An overview of some challenges in the studies in the emission of particulate matter

Abstract

Studies of particulate matter (PM) emission from solid fuel combustion are important due to the fact that PM has a negative impact on the environment and on human health. The combustion of solid fuels such as coal and biomass for the generation of heat and electricity is one of the principal contributors to PM emission. Coal fired boilers are widely used in power plants due to their low cost despite the fact that coal combustion produces significant amounts of pollutants. A large fraction of the emission of anthropogenic PM and black carbon comes from the household coal combustion for heating and cooking. Residential coal combustion has significantly high emission factors of PM, elemental carbon, and organic carbon, due to incomplete combustion and the lack of an installation of an air pollution control. During high PM pollutant episodes in winter, coal combustion is considered the largest anthropogenic source, especially for organic aerosols. This work supports the synthesis of recent studies on organic pollutants emitted during combustion processes. The paper presents the forms of organics in solid phase, as condensed on the surface of the PM.