You are here:
MONITORING AND SOURCE APPORTIONMENT OF PARTICULATE MATTER NEAR A LARGE PHOSPHORUS PRODUCTION FACILITY
Citation:
Willis, R. D., W. D. Ellenson, AND T L. Conner. MONITORING AND SOURCE APPORTIONMENT OF PARTICULATE MATTER NEAR A LARGE PHOSPHORUS PRODUCTION FACILITY. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION 51(8):1142-1166, (2001).
Impact/Purpose:
The NERL SEM/EDX facility was established to provide a state-of-the-art resource for individual particle analysis. Specific goals of the laboratory are as follows: 1) Provide chemical, morphological, and size characterization of particles in support of ambient air characterization studies, source apportionment, exposure and health studies, and other particulate matter research.; 2) Develop analytical capabilities to support research objectives; 3) Communicate results to clients and the scientific community.
Description:
A source apportionment study was conducted to identify sources within a large elemental phosphorus plant that contribute to exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for 24-h PM10. Ambient data were collected at three monitoring sites from October 1996 through July 1999 and included the following: 24-h PM10 mass, 24-h PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 mass and chemistry, continuous PM10 and PM2.5 mass, continuous meteorological data, and wind-direction-resolved PM2.5 and PM10 mass and chemistry. Ambient-based receptor modeling and wind-directional analysis were employed to help identify major sources or source locations and source contributions. Fine-fraction phosphate was the dominant species observed during PM10 exceedances, though in general, resuspended coarse dusts from raw and processed materials at the plant were also needed to create an exceedance. Major sources that were identified included the calciners, the CO flares, process-related dust, and electric-arc furnace operations.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through its Office of Research and Development partially funded and managed the research described here under Contracts 68-D5-0049 and 68-D-00-206 to ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc. It has been subject to Agency review and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.