The modality of particle size distributions of environmental aerosols

Knowledge of the distribution of airborne particulate matter into size fractions has become an increasing area of focus when examining the effects of air pollution. While total number and mass concentrations may play an important role in exposure and risk assessment analyses, often an understanding of the particle size distributions provides more information on the type of atmospheric processes resulting in the distributions. The modality of the particle size distribution is one such aspect that has been associated with the aerosol formation mechanisms. The aim of this work is to provide a detailed analysis of the modal characteristics of a large number of particle size spectra collected over a period of three years for a range of ambient aerosol types. Measurements of over 6000 size distributions in the size range 0.016–30 μm were made using a scanning mobility particle sizer and an aerodynamic particle sizer for various ambient aerosols including: traffic influenced, urban, vegetation burning influenced, marine, modified background and suburban. Advanced data analytical procedures were adopted to combine the distributions from the two instruments for the calculation of the volume size distributions to allow clear interpretation of the modal characteristics. It was determined that, while in most cases there is a distinct nuclei mode in the number size distribution, this does not translate to a nuclei mode in the volume size distribution. Furthermore, while many of the number size distributions were different for each aerosol studied, the volume distributions were similar. This finding has serious implications for the setting of mass-based air quality standards.     

Particle size distributions and elemental composition of atmospheric particulate matter in southern Italy

Three 2-wk seasonal field campaigns were performed in 2003 and 2004 at a sampling site on the southern Tyrrhenian coast of Italy with the aim to investigate the dynamics and characteristics of particle-bound pollutants in the Mediterranean area. Fine (PM(2.5)) and coarse particulate matter (PM(10-2.5)) size fractions were collected by a manual dichotomous sampler on 37-mm Teflon filters over a 24-hr sampling period. On average, 70% of the total PM(10) (PM(2.5) + PM(10-2.5)) mass was associated with the coarse fraction and 30% with the fine fraction during the three campaigns. The ambient concentrations of Pb, Ni, Cr, Zn, Mn, V, Cd, Fe, Cu, Ca, and Mg associated with both size fractions were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Ambient concentrations showed differences in their absolute value, ranging from few ng x m(-3) to microg x m(-3), as well as in their variability within the PM(2.5) and PM(10-2.5) size fractions. PM(10) levels were well below the European Union (EU) limit value during the study period with the exception of three events during the first campaign (fall) and five events during the third campaign (spring). Two main sources were identified as the major contributors including mineral dust, transported from North Africa, and sea spray from the Tyrrhenian Sea. Comparing the results with backward trajectories, calculated using the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory Model (HYSPLIT) and Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer-National Aeronautics and Space Administration (TOMS-NASA) maps, it was observed that in central and eastern Europe, the Tyrrhenian Sea and North Africa were the major emission source regions that affected the temporal variations and daily averages of PM(2.5) and PM(10-2.5) concentrations.     

Particle Size Distributions of Kraft Paper Mill Aerosols Obtained by Airborne Sampling

Size distributions of particles at several downwind points in a Kraft paper mill plume have been determined by means of airborne sampling. Size distributions from samples close to the stack were found to have a log normal frequency distribution, but significant deviations from the log normal were found farther downwind. Several possible physical mechanisms are postulated as causes for this behavior. Plume dilution with background particles appears to be the most likely mechanism. The airborne sampling system is described, and electron micrographs of sampled particles are presented.     

Determination of airborne particle size distributions: Calculation of cross-sensitivity and discreteness effects in cascade impaction

A theory is developed which permits numerical evaluation of errors associated with the determination of aerosol size distributions using cascade impactors. Account is taken of errors due to the overlap of a given particle size between adjacent impaction stages and to the discrete nature of cascade impaction. The theory is applied to both log-normal and polynomial functional approximations to an aerosol size distribution.Numerical determination of errors considered shows that the mass of large and small particles present in the wings of a log-normal aerosol distribution is over-estimated manyfold by most cascade impactors but that the mass of particles having aerodynamic diameters close to the aerosol mass median diameter is generally subject to quite small (<20%) negative errors. Even under extremely unfavorable conditions the mass median diameter of an aerosol can be determined to well within 25% of the true value.     

Particle size distribution of airborne Aspergillus fumigatus spores emitted from compost using membrane filtration

Information on the particle size distribution of bioaerosols emitted from open air composting operations is valuable in evaluating potential health impacts and is a requirement for improved dispersion simulation modelling. The membrane filter method was used to study the particle size distribution of Aspergillus fumigatus spores in air 50 m downwind of a green waste compost screening operation at a commercial facility. The highest concentrations (approximately 8 × 10⁴ CFU m⁻³) of culturable spores were found on filters with pore diameters in the range 1–2 μm which suggests that the majority of spores are emitted as single cells. The findings were compared to published data collected using an Andersen sampler. Results were significantly correlated (p < 0.01) indicating that the two methods are directly comparable across all particles sizes for Aspergillus spores.     

Inhibition of retinoid activity by components of a paper mill effluent

Few studies have evaluated PCB concentrations in alligators. This is the first comparison of PCB concentrations in alligators eggs from the southeastern United States. Eggs were collected from Bear Island and Winyah Bay, South Carolina and from the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana. Mean PCB concentrations in eggs from Bear Island (333 ng/g) were the same (P > 0.45) as those found at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge (218 ng/g). However, eggs from Winyah Bay contained 3176 ng/g PCBs which is higher (P < 0.008) than concentrations from the other two sites. These data indicate the ubiquitous nature of PCBs and their bioaccumulation even in remote habitats.     

Metal ion removal from water by sorption on paper mill sludge

Chromatographic columns packed with paper mill sludge are employed for metal ion recovery from water. The breakthrough curves show that cadmium, copper, lead and silver are removed from acid solutions (pH 2, 4); the affinity series is Pb(II)>Cu(II)>Ag(I)>Cd(II). Both the amount of metal retained and the metal-matrix interaction are pH dependent; the sorptive capacity increases with increasing pH. When the metals are present together at the same initial concentrations a competition among the different ions occurs although the affinity order remains unchanged. In metal recovery from the paper mill sludge column, the total amount of the cadmium and copper is displaced by HCl 1.0 M, 65% of the lead by HCl 0.1 M and 75% of the silver by HNO(3) 0.1 M. More than 95% of copper and lead and less than 20% of cadmium were recovered with HCl 0.1 M when the metals were present at the same time.     

Particle size distributions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rural and urban atmosphere of Tianjin, China

The size distributions of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and particle mass less than 10 microm in aerodynamic diameter (Dp) were measured using a nine-stage low-volume cascade impactor at rural and urban sites in Tianjin, China in the winter of 2003-2004. The particles exhibited the trimodal distribution with the major peaks occurring at 0.43-2.1 and 9.0-10.0 microm for both urban and rural sites. The concentrations of the total PAH (sum of 16 PAH compound) at rural site were generally less than those of urban site. Mean fraction of 76.5% and 63.9% of the total PAH were associated with particles of 0.43-2.1 microm at rural and urban sites, respectively. Precipitation, temperature, wind speed and direction were the important meteorological factors influencing the concentration of PAHs in rural and urban sites. The distributions of PAHs concentration with respect to particle size were similar for rural and urban samples. The PAHs concentrations at the height of 40 m were higher than both of 20 and 60 m at urban site, but the mass median diameter (MMD) of total PAH increased with the increasing height. The mid-high molecular weight (278 >or= MW >or= 202) PAHs were mainly associated with fine particles (Dp or=MW >or=178) PAHs were distributed in both of fine and coarse particle. The fraction of PAHs associated with coarse particles (Dp>2.1 microm) decreased with increasing molecular weight. The relatively consistent distribution of PAHs seemed to indicate the similar combustion source of PAHs at both of rural and urban sites. The fine differences of concentration and distribution of PAHs at different levels at urban site suggested that the different source and transportation path of particulate PAHs.     

In-series columns adsorption performance of Kraft mill wastewater pollutants onto volcanic soil

Two in-series columns systems with volcanic soil were tested for wastewater pollutants adsorption capacity. The first system was tested with acidified volcanic soil and the second with a reactivated volcanic soil. The reactivated soil was obtained by washing the previous spent acidified soil system with an acid solution. The systems parameters were obtained using the Bohardt and Adams model for fixed-beds. The acidified soil parameters indicated an adsorption capacity q of 28 and 139 mg/g of phenolic compounds and color, respectively (for each column), compared to 12 and 39 mg/g for the reactivated soil system. The adsorption rate constant k ranged between 1.5x10(-6) and 2.8x10(-6) l/min mg and no significant difference was observed for each analysed column system and pollutant. Furthermore, the molecular weight distribution analysis of input and output samples of one acidified soil column indicated that the fraction >30000 Da is the most adsorbed until the breakpoint. Moreover, the CODs and tannins and lignin removal efficiencies at the breakpoint reached values between 60% and 70% in each column and each system, indicating that lower biodegradable compounds were retained effectively. The results indicate that it is possible to compare the acidified volcanic soil adsorption capacity with natural zeolites, and a preliminary costs evaluation indicates that volcanic soil could be also competitive, even when comparing with activated carbon.     

制浆造纸废水生化出水的混凝处理研究

研究了硫酸铝和三氯化铁对制浆造纸废水生化出水的处理效果.研究发现,不调节原水pH值,硫酸铝投加量为600 mg/L或三氯化铁投加量为300mg/L时,混凝后废水的COD＜150 mg/L,色度＜50倍,出水均符合现阶段排放标准.混凝剂比较发现,在最佳反应条件下,2种混凝剂的处理效果相当,但硫酸铝混凝的成本低于三氯化铁....     

A system for the sampling of inhalable airborne particles

This paper describes an instrument developed for the semi-continuous measurement of aerosol mass and its classification into three classes. These classes have been chosen to evaluate the health hazards caused by inhalable particles. The instrument takes samples through three probes, each providing different cut-off points ( approximately 15 microm, approximately 4 microm, approximately 2 microm) and collects airborne particles on circular membrane filters. The increase in weight is measured by the beta-ray attenuation method.     

Environmental assessment of different advanced oxidation processes applied to a bleaching Kraft mill effluent

Basic research on remediation of polluted sediment by leaching has, to date, been carried out exclusively with suspended material. For economic reasons, only solid-bed leaching is applicable to large-scale processes. Abiotic and microbial solid-bed leaching were comparatively studied in a percolator system using ripened and therefore permeable heavy metal polluted river sediment. In the case of abiotic leaching, sulfuric acid was supplied to the sediment by circulating water; the lower the pH of the percolating water, the higher the percolation flow, and the lower the solid-bed height was, the faster the heavy metals were solubilized. However, the pH and percolation flow are subjected to restrictions: strongly acidic conditions result in dissolution of mineral components, and the percolation flow must not exceed the bed permeability. And a high solid bed is an economic requirement. In the case of bioleaching, elemental sulfur added to the sediment was oxidized to sulfuric acid within the package which, in turn, solubilized the heavy metals. Here, the percolation flow and the solid-bed height did not affect the rate of metal solubilization. Solid-bed leaching on a larger scale will thus be much more efficient applying bioleaching with sulfur as the leaching agent than abiotic leaching with sulfuric acid.     

Size and seasonal distributions of airborne bioaerosols in commuting trains

Aerobiological studies in commuting trains in northern Taiwan were carried out from August, 2007 until July, 2008. Two six-stage (>7 μm, 4.7～7 μm, 3.3～4.7 μm, 2.1～3.3 μm, 1.1～2.1 μm, 0.65～1.1 μm) cascade impactors of 400 orifices were used to collect viable bacteria and fungi, respectively. The levels of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), formaldehyde (HCHO), temperature, and relative humidity in the commuting trains were also recorded during the sampling period. Results show that bacterial concentrations ranged from 25 to 1530 CFU m^?3, and averaged 417 CFU m^?3. The fungal concentrations ranged from 45 to 1906 CFU m^?3, and averaged 413 CFU m^?3. Additionally, the highest fractions occurred in the fifth stage (1.1～2.1 μm) for both bacteria and fungi. The respirable fractions, R_b and R_f, for bacteria and fungi were 62.8% and 81.4%, respectively, which are higher than those in other studies. Furthermore, the bacterial concentration reached its highest level in autumn, and its lowest level in winter. However, the fungal concentration was highest in spring and lowest in winter. Though the total bacterial or fungal concentration did not exceed the recommendation standard in Taiwan, the relatively high respirable fraction in commuting trains probably implies a higher adverse health risk for sensitive commuters. This study further conducted multiple regression analysis to determine the relationship of various stage fractions of airborne bacteria and fungi with indoor air pollutants (CO and HCHO) and environmental parameters (CO₂, temperature, and relative humidity). The correlation coefficients of multiple regression analysis for total bacteria and fungi concentrations with indoor air pollutants and environmental parameters were 0.707 (p < 0.00376) and 0.612 (p < 0.00471), respectively. There are currently no formally regulated laws for indoor air quality (IAQ) in Taiwan, and this preliminary study can provide references to the Taiwan government on IAQ management.     

Irrigation model of bleached Kraft mill wastewater through volcanic soil as a pollutants attenuation process

An irrigation process through volcanic soil columns was evaluated for bleached Kraft mill effluent pollutants retention. The system was designed to remove color and phenolic compounds and a simple kinetic model for determining the global mass transfer coefficient and the adsorption rate constant was used. The results clearly indicate that the global mass transfer coefficient values (K(c)a) and the adsorption rate constants are higher for the irrigation processes onto acidified soil. This means that the pretreatment of washing the volcanic soil with an acid solution has a positive effect on the adsorption rate for both pollutant groups. The enhanced adsorption capacity is partially explained by the activation of the metal oxides present in the soil matrix during the acid washing process. Increasing the flow rate from 1.5 to 2.5 ml/min yielded higher (K(c)a) values and adsorption rate constants for both pollutant groups. For instance, regarding color adsorption onto acidified soil, there is an increment of 43% in the (K(c)a) value for the experiment with a flow rate of 2.5 ml/min. Increasing the porosity of the column from 0.55 to 0.59, yielded a decrease in the (K(c)a) values for color and phenolic compounds adsorption processes. Onto natural soil for example, these decreases reached 21% and 24%, respectively. Therefore, the (K(c)a) value is dependent on both the liquid-phase velocity (external resistance) and the soil fraction in the column (internal resistance); making forced convection and diffusion to be the main transport mechanisms involved in the adsorption process. Analyzing the adsorption rate constants (K(c)a)/m, phenolic compounds and color adsorption rates onto acidified soil of 2.25 x 10(-6) and 2.62 x 10(-6) l/mg min were achieved for experiment 1. These adsorption rates are comparable with other adsorption systems and adsorbent materials.     

Particle size and composition distribution analysis of automotive brake abrasion dusts for the evaluation of antimony sources of airborne particulate matter

Abrasion dusts from three types of commercially available non-steel brake pads were generated by a brake dynamometer at disk temperatures of 200, 300 and 400 °C. The number concentration of the abrasion dusts and their aerodynamic diameters (D_p) were measured by using an aerodynamic particle sizer (APS) spectrometer with high temporal and size resolution. Simultaneously, the abrasion dusts were also collected based on their size by using an Andersen low-volume sampler, and the concentrations of metallic elements (K, Ti, Fe, Cu, Zn, Sb and Ba) in the size-classified dusts were measured by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. The number distributions of the brake abrasion dusts had a peak at D_p values of 1 and 2 μm; this peak shifted to the coarse side with an increase in the disk temperature. The mass distributions calculated from the number distributions have peaks between D_p values of 3 and 6 μm. The shapes of the elemental mass distributions (Ti, Fe, Cu, Zn, Sb and Ba) in size-classified dusts were very similar to the total mass distributions of the brake abrasion dusts. These experimental results indicated that the properties of brake abrasion dusts were consistent with the characteristics of Sb-enriched fine airborne particulate matter. Based on these findings and statistical data, the estimation of Sb emission as airborne particulate matter from friction brakes was also discussed.     

制浆厂污泥制备活性炭吸附剂

以制浆厂污泥为原料,采用ZnCl2法、H2SO4法和KOH法3种化学活化法制备活性炭吸附剂,并对产物吸附苯酚性能的影响因素进行比较分析.结果表明,采用ZnCl2法和H2SO4法制备的活性炭吸附剂的效果明显优于KOH法,ZnCl2法为最佳制备方法,在其最佳制备条件下(ZnCl2浓度3 mol/L,活化温度800℃,活化时间30 min,升温速率20℃/min)制得的活性炭比表面积可达到500.98 m2/g,得率为46.9％,对苯酚的去除率为70.4％.采用ZnCl2法和H2SO4法在最佳制备条件下可以制备孔径分布较宽,中孔结构发达的活性炭.     

Investigation of pathogenic Escherichia coli and microbial pathogens in pulp and paper mill biosolids.

Biosolids produced from pulp and paper mill wastewater treatment have excellent properties as soil conditioners, but often contain high levels of Escherichia coli. E. coli are commonly used as indicators of fecal contamination and health hazard; therefore, their presence in biosolids causes concern and has lead to restrictions in land-spreading. The objectives of this study were to determine the following: (1) if E. coli from the biosolids of a wastewater-free pulp and paper mill were enteric pathogens, and (2) if other waterborne microbial pathogens were present. E. coli were screened for heat-labile and heat-stable enterotoxin and verocytotoxin virulence genes using a polymerase chain reaction. Ten isolates were also screened for invasion-associated locus and invasion plasmid antigen H genes. None of the 120 isolates carried these genes. Tests for seven other microbial pathogens were negative. Effluents and biosolids from this mill do not contain common microbial pathogens and are unlikely to pose a health hazard.