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OPEN BURNING OF AGRICULTURAL BIOMASS: PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF PARTICLE-PHASE EMISSIONS
Citation:
Hays, M D., P. M. Fine, C D. Geron, M. J. KLEEMAN, AND B. K. GULLETT. OPEN BURNING OF AGRICULTURAL BIOMASS: PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF PARTICLE-PHASE EMISSIONS. doi:10.1016/j.atmose, P. Brimblecombe, H.B. Singh (ed.), ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 39(36):6747-6764, (2005).
Impact/Purpose:
to publish information
Description:
This effort presents the physical and chemical characterization of PM2.5 emissions from simulated agricultural fires of surface residuals of two major grain crops, rice (Oryza sativa) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L). The O2 levels and CO/CO2 ratios of the open burn simulations are typical of field fires of agricultural residues. In the agricultural fire plumes, we observe predominantly accumulation mode aerosols. The mean PM2.5 mass emissions factors from replicate burns of the wheat and rice residuals are 4.7 and 13.0 g/kg of dry biomass, respectively. The combustion-derived PM emissions from wheat are enriched in K (31`% w/w) and Cl (36% w/w), whereas the PM emissions from rice are largely carbonaceous 84% w/w). Molecular level, GC/MS analysis of PM2.5 solvent extracts is highly precise and identifies organic matter that accounts for as much as 18% of the PM mass emissions. A scarcity of detailed PM-phase chemical emissions data from agricultural fires required that comparisons among other biomass combustion groups (wildfire, woodstove, and fireplace) be made. Statistical tests for equal variance among these groups indicate that the degree to which molecular emissions vary is compound dependent. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) testing shows significant differences in the mean values of certain n-alkane, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), oxy-PAH and sugar marker compounds common to the biomass combustions types. Individual pairwise comparisons of means at the combustion group level confirm this result but suggest that apportioning airborne PM to these sources may require a more comprehensive use of the details in the chemical emissions fingerprints. Hierarchical clustering of source test observations by molecular markers indicates agricultural fuels as distinct from other types of biomass combustion. Rough approximations of the total potential PM2.5 emissions outputs from the combustion of the wheat and rice surface residues are given. This agricultural activity could potentially contribute significantly to emissions inventories at regional, national, and global geographic levels.
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OPEN BURNING OF AGRICULTURAL BIOMASS: PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF PARTICLE-PHASE EMISSIONS