Environmental sampling of volatile organic compounds during the 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California

Trace analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during wildfires is imperative for environmental and health risk assessment. The use of gas sampling devices mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to chemically sample air during wildfires is of great interest because these devices move freely about their environment, allowing for more representative air samples and the ability to sample areas dangerous or unreachable by humans. This work presents chemical data from air samples obtained in Davis, CA during the most destructive wildfire in California's history - the 2018 Camp Fire – as well as the deployment of our sampling device during a controlled experimental fire while fixed to a UAV. The sampling mechanism was an in-house manufactured micro-gas preconcentrator (µPC) embedded onto a compact battery-operated sampler that was returned to the laboratory for chemical analysis. Compounds commonly observed in wildfires were detected during the Camp Fire using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS), including BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m+p-xylene, and o-xylene), benzaldehyde, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, naphthalene, 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene and 1-ethyl-3-methylbenzene. Concentrations of BTEX were calculated and we observed that benzene and toluene were highest with average concentrations of 4.7 and 15.1 µg/m³, respectively. Numerous fire-related compounds including BTEX and aldehydes such as octanal and nonanal were detected upon experimental fire ignition, even at a much smaller sampling time compared to samples taken during the Camp Fire. Analysis of the air samples taken both stationary during the Camp Fire and mobile during an experimental fire show the successful operation of our sampler in a fire environment.     

Characterization of odorous charge and photochemical reactivity of VOC emissions from a full-scale food waste treatment plant in China

Food waste treatment plants (FWTPs) are usually associated with odorous nuisance and health risks, which are partially caused by volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. This study investigated the VOC emissions from a selected full-scale FWTP in China. The feedstock used in this plant was mainly collected from local restaurants. For a year, the FWTP was closely monitored on specific days in each season. Four major indoor treatment units of the plant, including the storage room, sorting/crushing room, hydrothermal hydrolysis unit, and aerobic fermentation unit, were chosen as the monitoring locations. The highest mean concentration of total VOC emissions was observed in the aerobic fermentation unit at 21,748.2-31,283.3 μg/m³, followed by the hydrothermal hydrolysis unit at 10,798.1-23,144.4 μg/m³. The detected VOC families included biogenic compounds (oxygenated compounds, hydrocarbons, terpenes, and organosulfur compounds) and abiogenic compounds (aromatic hydrocarbons and halocarbons). Oxygenated compounds, particularly alcohols, were the most abundant compounds in all samples. With the use of odor index analysis and principal components analysis, the hydrothermal hydrolysis and aerobic fermentation units were clearly distinguished from the pre-treatment units, as characterized by their higher contributions to odorous nuisance. Methanthiol was the dominant odorant in the hydrothermal hydrolysis unit, whereas aldehyde was the dominant odorant in the aerobic fermentation unit. Terpenes, specifically limonene, had the highest level of propylene equivalent concentration during the monitoring periods. This concentration can contribute to the increase in the atmospheric reactivity and ozone formation potential in the surrounding air.     

VOC in an urban and industrial harbor on the French North Sea coast during two contrasted meteorological situations

Two measurement campaigns of volatile organic compounds (VOC) were carried out in the industrial city of Dunkerque, using Radiello passive samplers during winter (16–23 January) and summer (6–13 June) 2007. 174 compounds were identified belonging to six chemical families. Classifying sampling sites with similar chemical profiles by hierarchical ascending classification resulted in 4 groups that reflected the influence of the main industrial and urban sources of pollution. Also, the BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylenes) quantification allowed us to map their levels of concentration. Benzene and toluene (BT) showed high concentrations in Northern Dunkerque reflecting the influence of two industrial plants. Differences among spatial distributions of the BT concentrations over contrasted meteorological conditions were also observed. An atypical ratio of T/B in the summer samples led us to investigate the BTEX origins shedding light on the contribution of pollutants transported across various zones of VOC emissions situated in Europe.     

Quantitative determination of volatile organic compounds in indoor dust using gas chromatography-UV spectrometry

A novel technique, gas chromatography-UV spectrometry (GC-UV), was used to quantify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in settled dust from 389 residences in Sweden. The dust samples were thermally desorbed in an inert atmosphere and evaporated compounds were concentrated by solid phase micro extraction and separated by capillary GC. Eluting compounds were then detected, identified, and quantified using a diode array UV spectrophotometer. Altogether, 28 compounds were quantified in each sample; 24 of these were found in more than 50% of the samples. The compounds found in highest concentrations were saturated aldehydes (C5-C10), furfuryl alcohol, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT), 2-furaldehyde, and benzaldehyde. Alkenals were also found, notably 2-butenal (crotonaldehyde), 2-methyl-propenal (methacrolein), hexenal, heptenal, octenal, and nonenal. The concentrations of each of the 28 compounds ranged between two to three orders of magnitude, or even more. These results demonstrate the presence of a number of VOCs in indoor dust, and provide, for the first time, a quantitative determination of these compounds in a larger number of dust samples from residents. The findings also illustrate the potential use of GC-UV for analysing volatile compounds in indoor dust, some of which are potential irritants (to the skin, eyes or respiratory system) if present at higher concentrations. The potential use of GC-UV for improving survey and control of the human exposure to particle-bound irritants and other chemicals is inferred.     

Variability in Voc Concentrations in an Urban Area of Delhi

The variability of pollutants is an important factor in determining human exposure to the chemicals. This study presents the result of investigation of variability of Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urban area of Delhi, capital of India. Fifteen locations, in five categories namely residential, commercial, industrial, traffic intersections and petrol pump were monitored for one year every month during peak hours in morning and evening. Measurement focused on target VOCs as defined by USEPA. Variability was divided into measurement, spatial, temporal and temporal–spatial interaction components. Temporal component along with temporal–spatial interaction were found to be the major contributors to the variability of measured VOC concentrations. Need of continuous monitoring to capture short–term peak concentration and averages is evident.     

易挥发有机化合物在Pt/Al_2O_3-Si纤维催化剂上的低温氧化

本文合成了一种新型的Pt负载在Al_2O_3涂膜强力富硅纤维载体的催化剂,研究低温下催化易挥发有机化合物的行为.用四种有机化合物检验实验参数对催化剂分解有机化合物分解率的影响.讨论了流速、浓度、有机物的本性、预热温度、反应热等参数的影响,并给出了催化剂对苯、甲苯在特定实验条件下的活化能、反应级数和指前因子的数值.     

An Estimate of Biogenic Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds during Summertime in China (7 pp)

Background and Aim An accurate estimation of biogenic emissions of VOC (volatile organic compounds) is necessary for better understanding a series of current environmental problems such as summertime smong and global climate change. However, very limited studies have been reported on such emissions in China. The aim of this paper is to present an estimate of biogenic VOC emissions during summertime in China, and discuss its uncertainties and potential areas for further investigations. Materials and Methods This study was mainly based on field data and related research available so far in China and abroad, including distributions of land use and vegetations, biomass densities and emission potentials. VOC were grouped into isoprene, monoterpenes and other VOC (OVOC). Emission potentials of forests were determined for 22 genera or species, and then assigned to 33 forest ecosystems. The NCEP/NCAR reanalysis database was used as standard environmental conditions. A typical summertime of July 1999 was chosen for detailed calculations. Results and Discussion The biogenic VOC emissions in China in July were estimated to be 2.3×10¹²gC, with 42% as isoprene, 19% as monoterpenes and 39% as OVOC. About 77.3% of the emissions are generated-from forests and woodlands. The averaged emission intensity was 4.11 mgC m⁻² hr⁻¹ for forests and 1.12 mgC m⁻² hr⁻¹ for all types of vegetations in China during the summertime. The uncertainty in the results arose from both the data and the assumptions used in the extrapolations. Generally, uncertainty in the field measurements is relatively small. A large part of the uncertainty mainly comes from the taxonomic method to assign emission potentials to unmeasured species, while the ARGR method serves to estimate leaf biomass and the emission algorithms to describe light and temperature dependence. Conclusions This study describes a picture of the biogenic VOC emissions during summertime in China. Due to the uneven spatial and temporal distributions, biogenic VOC emissions may play an important role in the tropospheric chemistry during summertime. Recommendations and Perspectives Further investigations are needed to reduce uncertainties involved in the related factors such as emission potentials, leaf biomass, species distribution as well as the mechanisms of the emission activities. Besides ground measurements, attention should also be placed on other techniques such as remotesensing and dynamic modeling. These new approaches, combined with ground measurements as basic database for calibration and evaluation, can hopefully provide more comprehensive information in the research of this field. Submission Editor: Prof. Dr. Gerhard Lammel (lammel@recetox.muni.cz)     

室内环境中挥发性有机物释放过程的数学模型

根据组成结构,将室内环境中释放挥发性有机物(VOCs)的建筑装饰材料划分为单层干材料、单层湿材料、多层组合材料等类型,总结了这三种材料的VOCs释放特征、传输过程和数学模型研究现状,分析了模型的特点和适用范围,指出了模型研究发展的趋势,对应用中模型的选择提出了指导性建议.     

等离子体在大气污染控制中应用进展

等离子体具有较高的温度和大量活性粒子,因此能够加速化学反应速度,彻底分解污染物.本文综述了目前常用的一些等离子体技术在大气污染控制中的应用研究进展.     

南京市交通干道大气环境中挥发性有机物的研究

使用Tenax管在常温下富集采样 ,研究了南京市交通干道大气环境中苯系物的污染状况和季节变化规律 ,监测过程历时 1年。同时在中山陵设点采样 ,以作背景研究。经过GC/MS联用仪分析测定 ,共检出 140多种挥发性有机物 ,其中含量较高的是苯系物。结合获得的大气中苯系物的比值以及采样点的周围环境 ,对苯系物进行源分析 ,表明苯系物主要来源于汽车尾气的排放 ,其污染程度与气候变化有关。