Quantification of Minor Chemical Elements in Particulate Matter Collected from In-Use Diesel Engine Passenger Vehicles by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Richard Viskup,Christoph Wolf,Werner Baumgartner

doi:10.3390/en13226113

Abstract

This research qualitatively and quantitatively characterises the minor chemical elements in diesel particulate matter (DPM). DPM was extracted from in-use diesel engine passenger vehicles of diverse types and models from major brand car producers in Europe. We analysed particulate matter extracted from the exhaust manifold part from passenger vehicles that are used in daily life environment. To qualitatively and quantitatively characterise the DPM, we employed the high-resolution Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy analytical technique (LIBS). Qualitative spectrochemical LIBS analyses confirmed the presence of minor chemical elements—silicon, nickel, titan, potassium, strontium, and molybdenum in DPM. For quantification of the LIBS signal, the calibration functions were constructed from internal calibration standards. Different concentrations of detected minor elements Si, Ni, Ti, K, Sr, and Mo were measured with respect to the type of complex particulate matter.

Highlights

Issues with diesel engine emissions and vehicles emission monitoring [1,2,3] are important subjects for human health
The main task of this research was to spectrochemically analyse minor chemical elements contained in diesel particulate matter, by means of the high-resolution Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy analytical technique (LIBS) technique
diesel particulate matter (DPM) was extracted from in-use diesel engine passenger vehicles of diverse types and models from major brand car producers in Europe

Summary

Introduction

Issues with diesel engine emissions and vehicles emission monitoring [1,2,3] are important subjects for human health. Non-polluted clean air is important for our human body, mainly for the lungs, cardiovascular system, as well as for the central nervous system and brain [4,5]. PM and metallic nanoparticles are the key sources of many diseases and illnesses or deaths. It should be among our highest priorities to rigorously explore and understand the composition of particulate matter. The knowledge of this information can help to find new techniques to precisely measure and quantify the content of different chemical elements adsorbed inside the small PM and to minimise the vehicle’s emissions

Methods

Results

Conclusion