PM Emissions Research Articles

Combined control of PM and NOx emissions by corona discharge

This work investigates the potential of corona discharge to control particulate matter and NOx emissions from small-scale biomass combustion. The electrostatic precipitator (ESP) was designed and used to suppress emissions from a 15-kW heating unit. The ESP was operated at different power modes at both polarities and demonstrated the capability to reduce NOx emissions with a removal efficiency of 78 % while PM concentration was reduced to a magnitude of particle content in ambient air. The efficiency of ESP was evaluated considering the technological parameters, namely the reduced electric field, Nt-product, and specific input energy. The growth in NOx abatement was observed when the energy input exceeded 1 J/L for both polarities and Nt-product exceeded 4.5 × 108 s/cm3/1 × 109 s/cm3 for negative/positive corona. The results of this work may contribute to understanding the processes in corona discharge and optimising corona discharge systems for various applications.

Comparative Analysis of Performance and Emission Characteristics of Biodiesels from Animal Fats and Vegetable Oils as Fuel for Common Rail Engines

Currently, solving global environmental problems is recognized as an important task for humanity. In particular, automobile exhaust gases, which are pointed out as the main cause of environmental pollution, are increasing environmental pollutants and pollution problems, and exhaust gas regulations are being strengthened around the world. In particular, when an engine is idling while a car is stopped and not running, a lot of fine dust and toxic gases are emitted into the atmosphere due to the unnecessary fuel consumption of the engine. These idling emissions are making the Earth’s environmental pollution more serious and depleting limited oil resources. Biodiesel, which can replace diesel fuel, generally has similar physical properties to diesel fuel, so it is receiving a lot of attention as an eco-friendly alternative fuel. Biodiesel can be extracted from various substances of vegetable or animal origin and can also be extracted from waste resources discarded in nature. In this study, we used biodiesel blended fuel (B20) in a CRDI diesel engine to study the characteristics of gases emitted during combustion in the engine’s idling state. There were a total of four types of biodiesels used in the experiment. New Soybean Oil and New Lard Oil extracted from new resources and Waste Soybean Fried Oil and Waste Barbecue Lard Oil extracted from waste resources were used, and the gaseous substances emitted during combustion with pure diesel fuel and with the biodiesels were compared and analyzed. It was confirmed that all four B20 biodiesels had a reduction effect on PM, CO, and HC emissions, excluding NOx emissions, compared to pure diesel in terms of the emissions generated during combustion under no-load idling conditions. In particular, New Soybean Oil had the highest PM reduction rate of 20.3% compared to pure diesel, and Waste Soybean Fried Oil had the highest CO and HC reduction rates of 36.6% and 19.3%, respectively. However, NOx was confirmed to be highest in New Soybean Oil, and Waste Barbecue Lard Oil was the highest in fuel consumption.

Characterization of emissions from axle-mounted rail disc brakes

The most important sources for non-exhaust emissions from railways are the contact strip, the contact wire, wheels, rails and brakes. It is expected that the major share of PM (particulate matter) emission can be assigned to the brakes. In order to quantify the emissions from railway brakes, a series of test bench tests was carried out. These tests aimed at a quantification and characterization of emissions for both sintered and organic brake pads. The measurement setup included monitoring of emitted particle mass and particle number (PN) in the size range from 10 nm to 32 µm. PM10 emission factors could be derived in the range from 0.11 g/km to 4.21 g/km. Emissions from organic brake pads were higher compared to those from sintered materials. The monitoring of particle number concentration showed a significant dependency of PN emissions from the surface temperatures as soon as a critical temperature was exceeded.

Introduction of ERAC (Environmental Risk Assessment and Control) Frame Work in Manufacturing to Enhance Sustainability

This paper introduces the Environmental Risk Assessment and Control (ERAC) framework as a comprehensive approach to managing environmental impacts throughout the lifecycle of product manufacturing processes. Drawing from a detailed case study conducted at a fiber cement manufacturing plant in Odisha, India, the study identifies environmental risks across various phases including raw material extraction, manufacturing processes, and product disposal. ERAC involves five key components: identification of environmental risks, rigorous risk assessment using tools such as environmental modeling and life cycle assessment, formulation of tailored control measures, implementation with robust monitoring, and continuous improvement. The case study demonstrates significant improvements in environmental performance indicators post-implementation, highlighting reductions in specific PM emissions, carbon footprint, waste generation, and energy consumption, as well as enhancements in productivity and workplace safety. The findings underscore ERAC's effectiveness in promoting sustainable manufacturing practices and environmental stewardship.

Emission characteristics of condensable particulate matter during the production of solid waste-based sulfoaluminate cement: Compositions, heavy metals, and preparation impacts

Recycling solid waste for preparing sulfoaluminate cementitious materials (SACM) represents a promising approach for low-carbon development. There are drastic physical-chemical reactions during SACM calcination. However, there is a lack of research on the flue gas pollutants emissions from this process. Condensable particulate matter (CPM) has been found to constitute the majority of the primary PM emitted from various fuel combustion. In this study, the emission characteristics of CPM during the calcination of SACM were determined using tests in both a real-operated kiln and laboratory experiments. The mass concentration of CPM reached 96.6 mg/Nm3 and occupied 87% of total PM emission from the SACM kiln. Additionally, the mass proportion of SO42− in the CPM reached 93.8%, thus indicating that large quantities of sulfuric acid mist or SO3 were emitted. CaSO4 was one key component for the formation of main mineral ye'elimite (3CaO·3Al2O3·CaSO4), and its decomposition probably led to the high SO42− emission. Furthermore, the use of CaSO4 as a calcium source led to SO42− emission factor much higher than conventional calcium sources. Higher calcination temperature and more residence time also increased SO42− emission. The most abundant heavy metal in kiln flue gas and CPM was Zn. However, the total condensation ratio of heavy metals detected was only 40.5%. CPM particles with diameters below 2.5 μm and 4–20 μm were both clearly observed, and components such as Na2SO4 and NaCl were conformed. This work contributes to the understanding of CPM emissions and the establishment of pollutant reduction strategies for waste collaborative disposal in cement industry.

Insights into civil aviation emissions in China: Analysis of an emission inventory of air pollutants and the ChinaHighAirPollutants (CHAP) dataset

The emissions from the civil aviation sector are a significant source of CO2 and air pollutants, which represent a serious threat to ambient air quality and public health. To gain a deeper understanding of civil aviation airport emissions, it is imperative to develop a precise and comprehensive emission inventory of China's civil aviation airports. However, there are limited studies dedicated to analyzing and verifying the accuracy and completeness of China's civil aviation emission inventory. Here, this study explored pollution characteristics from temporal trends and spatial distribution perspectives based on a previously developed 2019–2020 high-resolution air pollution and CO2 emission inventory of the landing and take-off (LTO) cycle of civil aviation airports in China and the ChinaHighAirPollutants (CHAP) dataset. Besides, this study established an empirical model to evaluate the relationship between the air pollutant emissions of China's civil aviation sector in 2019–2020 and the pollutant concentration from the CHAP dataset. Compared to those in 2019, the total NOx, CO, PM, and SO2 emissions during the LTO phase in China's civil aviation sector in 2020 decreased by 14.29%–24.32%, and the average concentrations of NO2, CO, PM10, and SO2 in 2020 decreased by 6.33%–9.45%. The eastern, central, and southern regions of China are characterized by high emissions of pollutants, a phenomenon closely related to the economic prosperity and tourism development in these areas. They tend to boast higher route densities, increasing air transport activity and consequently resulting in elevated emissions. In addition, NOx had the highest correlation coefficient in the empirical model, with a correlation coefficient of 0.603 in 2019. Our findings provide new insights into civil aviation emissions in China from the analysis of the emission inventory of air pollutants and the CHAP dataset and provide a new method for verifying the accuracy and completeness of China's civil aviation emission inventory.

Exploring the relationships between 3D urban landscape patterns and PM2.5 pollution using the multiscale geographic weighted regression model

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a major source of air pollution and exerts serious impacts on human health. The 3D urban landscape patterns can significantly affect the diffusion and emissions of PM2.5. However, studies on the relationships between 3D urban landscape patterns and PM2.5 pollution across different seasons remain understudied. With the ground-level air pollutants estimated by the remote sensing and fine-scale building information, this study applied the multiscale geographically weighted regression model to explore such relationships. Wuhan, the largest metropolis in Central China, was selected as the study area for the application of our methodology. The results showed that the direction, degree, and scale of the effect of 3D urban landscape patterns on PM2.5 pollution varied across seasons. For building height, the standard deviation of building height had a significant positive correlation with PM2.5 all year round. For building density, the building count density showed a significant positive correlation with PM2.5 in general, with the bandwidth in winter and autumn smaller than in spring and summer. The building plan area fraction exerted both positive and negative influences on PM2.5, dependent on season and location. The bandwidth of it gradually increased from spring to winter, with the effect changing from local to regional scale. For building volume, the floor area ratio showed a significant negative correlation with PM2.5 in winter and autumn, and a localized effect was found, especially in winter. The findings of this study provide practical implications for urban planning and policy making to mitigate PM2.5 pollution in the rapidly urbanizing regions.

Simulation of Submicron Particulate Matter (PM1) Dispersion Due to Traffic Rerouting to Establish a Walkable Cultural Tourism Route in Ratchaburi’s Old Town, Thailand

Cultural tourism helps preserve cultural heritage and provides economic opportunities for local communities. A walkable cultural tourism route has been developed for the old town of Ratchaburi, Thailand. Here, we assessed changes in PM1 after cars were banned from the walkable tourist route. A near-roadway dispersion model, R-LINE, was evaluated and used to explore the base case (BC) and two scenarios, S1 and S2. In the BC, road traffic activities reflected the current situation; in S1, all vehicles were banned from the walkable route; and in S2, all drivers were encouraged to park their vehicles outside the study area. The road traffic activities in the study area were observed and used to calculate the PM1 emission rates for the model inputs. The model was capable of simulating PM1 concentration, especially the average PM1 concentration over the monitoring period. An increase in PM1 concentration was seen at the main road in S1 due to the increased traffic volume that had been redirected from the walkable route, with an increase in daily PM1 of 4.5% compared to BC. S2 showed a decrease in the PM1 concentration of 8.9%. These findings suggest the need for traffic mitigation measures prior to initiating a walkable route for cultural tourism, to meet environmental sustainability requirements.

Dust particulate matter increases pulmonary embolism onset: A nationwide time-stratified case-crossover study in China

BackgroundParticulate matter (PM) has been found to elevate the risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) onset. Among the contributors to PM, dust PM stands as the second natural source, and its emissions are escalating due to climate change. Despite this, information on the effect of dust PM on PE onset is scarce. Hence, this study aims to investigate the impacts of dust PM10, dust PM2.5–10, and dust PM2.5 on PE onset. MethodsA nationwide time-stratified case-crossover study was conducted between 2015 and 2020, using data from 18,616 PE onset cases across 1,921 hospitals in China. The analysis employed a conditional logistic regression model to quantify the associations between dust PM10, dust PM2.5–10, and dust PM2.5 and PE onset. Furthermore, the study explored the time-distributed lag pattern of the effect of dust PM on PE development. Stratified analyses were performed based on sex, age, region, and season. ResultsDust PM10, dust PM2.5–10, and dust PM2.5 exhibited significant health effects on PE onset, particularly concerning exposure on the same day. The peak estimates were observed at lag 01 day, with the odds ratio being 1.011 [95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.003, 1.019], 1.014 (95 % CI: 1.003, 1.026), and 1.039 (95 % CI: 1.011, 1.068), for a 10 μg/m3 increase in the concentration of dust PM10, dust PM2.5–10, and dust PM2.5, respectively. In addition, the study identified a higher risk of PE onset associated with dust PM exposure during the warm season than that in cool season, particularly for dust PM2.5. ConclusionsThe findings from this study suggest that short-term exposure to dust PM, particularly dust PM2.5, may trigger PE onset, posing a significant health threat. Implementing measures to mitigate dust PM emissions and protect patients with PE from dust PM exposure is imperative.

Enhancing the Viability of a Promising E-Fuel: Oxymethylene Ether–Decanol Mixtures

Achieving sustainable mobility is a crucial factor in maintaining long-term economic growth without adverse effects on human health and the environment. E-fuels, such as the promising oxymethylene ether (OME), can contribute to sustainable road transport. However, this compound does not meet the requirements of EN590; thus, it is unsuitable for unmodified diesel engines. This work aims to improve the applicability of OME by blending it with n-decanol, which can also be produced sustainably. Combustion and emissions were investigated in a medium-duty commercial diesel engine with different binary and ternary mixtures of oxymethylene ether, n-decanol, and B7 diesel. Laboratory analysis of six key mixture parameters revealed that the formulated blends met the EN590 requirements, with the exception of that of density. The results demonstrated that the created mixtures, including one without any diesel fuel, can be efficiently utilized in unmodified diesel engines. OME’s beneficial effects on combustion and emission were preserved while its viability was improved; a maximum increase of 7.6% in brake thermal efficiency was observed, alongside a potential decrease of nearly 70% in PM emissions at unaltered NOx levels.

Assessment of benzoxazine resins as brake pad friction material binder: Tribological properties and PM emission

This study explores benzoxazine resins as alternative binders for brake pad friction materials, comparing them to the established phenolic resins. Benzoxazine resins feature great thermal properties, alongside industrially-attractive properties such as forgiving storage conditions and extended shelf life. Tribological Pin-on-Disc tests were conducted at different temperatures, with airborne emission monitoring. The characterization of the samples and their worn surfaces was carried out through TGA, SEM, and EDXS analyses. The results revealed promising tribological performance for benzoxazine-bound materials, suggesting potential environmental benefits, especially in high-temperature conditions. This research builds upon a preliminary study focusing on the processing aspects of benzoxazine resins.

The inland waterway ship emission inventory modeling: The Yangtze River case

The estimation of inland waterway ship emission inventories through the Automated Information System (AIS) is associated with considerable uncertainty. A method for calculating the Inland Waterway Ship Emission Inventory Model (IWSEIM) was proposed, based on shipping material flow, to address this challenge. A comparison between CO2 emissions of inland ships calculated by the IWSEIM and the fuel consumption records revealed a relative error of 21.88%. The IWSEIM was applied to calculate the emission inventory of ships passing through a certain channel section on the Yangtze River channel during the whole voyage from 2017 to 2022. Cargo ships emerged as the primary CO2 emitters on the Yangtze River, accounting for 57.67%. CO2 emissions grew by 0.68% annually from 2017 to 2020. In 2018, SO2 and PM emissions decreased by 94.91% and 88.26% versus 2017. The emission intensity (g/t-cargo/km) of ships in the Yangtze River from 2017 to 2022 was calculated by integrating freight data and emission inventory results.

Experimental research on vehicles equipped with a GMP Hybrid for the new Euro 7 emissions standard

With the increase the number of vehicles on European roads, the road transport has become the biggest source of air pollution in the cities of the old continent. According to European Commission estimates in 2018, more than 39% of NOx (nitrogen oxides) emissions and 10% of PM2.5 and PM10 emissions (mechanical particles with diameters of 2.5 and 10 micrometers) were attributed to road transport. It is known that, in order to limit to some extent, the uncontrolled increase in harmful emissions from road vehicles, the European Commission has gradually introduced new pollution standards to be met by manufacturers of new vehicles. In the second half of 2022, the Commission presented a new proposal to reduce pollutant emissions from new vehicles sold in the European Union (EU), defining the new Euro 7 pollution standards. Compared to Euro 6 by 2035, according to European Commission estimates, these new Euro 7 standards, together with a progressive increase in the number of electric vehicles sold, aim to reduce pollutant emissions from private vehicles and vans by around 35% for NOx emissions and around 13% for particulate emissions. Therefore, both the Euro 7 and CO2 emissions standard (CAFE) for vehicles have been designed to improve air quality in cities and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including by increasing the use of electric vehicles. Starting from this hypothesis, the first part of the paper presents the experimental model developed in the AMESim simulation platform of a mid-size vehicle equipped with a hybrid GMP, tested on a roller bench, which simulates pollutant emissions in this new Euro 7 standard. In the second part of the paper, the simulation results and possible causes influencing hybrid GMP behavior leading to the evolution of pollutant emissions are analyzed. Finally, the paper formulates conclusions on the evolution of pollutant emissions.

Investigations of carbon and particulate matter emissions of diesel engine using tertiary fuel

The development of modern world reveals that the world is facing an energy crisis due to the depletion of fossil fuel reserves. Biodiesel is renewable bioenergy made from vegetable oils, microalgae oil, and animal fats. The study involved adding 3,000 parts per million (ppm) of clove oil as an additive to the biodiesel. An endurance test was then conducted on a Compression Ignition (CI) engine for a duration of 100 hours, using three different fuel samples: pure diesel fuel (D100), a blend of 30% biodiesel and 70% diesel fuel (B30), and a blend of biodiesel with 3,000 ppm of clove oil (3000 ppm). The study analysed the effects of the fuel samples on carbon emissions from a CI engine. The results show that carbon monoxide (1.69%) is reduced in B30 and (7.49%) is reduced in CL3000 ppm. Carbon dioxide (7.97%) in B30 and 12.59% in CL3000 ppm are also reduced. Further particulate diesel engine emissions using biodiesel and clove oil-blend fuel samples were investigated. It was found that PM emissions were reduced when using clove oil-blend fuel.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell as an Electric Generator: A Case Study for a General Cargo Ship

In this study, real voyage data and ship specifications of a general cargo ship are employed, and it is assumed that diesel generators are replaced with hydrogen proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The effect of the replacement on CO2, NOX, SOX, and PM emissions and the CII value is calculated. Emission calculations show that there is a significant reduction in emissions when hydrogen fuel cells are used instead of diesel generators on the case ship. By using hydrogen fuel cells, there is a 37.4% reduction in CO2 emissions, 32.5% in NOX emissions, 37.3% in SOX emissions, and 37.4% in PM emissions. If hydrogen fuel cells are not used instead of diesel generators, the ship will receive an A rating between 2023 and 2026, a B rating in 2027, a C rating in 2028–2029, and an E rating in 2030. On the other hand, if hydrogen fuel cells are used, the ship will always remain at an A rating between 2023 and 2030. The capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX) of the fuel cell system are USD 1,305,720 and USD 2,470,320, respectively, for a 15-year lifetime, and the hydrogen fuel expenses are competitive at USD 260,981, while marine diesel oil (MDO) fuel expenses are USD 206,435.

Comparative Study on Brake PM10 Emissions of Vehicle and Brake Dynamometer Under Different Road Conditions

Comparative Study on Brake PM10 Emissions of Vehicle and Brake Dynamometer Under Different Road Conditions

Particulate matter emission characteristics of spruce, sunflower and maize: A comparison between nominal and reduced output in a small-scale boiler

The applicability of spruce, sunflower and maize for residential heating was investigated. Emission factors of gaseous and PM pollutants were established at both nominal and reduced output. Since automatic pellet boilers often operate at reduced output, understanding the differences in PM release and behavior is crucial. The emission factors for sunflower reached the highest values at 111.6 mg MJ−1 and 139.2 mg MJ−1 for nominal and reduced output, respectively. PM emission factors reached 49.5/39.5 mg MJ−1 for maize and 8.6/21.4 mg MJ−1 for spruce. It was shown that PM size distribution does not vary significantly between nominal and reduced output and is highly dependent on the fuel composition. The PM size peak was in the range of 0.377–0.596 μm for sunflower, 0.252–0.377 μm for maize, 0.152–0.252 μm for spruce at nominal output and 0.0941–0.152 μm for spruce at reduced output. The entrainment of coarse ash particles was found to be negligible. Cd, Pb, Tl and Sb were found almost exclusively on emitted particles, due to their high volatility and modes of occurrence. The release of inorganic matter into the flue gas was severely inhibited in maize due to the formation of refractory phases.

Effect of speed humps on instantaneous traffic emissions in a microscopic model with limited deceleration capacity

As a common transportation facility, speed humps can control the speed of vehicles on special road sections to reduce traffic risks. At the same time, they also cause instantaneous traffic emissions. Based on the classic instantaneous traffic emission model and the limited deceleration capacity microscopic traffic flow model with slow-to-start rules, this paper has investigated the impact of speed humps on traffic flow and the instantaneous emissions of vehicle pollutants in a single lane situation. The numerical simulation results have shown that speed humps have significant effects on traffic flow and traffic emissions. In a free-flow region, the increase of speed humps leads to the continuous rise of CO2, NO X and PM emissions. Within some density ranges, one finds that these pollutant emissions can evolve into some higher values under some random seeds. Under other random seeds, they can evolve into some lower values. In a wide moving jam region, the emission values of these pollutants sometimes appear as continuous or intermittent phenomenon. Compared to the refined NaSch model, the present model has lower instantaneous emissions such as CO2, NO X and PM and higher volatile organic components (VOC) emissions. Compared to the limited deceleration capacity model without slow-to-start rules, the present model also has lower instantaneous emissions such as CO2, NO X and PM and higher VOC emissions in a wide moving jam region. These results can also be confirmed or explained by the statistical values of vehicle velocity and acceleration.

Review on Performance and Emissions Characteristics of Compression Ignition Engine Fueling Non-Edible Vegetable Oil

The tremendous exhaustion of resources, a surprising price increase of petroleum fuel and worldwide ecological issues implement to find renewable fuel for compression ignition engine. Non-edible vegetable oils have proven consensus to opt as a replacement for diesel fuel due to comparable properties and less-pollutant characteristics. Using Unmixed Untreated Non-edible Vegetable Oil (UUNVO) in the CI engine matches the needs of a sustainable future and restricts the intensifying cost involved in biodiesel production. This paper aims to review the influence of various UUNVO (Karanja, Jatropha, Neem, Linseed, Mahua and Rubber Seed etc.) on the important performance parameters and emission level of diesel engine. UUNVO can be fuelled to the unmodified CI engine. However, the viscosity of UUNVO is reasonably higher compare to diesel fuel at room temperature, which deteriorates the engine performance and exhaust emission. Minor changes in the injection line for preheating the UUNVO and operating parameters are the way to improve it. It can clearly understand here that preheated UUNVOs typically increase NOx emissions and decrease PM, HC, and CO emissions level compared to standard diesel. UUNVO can substitute diesel fuel completely for short-duration operation. With the long-duration operation, UUNVO produces problems like poor engine performance, injector chocking, and erosion of piston crown, rings, cylinder liner, and other internal parts, and degradation of the lubricant. Problems raised due to durability can be minimized by controlling operational parameters.

Comparative Analysis of Gas Emissions from Ecokiln and Artisanal Brick Kiln during the Artisanal Firing of Bricks

This article focuses on the research of gas emissions in two types of brick kilns located in the Maule Region, Chile. One of them is an artisanal brick kiln known as a “chonchón” (AKC), while the other is a semi-artisanal brick kiln with an improved design. The latter is referred to as the Ecokiln. This study focuses on the assessment of the emission profiles of key pollutants such as particulate matter (PM), CO, CO2, SO2, and NOx. The emission measurements of gasses, temperature, and flow were conducted during the operation of the kilns. These measurements were carried out following the protocol established by Chilean standards. The Ecokiln’s design facilitates optimal fluid dynamics. In direct comparison to the AKC, it exhibits reduced fuel consumption, shorter operation periods, an increased brick processing capacity, decreased burnt brick losses, and notably lower emissions, with a concentration of SO2 that is 83% less than that of the AKC, NOx emissions, 58% lower than the AKC, and a remarkable 74.3% reduction in PM10 emissions. Moreover, the Ecokiln reduces pollutant emissions, improving the well-being of brickmakers and their communities. These results offer insights into the environmental impact of local brick production and support sustainable manufacturing practices.