Grantee Research Project Results
2010 Progress Report: Emissions of gas-phase low-volatility organic compounds (LVOCs) from mobile sources
EPA Grant Number: R834560Title: Emissions of gas-phase low-volatility organic compounds (LVOCs) from mobile sources
Investigators: Kroll, Jesse H.
Current Investigators: Kroll, Jesse H. , Cross, Eben
Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2013 (Extended to March 31, 2014)
Project Period Covered by this Report: January 1, 2010 through December 31,2010
Project Amount: $249,937
RFA: Novel Approaches to Improving Air Pollution Emissions Information (2009) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Air
Objective:
The objective of the proposed work is to improve emission inventories of gas-phase low-volatility organic compounds (LVOCs) from mobile sources, providing inputs to microphysical/chemical modules important for air quality predictions. Present inventories of LVOCs are limited to total mass, or concentrations of only a few species, with little information about the chemistry or volatility of the total emissions.
Progress Summary:
In Year 1 we made substantial progress towards meeting the objectives of this project. We have implemented temperature-programmed desorption/mass spectrometric detection for the measurement of LVOC volatility distributions, and have demonstrated the use this technique for measuring and chemically characterizing LVOC species as a function of their volatility. This also required the construction of a calibration system for generating known concentrations of LVOCs in the gas phase. While some analytical challenges remain (for example, there is an observed dependence of desorption temperature on total LVOC loading), we anticipate this technique will able to routinely provide quantitative, volatility-resolved measurements of loadings and key chemical characteristics of LVOC species.
The instrument was deployed at MIT’s Sloan Automotive Laboratory for one week to characterize LVOC emissions from combustion sources (a diesel burner and a medium-duty diesel engine). Measurements were made as a function of engine load and speed, fuel type, and use of a diesel particulate filer (DPF). Additional aerosol instruments (SMPS, SP-AMS) were also used to better characterize the lowest-volatility fraction of the emissions (soot, condensed-phase organics, etc.). LVOC data indicate that the chemical composition of the LVOCs is strongly dependent on volatility; we are currently developing techniques to quantify such differences, in terms of chemical parameters such as elemental ratios and aromatic/aliphatic character. This work provides a promising proof-of-concept for the more detailed emissions studies planned in the future.
Future Activities:
There are three major goals of Year 2 of this project. (1) Continue and extend the calibration of the LVOC instrument (for LVOC mass and vapor pressure), with a focus on the relationship between LVOC loading and desorption temperature, and covering a wider range of compounds (PAHs, oxygenates, etc.). (2) Development and implementation of techniques for the rapid automated analysis of data from the LVOC instrument, allowing for the routine determination of key chemical parameters of LVOCs from collected emissions data. (3) Carrying out an extensive set of measurements of LVOC emissions from a diesel engine, as a function of engine load, engine speed, fuel type, and use of emissions-control technology.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 13 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
atmosphere, PAHs, measurement methods, transportationProgress 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.