Grantee Research Project Results
2022 Progress Report: Mapping Urban Emissions of Sub-10 nm Particles using a Mobile Platform
EPA Grant Number: R840427Title: Mapping Urban Emissions of Sub-10 nm Particles using a Mobile Platform
Investigators: Petters, Markus , Meskhidze, Nicholas
Institution: North Carolina State University at Raleigh
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: May 1, 2022 through April 30, 2025
Project Period Covered by this Report: May 1, 2022 through April 30,2023
Project Amount: $730,525
RFA: Measurement and Monitoring Methods for Air Toxics and Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Atmosphere (2021) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics
Objective:
The objectives of this project are to (1) design and build a platorm to measure the size, morphology, and elemental compostion of sub-10 nm particle emissions and (2) to demonstrate that the platform can be used for source identification and apportioonment studies and creation of the detailed maps with emission inventories for sub-10 nm particles in urban environments.
Progress Summary:
Two mobile racks were designed, built and tested for mobile deployments. Software was created to allow for real-time display of the map during driving. The system can switch between three modes: Concentration mode, which provides total aerosol number concentration for D > ~2.5, D > ~5, and D > ~10 nm at 1 s time resolution; size distribution mode measures the aerosol size distribution between 6 and 100 nm; and collection mode, which allows for collection of particles onto a transmission electron microscope grid. The system was tested using a series of deployments around the Raleigh-Durham area.
Future Activities:
The system will be used to measure the concentration, size distribution, and composition of particles in Raleigh, NC during summer 2023. In fall 2023/spring 2023 The focus will switch on characterizing Southern California urban centers. Publications are planned to formally describe the system and provide emission maps and source apportionment for particles in the Raleigh area.
Supplemental Keywords:
ambient air, atmosphere, exposure, toxics, surveys, measurement methods, North Carolina (NC)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.