Abstract

Soot participates generated and emitted by combustion processes have a microstructure and trace element composition that can be linked to the source of their production. The methodology of the quantification discussed in this paper is based on the use of high resolution electron microscopy (HRTEM), multiparameter image analysis to observe structure and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis to determine the particle's chemical signature. HRTEM analysis produces a 'fractional coverage' parameter that yields a distinguishing signature, for example carbon black that has been oxidized to different extents. Traditional techniques do not provide the full distribution of actual lattice spacing present in the HRTEM images, whereas examination of the full inter-planar spacing distribution of synthetic graphite's produced from a variety of aromatic hydrocarbons shows a structure dependent on fuel composition and origin. Chemical fingerprinting using the EDX signature of trace elements in the particles has shown remarkable source based uniqueness. We show that these novel and exciting methods can be applied to a whole range of differing soots and can be used for source assignment and characterization. Transactions on Ecology and the Environment vol 29 © 1999 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3541

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