Volatile Organic Compounds in the Atmosphere: An Overview

Williams, Jonathan; Koppmann, R.

doi:10.1002/9780470988657.ch1

Cited by 49 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 244 publications

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“…There is as such no general source for VOCs as there are numerous compounds in this group, which can be emitted from very different sources (Yurdakul et al, 2013). In addition to the biogenic sources of VOCs (Williams and Koppmann, 2007), some well documented anthropogenic sources are gasoline powered and diesel powered motor vehicles (Demir et al, 2011), fuel storage (Lanz et al, 2008), biomass burning (Yokelson et al, 2008), natural gas (Latella et al, 2005), LPG (Lai et al, 2005), industrial processes and solvents (Lanz et al, 2008) etc.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Volatile organic compounds over Eastern Himalaya, India: temporal variation and source characterization using Positive Matrix Factorization

Sarkar

Chatterjee

Majumdar

et al. 2014

Preprint

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Abstract. A first ever study on the characterization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has been made over a Himalayan high altitude station in India. A total of 18 VOCs (mono aromatics-BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene), non-BTEX substituted aromatics and halocarbon) have been measured over Darjeeling (27.01° N, 88.15° E, 2200 m a.s.l.) in the eastern Himalaya in India during the period of July 2011–June 2012. The annual average concentration of the sum of 18 target VOCs (TVOC) was 376.3 ± 857.2 μg m−3. Monoaromatics had the highest contribution (72%) followed by other substituted aromatics (22%) and halocarbon (6%) compounds. Toluene was the most abundant VOC in the atmosphere of Darjeeling with the contribution of ~37% to TVOC followed by benzene (~21%), ethylbenzene (~9%) and xylenes (~6%). TVOC concentrations were highest during the postmonsoon season with minimum solar radiation and lowest during the premonsoon season with maximum solar radiation. Anthropogenic activities related mainly to tourists like diesel and gasoline emissions, biomass and coal burning, use of solvent and solid waste emissions were almost equal in both the seasons. Seasonal variation in TVOCs over Darjeeling was mainly governed by the incoming solar radiation rather than the emission sources. Source apportionment study using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model indicated that major fraction of (~60%) TVOC were contributed by diesel and gasoline exhausts followed by solvent evaporation (18%) and other sources. Diesel exhaust was also found to have the maximum potential in tropospheric ozone formation. The atmospheric loading of BTEX over Darjeeling was found to be comparable with several Indian metro cities and much higher than other cities around the world.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Volatile organic compounds over Eastern Himalaya, India: temporal variation and source characterization using Positive Matrix Factorization

Sarkar

Chatterjee

Majumdar

et al. 2014

Preprint

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“…The most abundant species being emitted in this context, are toluene and benzene (e.g. Williams and Koppmann, 2007;Reimann and Lewis, 2007). Rudolph et al (1997) presented a method to determine stable carbon isotope ratios in VOC at ambient concentration levels using a gas chromatography combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometer (GC-C-IRMS).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stable carbon isotope ratios of toluene in the boundary layer and the lower free troposphere

et al. 2013

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Abstract. During the field campaign ZEPTER-2 in autumn 2008 whole air samples were collected on board a Zeppelin NT airship in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) and the lower free troposphere (LFT) over south-west Germany using the ZEppelin Based Isotope Sampler (ZEBIS). These samples were analysed with respect to volatile organic compound (VOC) mixing ratios and stable carbon isotope ratios using a gas chromatograph combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometer (GC-C-IRMS). In this study we present results for toluene, one of the major anthropogenic pollutants, which emphasise the viability of isotope ratio measurements in VOC for atmospheric research, especially to study VOC sources or to track both dynamical and chemical processes. In situ measurements of CO mixing ratios on board the Zeppelin NT were used to allocate the air samples either to the PBL or the LFT.In the PBL we observed rather fresh emissions mixing into the background air. We estimated a toluene source isotope ratio of δ 13 C = −28.2 ± 0.5 ‰. Samples from the PBL and the LFT were clearly distinguishable by means of their mixing ratio and isotope ratio signatures. Using the concept of the effective kinetic isotope effect, we were able to separate the effects of dilution processes and photochemical degradation in the free troposphere. We calculated the photochemical age of toluene in the atmosphere in two different ways using isotope ratios and mixing ratios. The results differ strongly in the PBL, probably due to mixing processes, but are compatible with each other in the LFT. Here, they correlate with a slope of 0.90 ± 0.31.

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“…Sources that contribute to the VOC emissions in the atmosphere can be grouped into two categories as biogenic (Atkinson and Arey, 2003;Williams and Koppmann, 2007;Zemankova and Brechler, 2010) and anthropogenic sources such as traffic emission (Han and Naeher, 2006), petroleum evaporation and petroleum emission (Kountouriotis et al, 2014) and industrial processes and diesel motor vehicles (Williams & Koppmann, 2007). According to Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR), in 2008, 0.16 Gtonnes of NMVOC were released in to the atmosphere from anthropogenic sources (EDGAR, 2011) whereas biogenic sources emit ten times more VOC emissions compared to anthropogenic sources (Atkinson and Arey, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Source Identification of VOCs In METU Campus Through Factor Analysis

Uzunpınar¹,

Sert²,

Kilavuz³

et al. 2018

Global NEST Journal

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In this study, 51 ozone precursor VOCs, which are routinely measured in PAMS (Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Station) were measured in a suburban station located at Middle East Technical University, Environmental Engineering Department in, Ankara. Daily air samples were collected in evacuated canisters between JanuaryDecember, 2014. Collected samples were analyzed with GC-FID system and concentrations of 51 VOCs were determined. Mean VOC concentrations ranged between 0.048±0.061 µg m -3 (cis-2-penten) and 10±13 µg m-3 (toluene). Average benzene concentration was 1.49 ± 1.74 μg m -3. Factor Analysis (FA) was applied to determine the major sources of VOCs that contribute to the measured concentrations in the university campus. FA application revealed nine factors that can be grouped under four major components, including (1) transportation: gasoline vehicle exhaust emissions, evaporative losses from gasoline vehicles, gasoline evaporation in gas stations and diesel emissions, (2) industrial emissions: industrial evaporation and industrial application, (3) solvent emissions: surface coatings and solvent use and (4) asphalt application.

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Volatile Organic Compounds in the Atmosphere: An Overview

Cited by 49 publications

References 244 publications

Volatile organic compounds over Eastern Himalaya, India: temporal variation and source characterization using Positive Matrix Factorization

Volatile organic compounds over Eastern Himalaya, India: temporal variation and source characterization using Positive Matrix Factorization

Stable carbon isotope ratios of toluene in the boundary layer and the lower free troposphere

Source Identification of VOCs In METU Campus Through Factor Analysis

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