Chemical Characterization of Fine Particle Emissions from the Wood Stove Combustion of Prevalent United States Tree Species

Abstract

Residential wood combustion is an important contributor to ambient fine particle levels in the United States. About one-half to two-thirds of the residential wood combustion in the United States occurs in wood stoves as opposed to fireplaces. Thus, any differences between these two sources must be accounted for in chemical mass balance receptor models which attempt to determine the contribution of wood smoke sources to ambient fine particle samples. To fully characterize the fine particle emissions from wood stoves and compare the emissions profiles to those determined from previous fireplace experiments, a series of source tests were conducted on the burning of the most prevalent U.S. tree species in wood stoves. The catalyst-equipped wood stove chosen for these tests was operated under both noncatalytic and catalytic conditions to assess the effects of the catalyst on fine particle emissions. Analysis of the wood smoke includes fine particle mass emission factors, organic and elemental carbon content, i...