Greenhouse gas emissions from dairy open lot and manure stockpile in northern China: A case study

The open lots and manure stockpiles of dairy farm are major sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in typical dairy cow housing and manure management system in China. GHG (CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O) emissions from the ground level of brick-paved open lots and uncovered manure stockpiles were estimated according to the field measurements of a typical dairy farm in Beijing by closed chambers in four consecutive seasons. Location variation and manure removal strategy impacts were assessed on GHG emissions from the open lots. Estimated CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O emissions from the ground level of the open lots were 137.5±64.7 kg hd^-1 yr^-1, 0.45±0.21 kg hd^-1 yr^-1 and 0.13±0.08 kg hd^-1 yr^-1, respectively. There were remarkable location variations of GHG emissions from different zones (cubicle zone vs. aisle zone) of the open lot. However, the emissions from the whole open lot were less affected by the locations. After manure removal, lower CH₄ but higher N₂O emitted from the open lot. Estimated CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O emissions from stockpile with a stacking height of 55±12 cm were 858.9±375.8 kg hd^-1 yr^-1, 8.5±5.4 kg hd^-1 yr^-1 and 2.3±1.1 kg hd^-1 yr^-1, respectively. In situ storage duration, which estimated by manure volatile solid contents (VS), would affect GHG emissions from stockpiles. Much higher N₂O was emitted from stockpiles in summer due to longer manure storage.

Implications: This study deals with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from open lots and stockpiles. It’s an increasing area of concern in some livestock producing countries. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methodology is commonly used for estimation of national GHG emission inventories. There is a shortage of on-farm information to evaluate the accuracy of these equations and default emission factors. This work provides valuable information for improving accounting practices within China or for similar manure management practice in other countries.     

Boiler briquette coal versus raw coal: Part I--Stack gas emissions

Stack gas emissions were characterized for a steam-generating boiler commonly used in China. The boiler was tested when fired with a newly formulated boiler briquette coal (BB-coal) and when fired with conventional raw coal (R-coal). The stack gas emissions were analyzed to determine emission rates and emission factors and to develop chemical source profiles. A dilution source sampling system was used to collect PM on both Teflon membrane filters and quartz fiber filters. The Teflon filters were analyzed gravimetrically for PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentrations and by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for trace elements. The quartz fiber filters were analyzed for organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) using a thermal/optical reflectance technique. Sulfur dioxide was measured using the standard wet chemistry method. Carbon monoxide was measured using an Orsat combustion analyzer. The emission rates of the R-coal combustion (in kg/hr), determined using the measured stack gas concentrations and the stack gas emission rates, were 0.74 for PM10, 0.38 for PM2.5, 20.7 for SO2, and 6.8 for CO, while those of the BB-coal combustion were 0.95 for PM10, 0.30 for PM2.5, 7.5 for SO2, and 5.3 for CO. The fuel-mass-based emission factors (in g/kg) of the R-coal, determined using the emission rates and the fuel burn rates, were 1.68 for PM10, 0.87 for PM2.5, 46.7 for SO2, and 15 for CO, while those of the BB-coal were 2.51 for PM10, 0.79 for PM2.5, 19.9 for SO2, and 14 for CO. The task-based emission factors (in g/ton steam generated) of the R-coal, determined using the fuel-mass-based emission factors and the coal/steam conversion factors, were 0.23 for PM10, 0.12 for PM2.5, 6.4 for SO2, and 2.0 for CO, while those of the BB-coal were 0.30 for PM10, 0.094 for PM2.5, 2.4 for SO2, and 1.7 for CO. PM10 and PM2.5 elemental compositions are also presented for both types of coal tested in the study.     

Evaluation of mercury emissions to the atmosphere from coal combustion,China

Mercury emissions from the coal smoke is the main source of anthropogenic discharge and mercury pollution in atmosphere. The calculated total amount of mercury emissions of China in 1995 is approximately 213.8 tonnes, which accounts for c. 5% of estimated total global discharge of 4000 tonnes in the same period. From 1978 to 1995, total coal consumption increased fourfold. Based on these data it is estimated that the mercury emissions will increase at a rate of 5% a year, and the predicted emissions will be 273 tonnes in China in 2000. Controlling and solving mercury emissions from coal combustion are among the most important environmental tasks facing China.     

煤堆内CO浓度分布与变化规律的数值模拟

为了明确空隙率和风速等对煤堆长期堆放过程中堆内CO浓度（体积浓度）的影响规律,为煤堆长期堆放过程中和受扰动后的安全及环境问题提供理论支持,使用COMSOLMultiphysics5.0建立二维数值模拟模型,研究了堆内CO浓度随堆放时间、空隙率、风速变化时的分布与变化规律。结果表明,空隙率和风速低时堆内CO分布具有"烟囱"现象,且浓度高,随堆放时间延长堆内最大CO浓度具有"增长-降低-稳定"三段式变化规律,风速低时最大浓度与时间之间服从Gauss Amp函数分布,风速较大或时间较长堆内最大CO浓度基本稳定。     

Greenhouse gas emissions from waste management--assessment of quantification methods

Of the many sources of urban greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, solid waste is the only one for which management decisions are undertaken primarily by municipal governments themselves and is hence often the largest component of cities' corporate inventories. It is essential that decision-makers select an appropriate quantification methodology and have an appreciation of methodological strengths and shortcomings. This work compares four different waste emissions quantification methods, including Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 1996 guidelines, IPCC 2006 guidelines, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Waste Reduction Model (WARM), and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities-Partners for Climate Protection (FCM-PCP) quantification tool. Waste disposal data for the greater Toronto area (GTA) in 2005 are used for all methodologies; treatment options (including landfill, incineration, compost, and anaerobic digestion) are examined where available in methodologies. Landfill was shown to be the greatest source of GHG emissions, contributing more than three-quarters of total emissions associated with waste management. Results from the different landfill gas (LFG) quantification approaches ranged from an emissions source of 557 kt carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) (FCM-PCP) to a carbon sink of -53 kt CO2e (EPA WARM). Similar values were obtained between IPCC approaches. The IPCC 2006 method was found to be more appropriate for inventorying applications because it uses a waste-in-place (WIP) approach, rather than a methane commitment (MC) approach, despite perceived onerous data requirements for WIP. MC approaches were found to be useful from a planning standpoint; however, uncertainty associated with their projections of future parameter values limits their applicability for GHG inventorying. MC and WIP methods provided similar results in this case study; however, this is case specific because of similarity in assumptions of present and future landfill parameters and quantities of annual waste deposited in recent years being relatively consistent.     

Control of mercury vapor emissions from combustion flue gas

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Mercury (Hg) emission from combustion flue gas is a significant environmental concern due to its toxicity and high volatility. A number of the research efforts have been carried out in the past decade exploiting mercury emission, monitoring and control from combustion flue gases. Most recently, increasing activities are focused on evaluating the behavior of mercury in coal combustion systems and developing novel Hg control technologies. This is partly due to the new regulatory requirement on mercury emissions from coal-fired combustors to be enacted under the U.S. Title III of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. The aim of this review work is to better understand the state-of-the-art technologies of flue gas mercury control and identify the gaps of knowledge hence areas for further opportunities in research and development. MAIN FEATURES: This paper examines mercury behaviors in combustion systems through a comprehensive review of the available literature. About 70 published papers and reports were cited and studied. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: This paper summarizes the mechanisms of formation of mercury containing compounds during combustion, its speciation and reaction in flue gas, as well as subsequent mobilization in the environment. It also provides a review of the current techniques designed for real-time, continuous emission monitoring (CEM) for mercury. Most importantly, current flue gas mercury control technologies are reviewed while activated carbon adsorption, a technology that offers the greatest potential for the control of gas-phase mercury emissions, is highlighted. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Although much progress has been achieved in the last decade, techniques developed for the monitoring and control of mercury from combustion flue gases are not yet mature and gaps in knowledge exist for further advancement. More R&D efforts are required for the effective control of Hg emissions and the main focuses are identified.     

Atmospheric particulate emissions from dry abrasive blasting using coal slag

Coal slag is one of the widely used abrasives in dry abrasive blasting. Atmospheric emissions from this process include particulate matter (PM) and heavy metals, such as chromium, lead, manganese, nickel. Quantities and characteristics of PM emissions depend on abrasive characteristics and process parameters. Emission factors are key inputs to estimate emissions. Experiments were conducted to study the effect of blast pressure, abrasive feed rate, and initial surface contamination on total PM (TPM) emission factors for coal slag. Rusted and painted mild steel surfaces were used as base plates. Blasting was carried out in an enclosed chamber, and PM was collected from an exhaust duct using U.S. Environment Protection Agency source sampling methods for stationary sources. Results showed that there is significant effect of blast pressure, feed rate, and surface contamination on TPM emissions. Mathematical equations were developed to estimate emission factors in terms of mass of emissions per unit mass of abrasive used, as well as mass of emissions per unit of surface area cleaned. These equations will help industries in estimating PM emissions based on blast pressure and abrasive feed rate. In addition, emissions can be reduced by choosing optimum operating conditions.     

富氧燃烧条件下燃煤NOx排放的实验研究

以神华(SH)烟煤和晋城(JC)无烟煤为研究对象,利用一维沉降炉(DTF)开展了煤粉在O2/N2、O2/Ar、O2/CO2和O2/RFG 4种气氛下燃烧时的NOx排放特性实验,研究了温度和氧浓度对NOx排放特性的影响,探讨了富氧燃烧条件下导致NOx排放降低的各个因素的贡献率的变化。结果表明:温度上升会导致燃料氮向NOx的转化率增大;氧浓度的上升同样会导致转化率的增加,SH烟煤由于挥发分含量较大,受氧浓度影响较大;定量分析结果表明,富氧燃烧条件下导致NOx排放降低的主要因素是循环NOx的还原,占整体的50%以上;其次是高浓度CO2气氛对NOx的还原,约占20%~30%;而热力型和快速型NOx的缺失对降低NOx排放的贡献率不及20%。温度的上升对JC无烟煤各因素贡献率有较大影响;氧浓度的增加会导致SH烟煤各因素贡献率有明显变化。     

煤化工企业火炬NOx排放的模拟燃烧实验

针对煤化工企业火炬气燃烧特点,设计了一套模拟燃烧装置,分别研究液化气添加量及燃烧温度对NOx的影响,并对火炬系统NOx的排放系数进行核算。结果表明,火炬系统NOx排放浓度和排放量随液化气添加量的增加而增大;同时研究发现,NOx与燃烧温度之间成正比关系,即温度升高有利于NOx的产生。根据核算结果,火炬系统NOx排放系数在0．099～0．185kg／t之间,平均为0．139kg／t。     

Characterization of polychlorinated naphthalenes in stack gas emissions from waste incinerators

Nine typical waste incinerating plants were investigated for polychlorinated naphthalene (PCN) contents in their stack gas. The incinerators investigated include those used to incinerate municipal solid, aviation, medical, and hazardous wastes including those encountered in cement kilns. PCNs were qualified and quantified by isotope dilution high resolution gas chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry techniques. An unexpectedly high concentration of PCNs (13,000 ng?Nm^?3) was found in the stack gas emitted from one waste incinerator. The PCN concentrations ranged from 97.6 to 874 ng?Nm^?3 in the other waste incinerators. The PCN profiles were dominated by lower chlorinated homologues, with mono- to tetra-CNs being the main homologues present. Furthermore, the relationships between PCNs and other unintentional persistent organic pollutants involving polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, polychlorinated biphenyls, hexachlorobenzene, and pentachlorobenzene were examined to ascertain the closeness or otherwise of their formation mechanisms. A good correlation was observed between ΣPCN (tetra- to octa-CN) and ΣPCDF (tetra- to octa-CDF) concentrations suggesting that a close relationship may exist between their formation mechanisms. The results would provide an improved understanding of PCN emissions from waste incinerators.     

流化床中煤与稻秆混烧污染物排放特性

在自主设计的流化床上开展煤与稻秆混烧的实验。通过对燃烧过程中烟气成分及飞灰含碳量的分析,研究了质量掺混比、燃烧温度、流化风速及二次风率对混烧的影响。实验结果表明,掺混稻秆有效改善了煤的燃烧特性,随着质量掺混比的增加,NOx、SO2及CO的排放浓度降低,飞灰含碳量降低。当掺混比由0%增加至30%、温度为850 ℃时,NOx排放浓度由506.25 mg·m-3降低至404.33 mg·m-3,SO2排放浓度由762.86 mg·m-3降低至522.86 mg·m-3。随着燃烧温度的增加,NOx与SO2排放浓度增加,而CO排放浓度和飞灰含碳量降低。随着流化速度的增加,NOx与SO2排放浓度增加,CO排放浓度和飞灰含碳量先降低后增加,并分别在流化速度0.234 m·s-1和0.26 m·s-1时达到最低。随着二次风率的增加,SO2排放浓度与飞灰含碳量降低,NOx排放浓度与CO排放浓度先减小后增加,均在20%二次风率时达到最低。     

Unregulated greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions from current technology heavy-duty vehicles

The study presents the measurement of carbonyl, BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene), ammonia, elemental/organic carbon (EC/OC), and greenhouse gas emissions from modern heavy-duty diesel and natural gas vehicles. Vehicles from different vocations that included goods movement, refuse trucks, and transit buses were tested on driving cycles representative of their duty cycle. The natural gas vehicle technologies included the stoichiometric engine platform equipped with a three-way catalyst and a diesel-like dual-fuel high-pressure direct-injection technology equipped with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) and a selective catalytic reduction (SCR). The diesel vehicles were equipped with a DPF and SCR. Results of the study show that the BTEX emissions were below detection limits for both diesel and natural gas vehicles, while carbonyl emissions were observed during cold start and low-temperature operations of the natural gas vehicles. Ammonia emissions of about 1 g/mile were observed from the stoichiometric natural gas vehicles equipped with TWC over all the driving cycles. The tailpipe GWP of the stoichiometric natural gas goods movement application was 7% lower than DPF and SCR equipped diesel. In the case of a refuse truck application the stoichiometric natural gas engine exhibited 22% lower GWP than a diesel vehicle. Tailpipe methane emissions contribute to less than 6% of the total GHG emissions.

Implications: Modern heavy-duty diesel and natural gas engines are equipped with multiple after-treatment systems and complex control strategies aimed at meeting both the performance standards for the end user and meeting stringent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions regulation. Compared to older technology diesel and natural gas engines, modern engines and after-treatment technology have reduced unregulated emissions to levels close to detection limits. However, brief periods of inefficiencies related to low exhaust thermal energy have been shown to increase both carbonyl and nitrous oxide emissions.     

An improved inventory of methane emissions from coal mining in the United States

Past efforts to estimate methane emissions from underground mines, surface mines, and other coal mine operations have been hampered, to different degrees, by a lack of direct emissions data. Direct measurements have been completely unavailable for several important coal mining operations. A primary goal of this study was to collect new methane emissions measurements and other data for the most poorly characterized mining operations and use these data to develop an improved methane emission inventory for the U.S. coal mining industry. This required the development and verification of measurement methods for surface mines, coal handling operations, and abandoned underground mines and the use of these methods at about 30 mining sites across the United States. Although the study's focus was on surface mines, abandoned underground mines, and coal handling operations, evaluations were also conducted to improve our understanding of underground mine emission trends and to develop improved national data sets of coal properties. Total U.S. methane emissions are estimated to be 4.669 million tons, and as expected, emissions from underground mine ventilation and methane drainage systems dominate (74% of the total emissions). On the other hand, emissions from coal handling, abandoned underground mines, and surface mines are significant, and collectively they represent approximately 26% of the total emissions.     

A study on exhaust gas emissions from ships in Turkish Straits

The Turkish Straits, i.e. Istanbul (Bosphorus) and Canakkale (Dardanellen), which connect Black Sea and Aegean Sea, have a continuously increasing maritime traffic. Especially, the maritime traffic on Bosphorus (Istanbul Strait) that connects the continents of Europe and Asia is too complex due to geographical conditions. The maritime traffic in the Turkish Straits includes the ships, which are in use in domestic transport, the transit passing ships with various aims and fishing, sport or strolling ships. In this paper, fuel consumption and exhaust gas emissions NO_x, CO, CO₂, VOC, PM exhausted from ships such as transit vessels, which are passing both Bosphorus and Dardanellen, and passenger ships used in domestic transport on the Bosphorus are calculated. In order to do this the general characteristics, the main engine systems, the fuel types, cruising times and speeds of all vessels are taken into consideration. The calculated NO_x emissions on the Bosphorus are 2720 t from domestic passenger ships and 4357 t from transit ships. In this case it is clear that the transit ships cause more than half of the total amount of emissions from ships on the Bosphorus. The amount of nitrogen oxide emissions from domestic passenger ships used for public transport in Istanbul Strait is equal to approx. 4% of nitrogen oxide emissions from motor vehicles in Istanbul. Finally, the future emissions from ships in Turkish Straits are discussed.     

Nitrogen trace gas emissions from a riparian ecosystem in southern Appalachia

In this paper, we present two years of seasonal nitric oxide (NO), ammonia (NH₃), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) trace gas fluxes measured in a recovering riparian zone with cattle excluded and adjacent riparian zone grazed by cattle. In the recovering riparian zone, average NO, NH₃, and N₂O fluxes were 5.8, 2.0, and 76.7 ng N m⁻² s⁻¹ (1.83, 0.63, and 24.19 kg N ha⁻¹ y⁻¹), respectively. Fluxes in the grazed riparian zone were larger, especially for NO and NH₃, measuring 9.1, 4.3, and 77.6 ng N m⁻² s⁻¹ (2.87, 1.35, and 24.50 kg N ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) for NO, NH₃, and N₂O, respectively. On average, N₂O accounted for greater than 85% of total trace gas flux in both the recovering and grazed riparian zones, though N₂O fluxes were highly variable temporally. In the recovering riparian zone, variability in seasonal average fluxes was explained by variability in soil nitrogen (N) concentrations. Nitric oxide flux was positively correlated with soil ammonium (NH₄⁺) concentration, while N₂O flux was positively correlated with soil nitrate (NO₃⁻) concentration. Ammonia flux was positively correlated with the ratio of NH₄⁺ to NO₃⁻. In the grazed riparian zone, average NH₃ and N₂O fluxes were not correlated with soil temperature, N concentrations, or moisture. This was likely due to high variability in soil microsite conditions related to cattle effects such as compaction and N input. Nitric oxide flux in the grazed riparian zone was positively correlated with soil temperature and NO₃⁻ concentration. Restoration appeared to significantly affect NO flux, which increased ≈600% during the first year following restoration and decreased during the second year to levels encountered at the onset of restoration. By comparing the ratio of total trace gas flux to soil N concentration, we show that the restored riparian zone is likely more efficient than the grazed riparian zone at diverting upper-soil N from the receiving stream to the atmosphere. This is likely due to the recovery of microbiological communities following changes in soil physical characteristics.     

Greenhouse gas emissions from semi-aerobic bioreactor landfills with different vent-pipe diameters

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The emission patterns of three greenhouse gasses (GHGs), viz. CH4, CO2, and N2O from landfills, were examined on a lab scale. Three simulated...     

Preliminary investigation of greenhouse gas emissions from the environmental sector in Taiwan

The United Nations Framework Conventions on Climate Change (UNFCCC) asks their Parties to submit a National Inventory Report (NIR) for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on an annual basis. However, when many countries are quickly growing their economy, resulting in substantial GHG emissions, their inventory reporting systems either have not been established or been able to be linked to planning of mitigation measures at national administration levels. The present research was aimed to quantify the GHG emissions from an environmental sector in Taiwan and also to establish a linkage between the developed inventories and development of mitigation plans. The "environmental sector" consists of public service under jurisdiction of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration: landfilling, composting, waste transportation, wastewater treatment, night soil treatment, and solid waste incineration. The preliminary results were compared with that of the United States, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, and Korea, considering the gaps in the scopes of the sectors. The GHG emissions from the Taiwanese environmental sector were mostly estimated by following the default methodology in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change guideline, except that of night soil treatment and waste transportation that were modified or newly developed. The GHG emissions from the environmental sectors in 2004 were 10,225 kilotons of CO2 equivalent (kt CO2 Eq.). Landfilling (48.86%), solid waste incineration (27%), and wastewater treatment (21.5%) were the major contributors. Methane was the most significant GHG (70.6%), followed by carbon dioxide (27.8%) and nitrous oxide (1.6%). In summary, the GHG emissions estimated for the environmental sector in Taiwan provided reasonable preliminary results that were consistent and comparable with the existing authorized data. On the basis of the inventory results and the comparisons with the other countries, recommendations of mitigation plans were made, including wastewater and solid waste recycling, methane recovery for energy, and waste reduction/sorting.     

Measurement and characterization of emissions from a gas liquor fed cooling tower

Phase I cooling tower testing at the University of North Dakota Energy Research Center (UNDERC) was designed to use solvent extracted and steam stripped wastewater from fixed-bed gasification of lignite as makeup. The objective of this test was to simulate the proposed mode of operation at the Great Plains Gasification Associates (GPGA) plant. A crucial part of this study was the characterization of emissions from a stripped gas liquor (SGL) fed cooling tower. Several types of sampling equipment including a multicyclone, cooled impingers, and an XAD resin trap were used for the collection and retention of components in the tower evaporate.Results of this study indicated that a significant portion of the phenol and ammonia, and also some methanol, in the tower makeup stream were stripped into the atmosphere. Concentration levels of 26,900 μg m⁻³ ammonia, 8000 μg m⁻³ phenol and 2500 μ m⁻³ methanol were detected in the lower exhaust.