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Characteristics of Condensable Particulate Formation in the EPA Method 202 Sampling Train
Citation:
Van Rooy, P., David Nash, N. Shappley, W. Lin, P. Kariher, AND J. Dewees. Characteristics of Condensable Particulate Formation in the EPA Method 202 Sampling Train. Air & Waste Management Association / Air Quali, Durham, NC, November 14 - 16, 2023.
Impact/Purpose:
Condensable Particulate Matter (CPM) is defined in 40 CFR Part 51 as material in the vapor phase at stack conditions that condenses immediately upon stack discharge to ambient air through cooling and diluting or reacts to form solid or liquid particulate matter (PM) in the PM 2.5µm size fraction. With advanced controls non-condensable (filterable) PM levels being discharged from stationary sources have decreased significantly, such that CPM has become increasingly important pollutant to measure accurately, especially regarding source permitting requirements. The purpose of this research is to fundamentally investigate the measurement quality of both Method 202 and OTM-37 under controlled conditions. This research will provide the first ever, direct comparison of the two different measurement approaches. This research will direct OAQPS and the Regions, State and Local governments to support the implementation of PM 2.5 NAAQS, and potentially support OAQPS in the promulgation of a new reference method or modifications to existing methods. The EPA and industry need the ability to accurately quantify CPM air emissions from industrial uses, chemical manufacturing, and wood product industry sources. These CPM sources are also identified as a concern for States, Regions, and Program Offices to address existing PM emission issues. To support the States, Regions and Program Offices, ORD is providing emissions measurement guidance and expertise as well as conducting research to develop and evaluate emissions measurement methods for measuring and characterizing CPM formation kinetics and analytical data related to Method 202 and OTM-37 sample trains from a synthetic emissions source. This dataset will present ORD air emissions measurements from a Method 202 sampling train operated in different conditions. Blank data from a contract laboratory is also presented.
Description:
The purpose of this research is to fundamentally investigate the measurement quality of condensable particulate matter (CPM) via both Method 202 and Other Test Method (OTM)-37 under controlled conditions by understanding both CPM formation mechanisms, and the dynamics that occur in each measurement approach. This research will provide the first ever, direct comparison of the two different measurement approaches and provide significant fractionated empirical data. While this comparison alone is incredibly valuable, each method can only be improved to the extent that CPM formation mechanisms in the real world under particular industrial stack and near-stack conditions is well known. To this end, this question is being examined as well so that in addition to method-to-method comparisons, method to ‘real world CPM formation’ can be gauged as well for various source types. This presentation was submitted as a sub-product based on dataset STICS ORD-049942, Sub-Product ID AE.2.1.9.1, "Stationary Source Condesable Particulate Matter Method 202 Dataset".