Application of impregnated filters to determination of smoke and ammonia

Whatman No. 1 filters impregnated with a 3% solution of oxalic acid in ethanol which are used for elimination of ammonia from the air stream before entering the absorber for collecting SO₂, were tested for a possible application (a) in the spectrophotometric determination of ammonia with Nessler's reagent and (b) in the reflectometric determination of smoke. It was shown that impregnated filters were as suitable for the determination of ammonia as absorbing solution and as applicable for smoke measurement as untreated filters. Further, the advantage of using impregnated filters for sampling ammonia lies in avoiding the interference of organic vapours which may occur, if absorbing solution is used.     

Reduction of SO2 emissions by ammonia gas during unstaged combustion

The reduction of SO₂ by the addition of ammonia gas has been studied in a 2 m high fluidized bed combustor having a 30 cm static bed height and a freeboard height of 170 cm. Ammonia gas was injected at 52 cm above the distributor where the temperature is ca. 700° C by an uncooled stainless steel tube injector. Experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of amminia gas injection on sulphur dioxide emissions at unstaged conditions of: (i) excess air level, (ii) NH₃:SO₂ molar ratio, (iii) fluidizing velocity and (iv) bed height.A maximum reduction of 75% in SO₂ emissions was found at 40% excess air, at an NH₃:SO₂ molar ratio of 5.4. The onset of SO₂ reduction occurred at an NH₃:SO₂ ratio of 1.5 However, the most effective ratio was found to be between 3 and 5. Fluidizing velocity and bed height were also found to have significant influence on SO₂ reduction.It is difficult to determine how the SO₂ reduction varied with operating conditions. When ammonia is added in the main combustor zone, the temperature is much higher than that required for the occurrence of sulphur dioxide-ammonia and sulphur trioxide-ammonia reactions. However, this paper points out the significance of ammonia addition in the reduction of sulphur dioxide.     

SO2对硫酸雾干扰及其消除研究

针对《固定污染源废气硫酸雾的测定离子色谱法》在污染源测定过程中SO_2引入的正干扰问题,通过实验进行了干扰物确认及消除方式研究。结果表明,在无氧条件下,SO_2不会对硫酸雾产生正干扰,而在有氧气存在条件下标准方法中的碱性吸收液会吸收部分SO_2并最终转化为SO_4~(2-),使硫酸雾测定结果偏高。硫酸生产企业测定结果显示被吸收的SO_2约占其排放量的30%~59%。在原有吸收液中加入1%甲醛作为改进吸收液,可使采集到的SO_2以SO_3~(2-)形式稳定存在,不会对目标化合物SO_4~(2-)产生干扰且稳定时间至少为30 d。采用改进吸收液采集硫酸雾可有效防止SO_2引入正干扰,且对硫酸雾测定结果无影响。     

The Effects of Ammonia on SO2 Emissions in a Fluidized Bed Combustor Under Pseudo-Staged Combustion

The reduction of SO₂ by ammonia gas additionduring staged combustion of bituminous coal has beenstudied in a 2 m high fluidized bed combustor of 30 cmstatic bed height and a freeboard height of 100 cm.The coal was introduced to the combustor at 42 cmabove the distributor and the ammonia gas was injectedat 52 cm above the distributor by an uncooledstainless steel injector. Experiments were carriedout to investigate effects of ammonia gas injection onSO₂ emissions of (i) air staged levels, (ii) excess air levels, (iii) primary air factor, PAF(ratio of primary to stoichiometric air), (iv) NH₃:SO₂ molar ratio, and (v) fluidizingvelocity. Experiments were carried out under a newtechnique of air staging called Pseudo-stagedCombustion, maintaining the excess air level andfluidizing velocity between 17 and 70% and between0.7 and 2.0 m sec^-1, respectively. A maximum reduction of92% was obtained at 37% excess air, at NH₃:SO₂ molar ratio of 5.5. The effective NH₃:SO₂ molar ratio was found to be between 3.0 and5.5, which is true for all staging and excess air levels.A greater removal of SO₂ with NH₃ injectionduring staged combustion is probably due to this newstaging technique. The Pseudo-staging reducestemperature through the freeboard and flue for theoccurance of as NH₃ + SO₂ reactions. Thesereactions are reported to be low temperaturereactions. The NH₃ carry over was less than 83 ppm for all operating conditions. The present studydemonstrates that staged combustion coupled withammonia injection can reduce SO₂ emissions.     

Validation of atmospheric aerosols parallel sampling in a multifold device

In this work, particulate matter was collected using an active sampling system consisting of a PM₁₀ (<10 μm) inlet coupled to a multifold device containing six channels, connected to a vacuum pump. Each channel was equipped with a filter holder fitted with adequately chosen filters. The system was fixed on a metallic structure, which was placed on the roof of the laboratory building, at the Faculty of Sciences, in Lisbon. Sampling took place under flow-controlled conditions. Aerosols were extracted from the filters with water, in defined conditions, and the water-soluble fraction was quantified by ion chromatography (IC) for the determination of inorganic anions (Cl^?, NO₃ ^? and SO₄ ^2?). Equivalent sampling through the various channels was validated. Validation was based on the metrological compatibility of the content results for the various filters. Ion masses are metrologically equivalent when their absolute difference is smaller than the respective expanded uncertainty. When this condition is verified, the studied multifold device produces equivalent samples.     

离子色谱法测废印刷电路板真空热解气相污染物中HBr、NO2和SO2

在淋洗液中加入H2O2和三乙醇胺配制成吸收液,通过离子色谱法同时测定废印刷电路板真空热解气相产物中HBr、NO_2和SO_2的含量,方法简单、快速、准确。当用50 m L吸收液、采样体积为30 L时,3种污染物的检出限分别为0.000 005 7、0.000 003 4、0.000 002 9 mg/L。该方法加标回收率为95.7%~104.8%,完全能满足废印刷电路板真空热解气相污染物中HBr、NO_2和SO_2的同时测定要求。利用该方法和行标方法同时测定环境空气中的HBr、NO_2和SO_2,再利用Excel分析工具对测定数据进行F检验和t检验,检验结果表明2种测定方法无显著差异。     

Evaluation of preservation methods for nutrient species collected by automatic samplers

Automatic samplers are a common method of data collection for numerous monitoring projects in the South Florida region and elsewhere. Although total phosphorus (TP) is the primary parameter of interest within this region, nitrogen species such as ammonia nitrogen (NH₄-N), nitrate+nitrite nitrogen (NO_x-N), and total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) are also collected and analyzed. Federal and state quality assurance guidelines require nutrient samples to be preserved by acidification with H₂SO₄ to a pH < 2 and stored immediately at 4 °C. However, the remoteness of manysampling locations in South Florida makes it difficult to supplyelectricity for the refrigeration of samples collected by autosamplers. In addition, the use of propane-powered refrigerated autosamplers is a costly and ineffective solution in the South Florida climate. Consequently, while samples collected at these remote locations are routinely pre-preservedwith acid, they are not cooled to 4 °C for a period fromone to seven days. This study evaluated if a statistically significant difference ( = 0.05) existed between concentrations of nitrogen species from a common source samplethat was either: processed immediately; refrigerated to 4 °C for seven days; or not refrigerated for seven days.In all cases, the collected sample was pre-preserved by adding 1 mL of 50% H₂SO₄ to each 1 L discrete sample container before each 7 day testing period. Differences in concentrations of the calculated parameter total nitrogen (TN)were also investigated.Analyses using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test showed no significant differences among the three treatment groups for NO_x-N, TKN, TN and TP. Significant differences were observedwhen the NH₄-N samples that were processed immediately werepaired with NH₄-N samples that were left unrefrigerated or refrigerated for seven days. Information from this study can be used by researchers and managers in evaluating the usefulness of nutrient water quality data that is collected when sample refrigeration is not available.     

两种消解法测定沉积物总磷的对比

通过过硫酸钾消解法与HClO₄-H₂SO₄消解法对土壤和水系沉积物的标准物质,以及三峡水库沉积物未知样品中的总磷含量进行测定,并对检测结果进行对比,分析过硫酸钾消解法测定沉积物总磷的可行性。结果表明,在标准样品中,HClO₄-H₂SO₄消解法的检测结果是标准值的83%~100%,并且所有结果均在其不确定度范围之内;过硫酸钾消解法的检测结果仅达到标准值的19%~42%,超出其不确定度范围,不能作为有效数据。在未知样品中,过硫酸钾消解法检测结果也远低于HClO₄-H₂SO₄消解法检测结果,只达到后者的32%~52%。由此可见,过硫酸钾消解法测定沉积物或土壤中总磷,仍需要进一步的研究,以达到符合实际的检测结果。     

Outdoor-indoor air quality in Riyadh: SO2, NH3, and HCHO

A funded research project was conducted during the period July1992 through November 1994. The project was designed to evaluateindoor and ambient air quality in and around buildings of different types and uses in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.Thirty intercity buildings and two outercity (background) siteswere carefully selected and monitored for air quality. Ten airpollutants, together with relevant meteorological parameters, were monitored indoor and outdoor at each site continuously andsimultaneously for a period of two weeks covering summer and winter seasons.This article discusses the results obtained for sulfur dioxide (SO₂), ammonia (NH₃) and formaldehyde (HCHO). Results of this investigation revealed that most sites had on the averageexceeded the recommended standards for SO₂ and NH₃ bothindoor and outdoor, with indoor levels being worse than outdoorduring winter time. Several sites also showed high levels of HCHO, with outdoor levels being consistently higher than indoor.Statistical and frequency analyses were performed on the collected data, showing seasonal and sector by sector variability, and outdoor-indoor correlations.     

Thermal volatilization properties of atmospheric nanoparticles

Thermal volatilization is explored as a means of inferring the chemical composition of atmospheric aerosol particles with diameters smaller than 10 nm (nanoparticles). Such particles contain too little mass for quantitative chemical determination by traditional analytical methods. Aerosols were subjected to increasing temperature in an oven and particle loss was measured as a function of temperature with the TSI model 3025 ultrafine condensation particle counter (UCPC), which is capable of counting particles with diameters as small as 3 nm. Particle nucleation was observed down stream of the oven when it was heated above about 400°C. To reduce this artifact, the sample air down stream of the oven was cooled to condense the hot gases and/or the freshly nucleated particles before they reached the UCPC. Controlled experiments were done with pure ammonium sulfate (NH₄)₂SO₄ particles. The experimental design was optimized based on the known concentration of pure (NH₄)₂SO₄ particles vaporized in the oven and the diffusion of this material to the walls of the sampling tube before the particle counter.     

Meteorological influence on predicting surface SO2 concentration from satellite remote sensing in Shanghai,China

In this study, we explored the potential applications of the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) satellite sensor in air pollution research. The OMI planetary boundary layer sulfur dioxide (SO₂_PBL) column density and daily average surface SO₂ concentration of Shanghai from 2004 to 2012 were analyzed. After several consecutive years of increase, the surface SO₂ concentration finally declined in 2007. It was higher in winter than in other seasons. The coefficient between daily average surface SO₂ concentration and SO₂_PBL was only 0.316. But SO₂_PBL was found to be a highly significant predictor of the surface SO₂ concentration using the simple regression model. Five meteorological factors were considered in this study, among them, temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and wind speed were negatively correlated with surface SO₂ concentration, while pressure was positively correlated. Furthermore, it was found that dew point was a more effective predictor than temperature. When these meteorological factors were used in multiple regression, the determination coefficient reached 0.379. The relationship of the surface SO₂ concentration and meteorological factors was seasonally dependent. In summer and autumn, the regression model performed better than in spring and winter. The surface SO₂ concentration predicting method proposed in this study can be easily adapted for other regions, especially most useful for those having no operational air pollution forecasting services or having sparse ground monitoring networks.     

Study on concentration of ambient NH 3 and interactions with some other ambient trace gases

We present diurnal variation of ambient ammonia (NH₃) in relation with other trace gases (O₃, CO, NO, NO₂, and SO₂) and meteorological parameters at an urban site of Delhi during winter period. For the first time, ambient ammonia (NH₃) was monitored very precisely and continuously using ammonia analyzer, which operates on chemiluminescence method. NH₃ estimation efficiency of the chemiluminescence method (>90%) is much higher than the conventional chemical trapping method (reproducibility 4.5%). Ambient NH₃ concentration reaches its maxima (46.17 ppb) at night and minimum during midday. Result reveals that the ambient ammonia (NH₃) concentration is positively correlated with ambient NO (r ²?=?0.79) and NO₂ (r ²?=?0.91) mixing ratio and negatively correlated with ambient temperature (r ²?=???0.32). Wind direction and wind speed indicates that the nearby (~500 m NW) agricultural fields may be major source of ambient NH₃ at the observational site.     

因子分析法在金泉工业园区地下水水质评价中的应用

根据金泉工业园水源地8个不同监测断面的地下水水质监测数据,采用R型因子分析法对园区水源地地下水水质进行综合评价,在研究地下水中13种化学成分间相关关系的基础上,提取4个主因子进行分析计算。结果表明,Cl-、SO24-、总硬度和可溶性固体对第一主因子贡献明显;第二主因子代表指标是Zn;第三主因子代表指标是As;NO3-、氨氮、NO2-对第四主因子贡献显著。对水质进行综合评价后发现,人民渠、海流图河和乌拉壕监测断面处水质类别为V类,其他断面均为IV类。因子分析法从整体上评价了园区水源地地下水的水质现状,分析结果清晰明确,为日后地下水资源的管理与保护提供科学依据。     

The effect of metals and ammonia on SO2 oxidation to sulphates in the ambient air

The effect of metals and ammonia on the relationship between mass concentrations of sulphur dioxide and sulphate in the air was studied near an aluminium plant over a 1-year period. Sulphur dioxide, sulphates and ammonia in the air as well as metals (Pb, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd and Al) in the deposit were measured at four measuring sites.The levels of mass concentrations of SO₂ were low at all measuring sites while the levels of mass concentrations of sulphates in the air and concentrations of metals in the deposit were high. The levels of ammonia were found to decrease in relationship to the distance from the source of pollution.The relationship between the mass concentrations of sulphate and SO₂ can be described by the equation y=ax ^b ;where y is the percentage of sulphate sulphur in the total sulphur (sulphate and SO₂) and x is the mass concentration of the total sulphur in the air. The values of the coefficients a and b are characteristic of individual areas.As the results show the coefficients a and b obtained at a measuring site close to the plant and outside the urban area are characteristic of an industrial area. At control sites in the urban area the coefficients are characteristic of an urban area. At the measuring site close to the industrial zone and the centre of the urban area the interaction of the effects occurs. Therefore, the coefficient a is characteristic of an urban area and b of an industrial one.     

固定污染源废气中三氧化硫测试方法初探

建立了异丙醇吸收-分光光度法测试固定污染源中三氧化硫(SO_3)的方法,分别连续9次测试低、中、高3个质量浓度的SO_3烟气。测试结果表明,相对误差分别为7. 5%,-2. 6%和6. 7%,相对标准偏差分别为3. 3%,1. 7%和4. 1%,方法的准确度和精密度较好。方法检出限为0. 1 mg/m~3,测定下限为0. 4 mg/m~3。二氧化硫(SO_2)、一氧化碳(CO)、氮氧化物(NO_x)、硫化氢(H_2S)、含湿量、烟尘等因素对方法的干扰较小,方法适用于现场测试。     

Design and performance of a field exposure system for evaluation of the ecological effects of SO2 on native grassland

We describe the design and performance of two replicate field exposure systems for evaluating the ecological effects of chronic SO₂ exposure on 0.5 ha plots of native Montana grassland. The SO₂ was supplied at a constant rate to each plot through a network of 2.5-cm inside diameter aluminum pipes set parallel to and approximately 0.7 m above the ground with 0.8-mm SO₂ release holes at 3-m intervals. The resulting SO₂ concentrations on the plots varied with micrometeorological conditions. Fumigations were essentially continuous from April through October for 5 yr on one set of four plots and for 4 yr on another set of four plots. Frequency distributions of SO₂ concentrations were approximately log-normal and qualitatively similar to those from various area and point sources. The diurnal pattern of SO₂ concentrations was strongly correlated with the reciprocal of windspeed. Nighttime concentrations averaged almost double daytime concentrations. The diurnal concentration pattern resembled an area source more closely than a point source, a direct result of using constant SO₂ source strength. Plume strikes could be simulated by turning the system on only during pre-specified meteorological conditions. Similarly, seasonal variations in area source concentrations could be simulated by varying source strength on the plots. The data from 5 years use of the system indicate that the fine-scale behavior of SO₂ concentrations would be realistic.     

Voltammetric and Spectroscopic Determination of Toxic Metals in Sediments and Sea Water of Salerno Gulf

In this present work the distribution of heavy metals in sea water and sediments of the Salerno Gulf is measured. The elements determined were Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn and Hg, employing, as instrumental techniques, either differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) or graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS). A comparison of the results of the two analytical techniques is also made. Mercury determination was carried out employing the cold vapour atomic absorption spectroscopy (CVAAS) technique, with SnCl₂ as the reducing agent. The sample digestion was performed by a new procedure using concentrated suprapure H₂SO₄–K₂Cr₂O₇ mixture. The accuracy and precision of the analytical procedure were evaluated employing Sea Water BCR-CRM 403 and Estuarine Sediment BCR-CRM 277 as reference materials. Accuracy, expressed as relative error e and precision, expressed as relative standard deviation s_r, were in order of 2 to 5%. For both matrices, the detection limits, for all the elements, were in the range g g_-1 to ng g_-1.     

Growth impact of O3, NO2 and/or SO2 on pinus taeda

Seedlings of two full-sib families of loblolly pine expressing different degrees of sensitivity to O₃ were exposed to 0.05 ppm O₃, 0.10 ppm NO₂, and/or 0.14 ppm SO₂ for 6 hr/day for 28 consecutive days. The treatments were O₃, NO₂, SO₂ (each used alone), O₃+SO₂, O₃+NO₂, and O₃+NO₂+SO₂. Significant growth suppressions were noted with the relatively sensitive family in all but the the NO₂ alone treatments. The O₃+SO₂ treatment had a more significant effect than O₃ alone, but adding NO₂ had an inconsistent effect. Significant growth suppressions were noted for the relatively non-sensitive family only in the O₃+SO₂ and O₃+SO₂+NO₂ combination treatments. Adding NO₂ to O₃+SO₂ had a slightly stimulatory effect. The relatively sensitive pine family suffered a 30% height growth suppression versus a 14% height growth suppression for the relatively insensitive family when exposed to the 3 pollutant combination. Symptoms were noted on less than 4% of the foliage in the most severe treatments. The pollutant concentrations used in this study were below the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for each pollutant.     

Short-term Emissions of Ammonia and Carbon Dioxide from Cattle Urine Contaminated Tropical Grassland Microcosm

The study was designed to understand the emissions of ammonia (NH₃) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) from a single cattle urination event on a tropical grassland and underline the significance of the emissions in the context of huge animal population grazing on large pasture areas in some countries. Emissions of ammonia (NH₃) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) were monitored for three weeks from a tropical grassland (dominated by Cynodon dactylon Pers.) microcosm contaminated with cow and buffalo urine. The grassland microcosms were treated with urine (50 and 100 ml of each) only once and irrigated with water once every week. Ammonia was sampled by an automatic sampling system comprising of a vacuum pump, three-way stopcocks and rubber tubing and an impinger containing suitable absorbing solution (H₂SO₄), connected to the tubing suitably. The sampled gas, after sucked by the vacuum pump and absorbed in H₂SO₄, was allowed to enter the closed microcosm again maintaining internal pressure of the microcosm. Carbon dioxide was sampled by absorption in an alkali (NaOH) trap inside the microcosm. Both NH₃ and CO₂ emissions were highly variable temporally and there was no continuous increasing or decreasing emission trend with time. Respectively, 45 and 46% of total NH₃-N were emitted within first 48 h from 50 and 100 ml cow urine application while the corresponding values for buffalo urine were 34 and 32%. Total NH₃-N emissions, integrated for sampling days (i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 15, 18 and 21st) were 11 and 6% in cow and 8 and 5% in buffalo urine, of the total-N added through 50 and 100 ml urine samples. Carbon dioxide emissions were standardized at 25 ^∘C by using a suitable formula which were lower than actual emissions at actual soil temperature (> 25 ^∘C). Carbon dioxide emission rates were classified on the basis of soil repiratory classification and classes ranged from moderately low soil activity up to unusually high soil activity, the latter observed only on very few sampling days. Grasses in the microcosm had shown appreciable growth after urine application. Although variable and somewhat unpredictable, emissions were appreciable and that too only from a patch of single urination, indicating to the huge magnitude of total emissions under the scenario of thousands of cattle grazing on hundreds of acres of grasslands in a tropical country.     

Performances and application of a passive sampling method for the simultaneous determination of nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide in ambient air

The performances and applicability of a diffusion tubesampler for the simultaneous measurements of NO₂ andSO₂ in ambient air were evaluated. SO₂ andNO₂are collected by the passive sampler using triethanolamine astrapping agent and are determined as sulphate and nitrite withion chromatography. The detection limit (2.3 g m^-3 ofNO₂ and 4.2 g m^-3 of SO₂ for two weekssampling) is adequate for the determination of concentrationsin urban and industrial areas. Precision of the method as RSDis in mean 5% for NO₂ and 12% for SO₂ at theconcentration levels in urban areas. Calibration of the methodwas performed in the field conditions by comparison between theresponses of sampler and the concentrations measured by thecontinuous monitors. High degree of linearity (correlationcoefficients > 0.8) is found between the passive sampler tubeand the continuous monitor data for both NO₂ and SO₂.To reduce the wind velocity influence on passive sampling ofdiffusion tubes, a protective shelter was tested in this study.The overall uncertainty of one measure for the optimised methodis estimated at 5 g m^-3 for NO₂ and 6g m^-3 for SO₂. Suitability of this passivesampling method for air pollution monitoring in urban areas wasdemonstrated by the results shown in this paper on a campaigncarried out in the French agglomeration.