Volatile organic compounds in an urban airborne environment adjacent to a municipal incinerator, waste collection centre and sewage treatment plant

Leach, John; Blanch, Anicet R.; Bianchi, Alberto

doi:10.1016/s1352-2310(99)00115-6

Cited by 77 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…This method has been extensively applied in previous work, and the overall uncertainty was estimated to be less than 50% in measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). 42 Another study showed that variability in mean measured concentrations of ambient VOCs among different laboratories was less than 50% at both urban and rural sampling sites. 43 After 48-hr exposure in the environment, sampling tubes were sealed for transport using Teflon caps and then thermally desorbed at 200°C and analyzed using an ATD-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) system.…”

Section: Airshed Box Model Calculations and Uncertaintymentioning

confidence: 99%

Emission and Fate Assessment of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether in the Boston Area Airshed Using a Simple Multimedia Box Model: Comparison with Urban Air Measurements

Kawamoto

Arey

Gschwend

2003

Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association

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Expected urban air concentrations of the gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) were calculated using volatile emissions estimates and screening transport models, and these predictions were compared with Boston, MA, area urban air measurements. The total volatile flux of MTBE into the Boston primary metropolitan statistical area (PMSA) airshed was calculated based on estimated automobile nontailpipe emissions and the Universal Quasi-Chemical Functional-Group Activity Coefficient computed abundance of MTBE in gasoline vapor. The fate of MTBE in the Boston PMSA was assessed using both the European Union System for the Evaluation of Substances, which is a steady-state multimedia box model, and a simple airshed box model. Both models were parameterized based on the meteorological conditions observed during air sampling in the Boston area. Measured average urban air concentrations of 0.1 and 1 g/m 3 MTBE during February and September of 2000, respectively, were comparable to corresponding model predictions of 0.3 and 1 g/m 3 and could be essentially explained from estimated temperature-dependent volatile emissions rates, observed average wind speed (the airshed flushing rate), and reaction with ambient tropospheric hydroxyl radical (⅐OH), within model uncertainty. These findings support the proposition that one can estimate gasoline component source fluxes and use simple multimedia models to screen the potential impact of future proposed gasoline additives on urban airsheds. INTRODUCTIONNumerous investigators have found that liquid gasoline and gasoline vapor components constitute a substantial portion of tropospheric volatile organic pollutants in the United States. 1 We therefore anticipate that new gasoline additives that are both relatively volatile and abundant in fuel, such as methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), accumulate in urban air to significant concentrations. As part of an effort to control toxic volatile compounds and urban air pollution precursors emitted from motor vehicles, the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 mandated 2% by weight oxygen (O 2 ) addition to fuels in areas affected by the federal Reformulated Gasoline Program (RFG). 2 To fulfill this requirement, MTBE has been added to gasoline in amounts of 10 -15% by volume in several metropolitan areas in the United States. 3 Gasolines in much of the New England region have been amended with at least 11% vol/vol MTBE year-round since 1995. 2 We expect MTBE to constitute a significant portion of fuel vapor, because it is a highly volatile, major fuel component. Therefore, relatively high MTBE concentrations in the urban air of RFG-affected areas and possibly also measurable ambient MTBE concentrations in more remote areas are expected. Tropospheric MTBE concentrations typically in the range of 5-25 g/m 3 have been

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Section: Airshed Box Model Calculations and Uncertaintymentioning

confidence: 99%

Emission and Fate Assessment of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether in the Boston Area Airshed Using a Simple Multimedia Box Model: Comparison with Urban Air Measurements

Kawamoto

Arey

Gschwend

2003

Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association

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“…Amines could be emitted from various sources, including animal husbandry (Rabaud et al, 2003;Schade and Crutzen, 1995), waste incineration and sewage treatment (Abalos et al, 1999;Leach et al, 1999), marine environment (Facchini et al, 2008;Sorooshian et al, 2009), biomass burning (Lobert et al, 1991), industrial processes (Moffet et al, 2008;Reinard et al, 2007), and vehicle exhaust (Cadle and Mulawa, 1980). In particular, animal husbandry is a major source, where the mass concentration of amine aerosol could even represent up to 23% of that of ammonium (Sorooshian et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced trimethylamine-containing particles during fog events detected by single particle aerosol mass spectrometry in urban Guangzhou, China

Zhang

Чан

et al. 2012

Atmospheric Environment

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“…Short-chain aliphatic amines are emitted from a wide range of sources such as animal husbandry (Schade and Crutzen 1995), vehicle exhausts (Cadle and Mulawa 1980), waste incinerators and sewage treatment plants (Leach et al 1999). In intense agricultural regions, ambient levels of amines could reach hundreds of parts per billion (ppb) (Rabaud et al 2003), but they are generally lower in other areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Displacement of Ammonium from Aerosol Particles by Uptake of Triethylamine

Chan

2012

Aerosol Science and Technology

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The displacement of ammonium by triethylammonium (TEAH) in aerosol particles of about 15-35 µm in diameter was investigated using an electrodynamic balance (EDB) coupled with in situ Raman spectroscopy. ] led to increases in particle mass of over 90%. A complete displacement of ammonium by TEAH was confirmed by direct EDB mass measurements and the Raman spectra obtained. TEAH sulfate was formed during the exposure of aqueous droplets of (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 and NH 4 HSO 4 to TEA vapor at 50% RH; but a fraction of it decomposed to TEAH bisulfate when the TEA supply was removed. Crystalline solid particles of (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 and (NH 4 ) 2 C 2 O 4 experienced small mass increases of <5%, both of which were attributed to the hindered mass transfer of TEA in crystalline solids. However, TEA reacted with the amorphous solid NH 4 NO 3 particle at <3% RH as effectively as if it was in the aqueous NH 4 NO 3 droplet (50% RH) and formed TEAH nitrate. On the other hand, the amorphous NH 4 HSO 4 solid particle reacted with TEA at <3% RH to form crystalline (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 and liquid TEAH bisulfate and sulfate. The formation of rather inert crystalline (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 suppressed the ammonium exchange.

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Volatile organic compounds in an urban airborne environment adjacent to a municipal incinerator, waste collection centre and sewage treatment plant

Cited by 77 publications

References 21 publications

Emission and Fate Assessment of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether in the Boston Area Airshed Using a Simple Multimedia Box Model: Comparison with Urban Air Measurements

Emission and Fate Assessment of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether in the Boston Area Airshed Using a Simple Multimedia Box Model: Comparison with Urban Air Measurements

Enhanced trimethylamine-containing particles during fog events detected by single particle aerosol mass spectrometry in urban Guangzhou, China

Displacement of Ammonium from Aerosol Particles by Uptake of Triethylamine

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