Grantee Research Project Results
1998 Progress Report: The Contribution of Biomass Combustion to Ambient Fine Particle Concentrations in the United States
EPA Grant Number: R826233Title: The Contribution of Biomass Combustion to Ambient Fine Particle Concentrations in the United States
Investigators: Cass, Glen , Fine, Philip M.
Current Investigators: Cass, Glen , Fine, Philip M. , Seinfeld, John
Institution: California Institute of Technology
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: February 1, 1998 through January 31, 2001
Project Period Covered by this Report: February 1, 1998 through January 31, 1999
Project Amount: $532,642
RFA: Ambient Air Quality (1997) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Air
Objective:
The objective of this research project is to quantify the contribution of biomass combustion sources to atmospheric fine particle concentrations throughout the United States. Both the spatial and seasonal variation of biomass smoke concentrations will be determined.Progress Summary:
The GC/MS analysis of the fine particle samples from the fireplace combustion of 13 hardwood and 9 softwood species revealed over 300 individual organic compounds that have been positively identified and quantified. The cellulose pyrolysis product levoglucosan was found as a major component in all the fine particle emissions from fireplace combustion and thus, is a good candidate as a molecular tracer for wood combustion in general. Differences in emission rates of certain substituted phenols and resin acids also were found that can be used to apportion wood combustion between hardwoods and softwoods. Other compound classes quantified in the fireplace emissions included triterpenoids, alkanoic and alkenoic acids, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), oxy-PAH, phenolic dimers, and lignans. Certain organic compounds, such as betulin from paper birch, juvabione and dehydrojuvabione from balsam fir, and friedelin from white oak, are unique to those species and can potentially be utilized to trace particulate emissions back to specific geographical regions where these wood species are burned.
The fine particle mass emission rates from the wood stove source test ranged from 0.9 to 3.4 grams per kilogram of wood burned, generally less than the fireplace source tests for the same wood species. EC/OC analysis showed that the emissions predominantly consisted of organic compounds with lesser amounts of elemental carbon.
Future Activities:
In the coming year, the chemical analysis of the particle emissions from the wood stove source tests will be completed. Planning and preparation for additional biomass burning source tests are underway. Possible sources include agricultural burning and prescribed burning of forest litter. The extraction and analysis of a nationwide collection of ambient samples from the year 1995 from the IMPROVE network as well as other ambient samples taken by our research group will be completed as well.Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 12 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
air, ambient air, particulates, organics, environmental chemistry, analytical, engineering, measurement methods, wood burning., RFA, Air, Scientific Discipline, particulate matter, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Monitoring, incineration, chemical characteristics, smoke concentrations, organic chemical trace techniques, atmospheric chemistry, fine particles, seasonal variation, particulates, biomass combustion, ambient air quality, air toxicsProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.