated that the sunflower oil–based lubricant was more effective in reducing the emission levels of carbon monoxide (CO), CO₂, and hydrocarbons under different test conditions. Therefore, sunflower oil has the potential to be used as lubricant of mating components.

Implications: An experimental investigation of the characteristics of nonedible sunflower oil tribological behaviors and potential as a renewable source for biofluids alternative to the petroleum oils was carried out. The level of emissions of a four–stroke, single-cylinder diesel engine using sunflower oil as a biolubricant was evaluated.     

“Environmental Quality — Energy Quantity”

Source resolution of the organic component of the fine fraction of the ambient aerosol (dp < 3.5 fim) has been carried out by combining source information from the inorganic component with thermal analysis and local emission inventories. The primary and secondary carbon containing components were identified using a source fingerprint thermogram. The primary carbon emitted from automobiles was calculated using the ambient lead concentration and a recent estimate of the lead to carbon ratio for this source. The remaining primary carbon was apportioned to the other sources according to the local emission inventory. Source apportionment of the secondary component was performed by scaling the secondary carbon to a recent emission inventory for reactive organic gases (ROG) neglecting biogenic contributions and assuming equal potential for aerosol formation for the various ROG. The method was applied to data collected at Lennox and Duarte on 10/23/80. The major source at both sites was automobiles which were responsible for 68% and 36% of the carbon containing component of the fine aerosol at Lennox and Duarte respectively. Industrial sources made a relatively higher contribution at Duarte, 26%, than at Lennox 12%. Good correlation was found between ozone and secondary carbon. However, a weaker correlation was found between sulfates and secondary carbon. Contributions to the visibility budget by various chemical species were calculated at Lennox and Duarte on 10/23/80 using an appropriate regression model. It was found that the carbon containing component was responsible for 27% and 44% of the incident light extinction at Lennox and Duarte, respectively.     

Source apportionment of airborne particulate matter using organic compounds as tracers

A chemical mass balance receptor model based on organic compounds has been developed that relates source contributions to airborne fine particle mass concentrations. Source contributions to the concentrations of specific organic compounds are revealed as well. The model is applied to four air quality monitoring sites in southern California using atmospheric organic compound concentration data and source test data collected specifically for the purpose of testing this model. The contributions of up to nine primary particle source types can be separately identified in ambient samples based on this method, and approximately 85% of the organic fine aerosol is assigned to primary sources on an annual average basis. The model provides information on source contributions to fine mass concentrations, fine organic aerosol concentrations and individual organic compound concentrations. The largest primary source contributors to fine particle mass concentrations in Los Angeles are found to include diesel engine exhaust, paved road dust, gasoline-powered vehicle exhaust, plus emissions from food cooking and wood smoke, with smaller contribution from tire dust, plant fragments, natural gas combustion aerosol, and cigarette smoke. Once these primary aerosol source contributions are added to the secondary sulfates, nitrates and organics present, virtually all of the annual average fine particle mass at Los Angeles area monitoring sites can be assigned to its source.     

Multiple-year black carbon measurements and source apportionment using Delta-C in Rochester,New York

Black carbon (BC), an important component of the atmospheric aerosol, has climatic, environmental, and human health significance. In this study, BC was continuously measured using a two-wavelength aethalometer (370 nm and 880 nm) in Rochester, New York, from January 2007 to December 2010. The monitoring site is adjacent to two major urban highways (I-490 and I-590), where 14% to 21% of the total traffic was heavy-duty diesel vehicles. The annual average BC concentrations were 0.76 μg/m³, 0.67 μg/m³, 0.60 μg/m³, and 0.52 μg/m³ in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010, respectively. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) modeling was performed using PM_2.5 elements, sulfate, nitrate, ammonia, elemental carbon (EC), and organic carbon (OC) data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) speciation network and Delta-C (UVBC_370nm – BC_880nm) data. Delta-C has been previously shown to be a tracer of wood combustion factor. It was used as an input variable in source apportionment models for the first time in this study and was found to play an important role in separating traffic (especially diesel) emissions from wood combustion emissions. The result showed the annual average PM_2.5 concentrations apportioned to diesel emissions in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 were 1.34 μg/m³, 1.25 μg/m³, 1.13 μg/m³, and 0.97 μg/m³, respectively. The BC conditional probability function (CPF) plots show a large contribution from the highway diesel traffic to elevated BC concentrations. The measurements and modeling results suggest an impact of the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2007 Heavy-Duty Highway Rule on the decrease of BC and PM_2.5 concentrations during the study period.

Implications: This study suggests that there was an observable impact of the U.S EPA 2007 Heavy-Duty Highway Rule on the ambient black carbon concentrations in Rochester, New York. Aethalometer Delta-C was used as an input variable in source apportionment models and it allowed the separation of traffic (especially diesel) emissions from wood combustion emissions.     

Particulate matter source apportionment in a village situated in industrial region of Central Europe

The bilinear receptor model positive matrix factorization (PMF) was used to apportion particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 1–10 μm (PM_1–10) sources in a village, B?ezno, situated in an industrial region of northern Bohemia in Central Europe. The receptor model analyzed the data sets of 90- and 60-min integrations of PM_1–10 mass concentrations and elemental composition for 27 elements. The 14-day sampling campaigns were conducted in the village in summer 2008 and winter 2010. Also, to ensure seasonal and regional representativeness of the data sets recorded in the village, the spatial-temporal variability of the 24-hr PM₁₀ and PM_1–10 within 2008–2010 in winter and summer across the multiple sites was evaluated. There were statistically significant interseasonal differences of the 24-hr PM data, but not intrasummer or intrawinter differences of the 24-hr PM_1–10 data across the multiple sites. PMF resolved seven sources of PM_1–10. They were high-temperature coal combustion; combustion in local heating boilers; marine aerosol; mineral dust; primary biological/wood burning; road dust, car brakes; and gypsum. The main summer factors were assigned to mineral dust (38.2%) and primary biological/wood burning (33.1%). In winter, combustion factors dominated (80%) contribution to PM_1–10. The conditional probability function (CPF) helped to identified local sources of PM_1–10. The source of marine aerosol from the North Sea and English Channel was indicated by the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory Model (HYSPLIT).

Implications: This is the first application of PMF to highly time/size resolved PM data in Czech Republic. The coarse aerosol fraction, PM_1–10, was chosen with regard to industrial character of the region, sampling site near the coal strip mine and coal power stations. Contrary to expectation, source apportionment did not show dominance of emissions from the coal strip mine. The results will enable local authorities and state bodies responsible for air quality assessment to focus on sources most responsible for air pollution in this industrial region.

Supplemental Materials:?Supplemental materials are available for this paper. Go to the publisher's online edition of the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association for (1) details of measurement campaigns; (2) CPF for each of the sources contributing to PM_1–10; (3) factors contribution to PM_1–10 resolved by PMF; (4) diurnal pattern of road dust, car brake factor in summer and winter; (5) trajectories during the marine aerosol episode in winter 2010; and (6) temporal temperature, concentration, and wind speed relationships during the summer 2008 campaign and winter 2010 campaign.     

The stable carbon isotope composition of PM2.5 and PM10 in Mexico City Metropolitan Area air

The sources and distribution of carbon in ambient suspended particles (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) of Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) air were traced using stable carbon isotopes (¹³C/¹²C). Tested potential sources included rural and agricultural soils, gasoline and diesel, liquefied-petroleum gas, volcanic ash, and street dust. The complete combustion of LP gas, diesel and gasoline yielded the lightest δ¹³C values (?27 to ?29‰ vs. PDB), while street dust (PM₁₀) represented the isotopically heaviest endmember (?17‰). The δ¹³C values of rural soils from four geographically separated sites were similar (?20.7 ± 1.5‰). δ¹³C values of particles and soot from diesel and gasoline vehicle emissions and agricultural soils varied between ?23 and ?26‰. Ambient PM samples collected in November of 2000, and March and December of 2001 at three representative receptor sites of industrial, commercial and residential activities had a δ¹³C value centered around ?25.1‰ in both fractions, resulting from common carbon sources. The predominant carbon sources to MCMA atmospheric particles were hydrocarbon combustion (diesel and/or gasoline) and particles of geological origin. The significantly depleted δ¹³C values from the industrial site reflect the input of diesel combustion by mobile and point source emissions. Based on stable carbon isotope mass balance, the carbon contribution of geological sources at the commercial and residential sites was approximately 73% for the PM₁₀ fraction and 54% for PM_2.5. Although not measured in this study, biomass-burning emissions from nearby forests are an important carbon source characterized by isotopically lighter values (?29‰), and can become a significant contributor (67%) of particulate carbon to MCMA air under the prevalence of southwesterly winds. Alternative sources of these ¹³C-depleted particles, such as cooking fires and municipal waste incineration, need to be assessed. Results show that stable carbon isotope measurements are useful for distinguishing between some carbon sources in suspended particles to MCMA air, and that wind direction has an impact on the distribution of carbon sources in this basin.     

Sources of PM10 and sulfate aerosol at McMurdo Station, Antarctica

Source contributions to PM10 and sulfate aerosol at McMurdo Station, Antarctica during the austral summers of 1995-1996 and 1996-1997 were estimated using Chemical Mass Balance (CMB) receptor modeling. The average PM10 (particles with aerodynamic diameters less than 10 microm) concentration at Hut Point, located less than 1 km downwind of downtown McMurdo, was 3.4 microg/m3. Emissions profiles were determined for potentially important aerosol source types in McMurdo: exposed soil, power generation, space heating, and surface vehicles. Soil dust, sea salt, combustion emissions, sulfates, marine biogenic emissions as methanesulfonate, and nitrates contributed 57%, 15%, 14%, 10%, 3%, and 1%, respectively, of average estimated PM10 at Hut Point (3.2 microg/m3). Soil dust, sea salt, and combustion sources contributed 12%, 8%, and 20%, respectively, of the average PM10 sulfate concentration of 0.46 microg/m3. Marine biogenic sources contributed 0.17 microg/m3 (37%). The remaining sulfate is thought to have come from emissions from Mt. Erebus or hemispheric pollution sources.     

Source characterization of ambient fine particles at multiple sites in the Seattle area

To identify major PM_2.5 (particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter) sources with a particular emphasis on the ship engine emissions from a major port, integrated 24 h PM_2.5 speciation data collected between 2000 and 2005 at five United State Environmental Protection Agency's Speciation Trends Network monitoring sites in Seattle, WA were analyzed. Seven to ten PM_2.5 sources were identified through the application of positive matrix factorization (PMF). Secondary particles (12–26% for secondary nitrate; 17–20% for secondary sulfate) and gasoline vehicle emissions (13–31%) made the largest contributions to the PM_2.5 mass concentrations at all of the monitoring sites except for the residential Lake Forest site, where wood smoke contributed the most PM_2.5 mass (31%). Other identified sources include diesel vehicle emissions, airborne soil, residual oil combustion, sea salt, aged sea salt, metal processing, and cement kiln. Residual oil combustion sources identified at multiple monitoring sites point clearly to the Port of Seattle suggesting ship emissions as the source of oil combustion particles. In addition, the relationship between sulfate concentrations and the oil combustion emissions indicated contributions of ship emissions to the local sulfate concentrations. The analysis of spatial variability of PM_2.5 sources shows that the spatial distributions of several PM_2.5 sources were heterogeneous within a given air shed.     

Characterization and sources assignation of PM2.5 organic aerosol in a rural area of Spain

The results from a year-long study of the organic composition of PM2.5 aerosol collected in a rural area influenced by a highway of Spain are reported. The lack of prior information related to the organic composition of PM2.5 aerosol in Spain, concretely in rural areas, led definition of the goals of this study. As a result, this work has been able to characterize the main organic components of atmospheric aerosols, including several compounds of SOA, and has conducted a multivariate analysis in order to assign sources of particulate matter. A total of 89 samples were taken between April 2004 and April 2005 using a high-volume sampler. Features and abundance of n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), alcohols and acids were separately determined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatography analysis. The Σn-alkane and ΣPAHs ranged from 3 to 81 ng m^?3 and 0.1 to 6 ng m^?3 respectively, with higher concentrations during colder months. Ambient concentrations of Σalcohols and Σacids ranged from 21 to 184 ng m^?3 and 39 to 733 ng m^?3, respectively. Also, several components of secondary organic aerosol have been quantified, confirming the biogenic contribution to ambient aerosol. In addition, factor analysis was used to reveal origin of organic compounds associated to particulate matter. Eight factors were extracted accounting more than 83% of the variability in the original data. These factors were assigned to a typical high pollution episode by anthropogenic particles, crustal material, plant waxes, fossil fuel combustion, temperature, microbiological emissions, SOA and dispersion of pollutants by wind action. Finally, a cluster analysis was used to compare the organic composition between the four seasons.     

Identification of Sources Contributing to Mid-Atlantic Regional Aerosol

Abstract

Source types or source regions contributing to the concentration of atmospheric fine particles measured at Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge, NJ, were identified using a factor analysis model called Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF). Cluster analysis of backward air trajectories on days of high- and low-factor concentrations was used to link factors to potential source regions. Brigantine is a Class I visibility area with few local sources in the center of the eastern urban corridor and is therefore a good location to study Mid-Atlantic regional aerosol. Sulfate (expressed as ammonium sulfate) was the most abundant species, accounting for 49% of annual average fine mass. Organic compounds (22%; expressed as 1.4 × organic carbon) and ammonium nitrate (10%) were the next abundant species. Some evidence herein suggests that secondary organic aerosol formation is an important contributor to summertime regional aerosol.

Nine factors were identified that contributed to PM_2.5 mass concentrations: coal combustion factors (66%, summer and winter), sea salt factors (9%, fresh and aged), motor vehicle/mixed combustion (8%), diesel/Zn-Pb (6%), incinerator/industrial (5%), oil combustion (4%), and soil (2%). The aged sea salt concentrations were highest in springtime, when the land breeze-sea breeze cycle is strongest. Comparison of backward air trajectories of high- and low-concentration days suggests that Brigantine is surrounded by sources of oil combustion, motor vehicle/mixed combustion, and waste incinerator/industrial emissions that together account for 17% of PM_2.5 mass. The diesel/Zn-Pb factor was associated with sources north and west of Brigantine. Coal combustion factors were associated with coal-fired power plants west and southwest of the site. Particulate carbon was associated not only with oil combustion, motor vehicle/mixed combustion, waste incinerator/industrial, and diesel/Pb-Zn, but also with the coal combustion factors, perhaps through common transport.     

Effects of water-emulsified fuel on a diesel engine generator’s thermal efficiency and exhaust

Water-emulsified diesel has proven itself as a technically sufficient improvement fuel to improve diesel engine fuel combustion emissions and engine performance. However, it has seldom been used in light-duty diesel engines. Therefore, this paper focuses on an investigation into the thermal efficiency and pollution emission analysis of a light-duty diesel engine generator fueled with different water content emulsified diesel fuels (WD, including WD-0, WD-5, WD-10, and WD-15). In this study, nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and carbon dioxide were analyzed by a vehicle emission gas analyzer, and the particle size and number concentration were measured by an electrical low-pressure impactor. In addition, engine loading and fuel consumption were also measured to calculate the thermal efficiency. Measurement results suggested that water-emulsified diesel was useful to improve the thermal efficiency and the exhaust emission of a diesel engine. Obviously, the thermal efficiency was increased about 1.2 to 19.9%. In addition, water-emulsified diesel leads to a significant reduction of nitric oxide emission (less by about 18.3 to 45.4%). However, the particle number concentration emission might be increased if the loading of the generator becomes lower than or equal to 1800 W. In addition, exhaust particle size distributions were shifted toward larger particles at high loading. The consequence of this research proposed that the water-emulsified diesel was useful to improve the engine performance and some of exhaust emissions, especially the NO emission reduction.

Implications:The accumulated test results provide a good basis to resolve the corresponding pollutants emitted from a light-duty diesel engine generator. By measuring and analyzing transforms of exhaust pollutant from this engine generator, the effects of water-emulsified diesel fuel and loading on emission characteristics might be more clear. Understanding reduction of pollutant emissions during the use of water-emulsified diesel helps improve the effectiveness of the testing program. The analyzed consequences provide useful information to the government for setting policies to curb pollutant emissions from a light-duty diesel engine generator more effectively.     

Source apportionment of PAHs and n-alkanes in respirable particles in Tehran,Iran by wind sector and vertical profile

The vertical concentration profiles and source contributions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and n-alkanes in respirable particle samples (PM₄) collected at 10, 100, 200 and 300-m altitude from the Milad Tower of Tehran, Iran during fall and winter were investigated. The average concentrations of total PAHs and total n-alkanes were 16.7 and 591 ng/m³, respectively. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model was applied to the chemical composition and wind data to apportion the contributing sources. The five PAH source factors identified were: ‘diesel’ (56.3 % of total PAHs on average), ‘gasoline’ (15.5 %), ‘wood combustion, and incineration’ (13 %), ‘industry’ (9.2 %), and ‘road soil particle’ (6.0 %). The four n-alkane source factors identified were: ‘petrogenic’ (65 % of total n-alkanes on average), ‘mixture of petrogenic and biomass burning’ (15 %), ‘mixture of biogenic and fossil fuel’ (11.5 %), and ‘biogenic’ (8.5 %). Source contributions by wind sector were also estimated based on the wind sector factor loadings from PMF analysis. Directional dependence of sources was investigated using the conditional probability function (CPF) and directional relative strength (DRS) methods. The calm wind period was found to contribute to 4.4 % of total PAHs and 5.0 % of total n-alkanes on average. Highest average concentrations of PAHs and n-alkanes were found in the 10 and 100 m samples, reflecting the importance of contributions from local sources. Higher average concentrations in the 300 m samples compared to those in the 200 m samples may indicate contributions from long-range transport. The vertical profiles of source factors indicate the gasoline and road soil particle-associated PAHs, and the mixture from biogenic and fossil fuel source-associated n-alkanes were mostly from local emissions. The smaller average contribution of diesel-associated PAHs in the lower altitude samples also indicates that the restriction of diesel-fueled vehicle use in the central area of Tehran has been effective in reducing the PAHs concentration.