Grantee Research Project Results
Continuous Measurement of PM2.5 and Associated Semi-Volatile Particulate Species
EPA Grant Number: R825367Title: Continuous Measurement of PM2.5 and Associated Semi-Volatile Particulate Species
Investigators: Eatough, Delbert J.
Institution: Brigham Young University
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: October 1, 1996 through September 30, 1999
Project Amount: $353,103
RFA: Analytical and Monitoring Methods (1996) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Environmental Statistics , Water , Land and Waste Management , Air , Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration
Description:
The hypothesis of the proposed research is that fine particulate mass is significantly underdetermined in urban environments using current standard reference methods because of the loss of volatile material from the particles during sampling. The research program will develop new instrumentation for the continuous monitoring of PM2.5, including the determination of fine particulate semi-volatile species which can be lost from fine particles during sampling with a filter. The new instrument will have a combined virtual impactor-particle concentrator inlet to separate the fine particles from coarse particles and from 80-90% of the sampled gas stream; diffusion denuders to remove gas phase semi-volatile organic material, nitric acid, ammonia, and oxidants; a "sandwich" filter for the collection of fine particles and semi-volatile species which can be lost from the particle during sampling; and a TEOM monitor to measure the rate of collection of fine particulate material by the "sandwich" filter. Both controlled chamber experiments and ambient studies will be conducted to characterize the collection and measurement by the developed instrument of each of the target semi-volatile components of fine particulate matter: ammonium nitrate, semi-volatile organic material, particulate bound water and water associated small molecular weight gases. The results of the continuous monitoring of fine particulate material, including the determination of the various volatile particulate components will be compared to results obtained using conventional mass, and particle size and number monitoring techniques, and using integrated samples collected with diffusion denuder samplers. Finally, the developed instrument will be evaluated in ambient studies conducted in environments which represent a matrix of temperature, relative humidity, fine particle acidity, and fine particle chemical composition. The research should provide an instrument which can be used both for the routine monitoring of total fine particulate mass and for the specific determination of various classes of fine particulate volatile species in special studies of ambient fine particulate chemistry and associated epidemiology.Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 19 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 13 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
continuous measurement, qater, volatile, ambient, monitoring, particulate, sampling., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, particulate matter, Physics, Environmental Chemistry, Chemistry, Monitoring/Modeling, environmental monitoring, particle size, ambient particle properties, environmental measurement, fine particles, particulate, continuous measurement, PM 2.5, semi-volatile organic material, PM2.5, sampling, semi-volatile particulate species, urban environment, aerosolsProgress and Final Reports:
The 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.