Total Non-methane Hydrocarbons Research Articles

Prediction of Toxic Emissions from Chemical Fire and Explosion

The prediction of toxic emissions from industrial and warehouse fires and explosions involving reactive chemicals has eluded the hazard analysis community for quite some time. To address this issue, we developed a model called ADORA for the time evolution of toxic emissions and their dispersion in the atmosphere. At each time step, the conservation of mass, energy and momentum are solved while invoking thermochemical equilibrium or a constrained version thereof to determine the species composition in the cloud. During the initial stages of cloud evolution, the temperatures are usually high and thermochemical equilibrium applies. As the cloud cools down later due to air entrainment, the composition is governed by reaction kinetics. We use a computationally efficient approach called “constrained equilibrium” which is essentially an approximate way of accounting for temperature dependent reaction kinetics. In this approach, as air and moisture are entrained into the plume, the species concentrations are updated until the temperature decreases sufficiently to “freeze out” the toxic species of concern. The freeze-out temperatures for the toxic species of greatest concern are determined by examining the temperature dependent reaction kinetic rates. The temperatures below which the kinetics are too slow relative to cloud dynamics are selected as freeze out temperatures. This approach allows us to calculate as a function of time the cloud combustion rate, temperature, species composition, size, rise and travel distance downwind from the release location. Sample calculations for the detonation of explosives and for fires involving several reactive chemicals are given. For the former, the model predictions of major species such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and total non-methane hydrocarbons agree well with the limited available data. The model predicts the time dependent consumption of reactants and formation of reaction intermediates as well as stable end products. The concentration contours for toxic species such as hydrogen fluoride are presented and the trends discussed. The predictions of our model can be used to improve preparedness and emergency response planning in order to minimize the consequences of accidents involving reactive and energetic materials.

Non–methane hydrocarbon emission profiles from printing and electronic industrial processes and its implications on the ambient atmosphere in the Pearl River Delta, South China

Thirty–seven non–methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) were quantified for seven industrial work processes, covering the electronic industry and the printing industry, in the Pearl River Delta (PRD). NMHC source profiles (% by wt.) for the respective work processes and their associated industrial solvents were obtained. In order to examine the contribution of the individual work processes to the neighborhood atmospheres, ambient samples on the rooftop of the printing and electronic factories were collected. Total NMHC concentrations of 3 700±740 ppbv and 169±64 ppbv were detected, respectively. Air samples from roadside of a main roundabout, from rooftop of a residential building in the town center and from a background site were also collected to examine the impact of industrial and vehicular emissions on local NMHC levels. NMHC emissions from the printing factory were significantly higher than that from the electronic factory. The two work processes, plastic molding and soldering in the electronics factory, emitted mainly C3–C7 alkanes, while paint solvents used in the printing factory released C7–C8 aromatics. Toluene was the most abundant NMHCs measured for all work processes in the printing factory. It was due to the heavy usage of various solvent–based inks and paint solvents. In general, high toluene levels were found in the ambient and industrial–related atmosphere and this led to low benzene–to–toluene ratios (B/T, ppbv/ppbv) in this study. The B/T ratios for urban, suburban and roadside ambient atmospheres were smaller than 0.2. Much lower ratios (<0.04) were measured for industrial work processes associated with usage of ink and paint solvents. Our study suggests that toluene–rich emission from the printing industry contributes to the gradual increase in the atmospheric toluene background in the PRD.

Ozone photochemistry in an oil and natural gas extraction region during winter: simulations of a snow-free season in the Uintah Basin, Utah

Abstract. The Uintah Basin in northeastern Utah, a region of intense oil and gas extraction, experienced ozone (O3) concentrations above levels harmful to human health for multiple days during the winters of 2009–2010 and 2010–2011. These wintertime O3 pollution episodes occur during cold, stable periods when the ground is snow-covered, and have been linked to emissions from the oil and gas extraction process. The Uintah Basin Winter Ozone Study (UBWOS) was a field intensive in early 2012, whose goal was to address current uncertainties in the chemical and physical processes that drive wintertime O3 production in regions of oil and gas development. Although elevated O3 concentrations were not observed during the winter of 2011–2012, the comprehensive set of observations tests our understanding of O3 photochemistry in this unusual emissions environment. A box model, constrained to the observations and using the near-explicit Master Chemical Mechanism (MCM) v3.2 chemistry scheme, has been used to investigate the sensitivities of O3 production during UBWOS 2012. Simulations identify the O3 production photochemistry to be highly radical limited (with a radical production rate significantly smaller than the NOx emission rate). Production of OH from O3 photolysis (through reaction of O(1D) with water vapor) contributed only 170 pptv day−1, 8% of the total primary radical source on average (primary radicals being those produced from non-radical precursors). Other radical sources, including the photolysis of formaldehyde (HCHO, 52%), nitrous acid (HONO, 26%), and nitryl chloride (ClNO2, 13%) were larger. O3 production was also found to be highly sensitive to aromatic volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations, due to radical amplification reactions in the oxidation scheme of these species. Radical production was shown to be small in comparison to the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), such that NOx acted as the primary radical sink. Consequently, the system was highly VOC sensitive, despite the much larger mixing ratio of total non-methane hydrocarbons (230 ppbv (2080 ppbC), 6 week average) relative to NOx (5.6 ppbv average). However, the importance of radical sources which are themselves derived from NOx emissions and chemistry, such as ClNO2 and HONO, make the response of the system to changes in NOx emissions uncertain. Model simulations attempting to reproduce conditions expected during snow-covered cold-pool conditions show a significant increase in O3 production, although calculated concentrations do not achieve the highest seen during the 2010–2011 O3 pollution events in the Uintah Basin. These box model simulations provide useful insight into the chemistry controlling winter O3 production in regions of oil and gas extraction.

Performance of commercial nonmethane hydrocarbon analyzers in monitoring oxygenated volatile organic compounds emitted from animal feeding operations

Quantifying non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) from animal feeding operations (AFOs) is challenging due to the broad spectrum of compounds and the polar nature of the most abundant compounds. The purpose of this study was to determine the performance of commercial NMHC analyzers for measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) commonly emitted from AFOs. Three different NMHC analyzers were tested for response to laboratory generated VOCs, and two were tested in the field at a commercial poultry facility. The NMHC analyzers tested included gas chromatography/flame ionization detector (GC/FID), photoacoustic infrared (PA-IR) and photoionization detector (PID). The GC/FID NHHC analyzer was linear in response to non-polar compounds, but detector response to polar oxygenated compounds were lower than expected due to poor peak shape on the column. The PA-IR NMHC instrument responded well to the calibration standard (propane), methanol, and acetone, but it performed poorly with larger alcohols and ketones and acetonitrile. The PA-IR response varied between compounds in similar compound classes. The PID responded poorly to many of the most abundant VOCs at AFOs, and it underreported alcohols by>70%. In the field monitoring study, total NMHC concentrations were calculated from sum total of VOC determined using EPA Methods TO-15 and TO-17 with GC-MS compared to results from NMHC analyzers. NMHC GC/FID values were greater than the values calculated from the individual compound measurements. This indicated the presence of small hydrocarbons not measured with TO-15 or TO-17 such as propane. The PA-IR response was variable, but it was always lower than the GC/FID response. Results suggest that improved approaches are needed to accurately determine the VOC profile and NMHC emission rates from AFOs. Implications: Commercial nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHC) analyzers that monitor volatile organic compounds (VOCs) will underreport true concentrations of VOCs if the compound profiles have significant levels of polar compounds. Laboratory experiments showed that the commercial instruments accurately measured nonpolar compounds, but polar compounds were being underreported by NMHC analyzers with known standards. Field experiments showed that laboratory instruments underreported true concentration in the field due to the fact that the most abundant NMHC associated with animal feeding operations were polar VOCs. This report recommends not using NMHC analyzers for quantifying VOCs at animal feeding operations.

Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Light-Duty Vehicles in Monterrey, Mexico: a Tunnel Study

A two-week tunnel study was conducted in Monterrey, Mexico during June 2009 to characterizevolatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from the local vehicle fleet and estimate the correspondingemission factors (EFs). The Loma Larga Tunnel (LLT), a 532 meter-long structure that is mainly used by lightduty gasoline-powered vehicles was used as the experimental set-up. Ambient air samples (2-hour averages) were taken inside the LLT using 6 L SUMMA®-polished canisters. Samples collected in the canisters were analyzed for Total Non-Methane Hydrocarbons (TNMHC) and 53 individual VOCs using high-resolution GC-MS. Identified individual VOCs accounted for ~80% of the TNMHCs. The most abundant VOCs, on a molar basis, were ethene (13.8%), acetylene (9.0%), isopentane (7.1%), toluene (5.6%), and n-butane (5.5%). High correlations were obtained for known markers of vehicular emissions. Particularly, for the ethene/ acetylene ratio values between 1.1 and 2.4 were obtained (R2 = 0.95), indicating the presence of vehicles with a working catalytic converter. Estimated EFs were compared to values reported in similar studies elsewhere, including one in Mexico City. Results indicate that the vehicles in the LLT tend to emit lower molecular weight VOCs (in the C2 to C6 range). Reactivity of the emissions, expressed propylene-equivalent concentrations, was estimated resulting in an important contribution of the olefins (including isoprene) to the ozone-forming potential of the emitted mixtures.

A tunnel study to estimate emission factors from mobile sources in Monterrey, Mexico

A six-day tunnel field study was conducted in the city of Monterrey, Mexico, during June 2009 to derive on-road emission factors (EFs) for trace gases and fine particulate matter from the local vehicle fleet. The Loma Larga Tunnel (LLT) is a 532-m-long structure that is mainly used by light-duty gasoline-powered vehicles. It is composed of two independent bores that have a semicircular cross section, 17 m in diameter with a 3.5% slope. During the study, a fleet of 108,569 vehicles with average speeds that ranged from 43 to 76 km/hr was sampled. Ambient air samples were taken inside each bore using 6-L SUMMA-polished canisters and low-volume samplers for the quantification of total nonmethane hydrocarbons (TNMHC) and PM2.5, respectively. The effect of road dust resuspension was considered in the computation of PM2.5 EFs. Additional equipment was used to measure real-time levels of CO2 and NOx; CO EFs were estimated using NOx as a surrogate. TNMHC samples and NOx levels were obtained for 2-hr time periods, while PM2.5 samples and CO2 levels were obtained using 2.5-hr time periods, which included the time periods of the TNMHC and NOx measurements. Estimated EFs for TNMHC, CO, NOx, and PM2.5 were 1.16 ± 0.05, 4.83 ± 2.9, and 0.11 ± 0.07 g/km-veh (2-hr average) and 17.5 ± 5.7 mg/veh-km (2.5-hr average), respectively, while CO2 EFs were 182.7 ± 44 g/km-veh for the 2-hr time periods and 170 ± 22 g/veh-km for the 2.5-hr time periods. The average fuel economy estimated from the field data was 12.3 ± 2.3 km/L. The CO2 and TNMHC EFs (on a mass per distance basis) tended to be higher for traffic moving upslope, while the inverse occurred for the PM2.5 EFs. In comparison to other tunnel studies, the CO2 EFs obtained were similar, the NOx and PM2.5 EFs were lower, and the CO and TNMHC EFs were higher. Implications Mobile source emission factors (EFs) for Mexican cities other than Mexico City are scarce. In Monterrey, Mexico, one of the three major cities in the country, emissions inventories are constructed based on EFs from other locations. However, it is quite relevant to obtain local information to construct reliable inventories. We present what is, to our knowledge, the first tunnel study conducted in a Mexican city other than Mexico City to estimate fleet-average mobile source EFs. This is also the first study that reports PM2.5 EFs derived from a tunnel study in the country.

Aromatic hydrocarbons as ozone precursors before and after outbreak of the 2008 financial crisis in the Pearl River Delta region, south China

In the second half of 2008 China's highly industrialized Pearl River Delta (PRD) region was hard‐hit by the financial crisis (FC). This study reports volatile organic compounds measured in the PRD during November–December in both 2007 before the FC and 2008 after the FC. While total mixing ratios of non‐methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) on average were only about 7% lower from 40.2 ppbv in 2007 to 37.5 ppbv in 2008, their ozone formation potentials (OFPs) dropped about 30%, resulting from about 55% plummet of aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs) against a greater than 20% increase of total alkanes/alkenes. The elevated alkanes and alkenes in 2008 could be explained by greater emissions from vehicle exhausts and LPG combustion due to rapid increase of vehicle numbers and LPG consumption; the drop of AHs could be explained by reduced emissions from industries using AH‐containing solvents due to the influence of the FC, as indicated by much lower ratios of toluene to benzene and of xylenes/trichloroethylene/tetrachloroethylene to carbon monoxide (CO) in 2008. Source apportionment by positive matrix factorization (PMF) also revealed much less contribution of industry solvents to total anthropogenic NMHCs and particularly to toluene and xylenes in 2008 than in 2007. Based on PMF reconstructed source contributions, calculated OFPs by industrial emissions were responsible for 40.8% in 2007 in contrast to 18.4% in 2008. Further investigation into local industry output statistics suggested that the plummet of AHs in 2008 should be attributed to small enterprises, which contributed largely to ambient AHs due to their huge numbers and non‐existent emission treatment, but were much more influenced by the FC.

Experimental analysis of the evaporation process for gasoline

This paper presents the findings from a study on the evaporation process of 93 RON (research octane number) unleaded gasoline. The parameters measured in the experiment included the weight, the RVP (Reid vapor pressure) and the viscosity of gasoline, the concentration of NMHC (non-methane total hydrocarbon) in the oil vapor and the concentration of the main vapor constituent. Results showed that the parameters changed significantly as evaporation processed. The weight loss reached 86.36% after 300 days and presented a logarithmic curve with time. The RVP decreased from 38 kPa to 9.6 kPa. The viscosity of gasoline increased from 8.6 × 10−4 Pa s to 1.51 × 10−3 Pa s. All the concentrations of NMHC and the main constituent of vapor decreased in varying amounts. Most of the changes might be attributed to the evaporation of volatile hydrocarbons.

Nonmethane Hydrocarbons in Ambient Air of Hazy and Normal Days in Foshan, South China

A first study of nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) on hazy and normal days was performed in Foshan for providing deep insight into the local deteriorating air quality. Ethane, propane, i-pentane, ethene, propene, ethyne, benzene, and toluene were eight most abundant compounds, accounting for 71%-85% of total NMHCs. Most hydrocarbons showed much higher levels on hazy days than normal days together with hydrocarbon/ethyne ratios and diurnal variations, indicating hazy days are more dominated by vehicular emission. Correlation coefficients (R(2)) of ethane, propane, ethane, propene, benzene, and total NMHCs with ethyne were 0.62-0.83, indicating these compounds are mainly related to vehicular emission. R(2) analysis indicated that solvent usage is responsible for toluene and other aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., ethylbezene). Benzene/toluene (B/T) ratio was 0.44±0.23 during whole sampling periods, again indicating vehicular emission is the dominant source. Lower B/T ratio (0.30±0.14) on hazy days than that (0.58±0.21) on normal days suggested that solvent usage emitted toluene.

Ambient measurements of 2,2,4-trimethyl, 1,3-pentanediol monoisobutyrate in Southern California

2,2,4-trimethyl, 1,3-pentanediol monoisobutyrate (TPM) is a widely used solvent found in water-based coatings. Ambient measurements of TPM are reported here for the first time. Although this compound has been previously measured in indoor air, this study illustrates successful detection and quantification of TPM in ambient air at three locations in Southern California: Pico Rivera, Azusa, and Riverside. TPM was detected in every sample collected, with concentrations ranging from 0.7 to 49.5 parts per trillion (ppt). Collections took place during summer 2009, fall 2009, winter 2009/2010, and spring 2010, for 5–7 days during each season. The highest mean concentrations were observed during the summer months for each city, when coating activities are typically at their highest. Implications 2,2,4-Trimethyl, 1,3-pentanediol monoisobutyrate (TPM) is a widely used solvent found in water-based coatings. Ambient measurements of TPM are reported here for the first time. The highest mean concentrations were observed during the summer months for each city, when coating activities are typically at their highest. Unreacted TPM constitutes approximately 0.01% of the total nonmethane hydrocarbon (NMHC) concentrations in the Los Angeles air basin and given its slow reactivity rate in forming ozone, this would be an approximate upper limit for the fraction of ozone that it is responsible for forming.

Characteristics of atmospheric non-methane hydrocarbons during haze episode in Beijing, China

This study firstly focused on non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) during three successive days with haze episode (16-18 August 2006) in Beijing. Concentrations of alkanes, alkenes, aromatic hydrocarbons, and ethyne all peaked at traffic rush hour, implying vehicular emission; and alkanes also peaked at non-traffic rush hour in the daytime, implying additional source. Especially, alkanes and aromatics clearly showed higher levels in the nighttime than that in the daytime, implying their active photochemical reactions in the daytime. Correlation coefficients (R (2)) showed that propane, n-butane, i-butane, ethene, propene, and benzene correlated with ethyne (R (2) = 0.61-0.66), suggesting that their main source is vehicular emission; 2-methylpentane and n-hexane correlated with i-pentane (R (2) = 0.61-0.64), suggesting that gasoline evaporation is their main source; and ethylbezene, m-/p-xylene, and o-xylene correlated with toluene (R (2) = 0.60-0.79), suggesting that their main source is similar to that of toluene (e.g., solvent usage). The R (2) of ethyne, i-pentane, and toluene with total NMHCs were 0.58, 0.76, and 0.60, respectively, indicating that ambient hydrocarbons are associated with vehicular emission, gasoline evaporation, and solvent usage. The sources of other hydrocarbons (e.g., ethane) might be natural gas leakage, biogenic emission, or long-range transport of air pollutants. Measured higher mean B/T ratio (0.78 ± 0.27) was caused by the more intensive photochemical activity of toluene than benzene, still indicating the dominant emission from vehicles.

Non-methane Hydrocarbons and Their Ozone Formation Potentials in Foshan, China

Concentrations of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) were measured to investigate their temporal variations and major sources, and to explore the ozone formation potentials (OFP) of each NMHCs for the first time in December 2008 in Foshan. Ethane, propane, n-butane, i-pentane, 2,3-dimethylbutane, ethene, propene, ethyne, benzene and toluene were the 10 most abundant hydrocarbons, accounting for 82% of the concentration of total NMHCs. Concentrations of these hydrocarbons as well as their fractional contributions to the total NMHCs were higher in the morning and evening than in the afternoon, consistent with the variations in vehicle volumes during these periods. This suggests that the vehicular emission was likely the major source of NMHCs at this site. The mean B/T ratio (0.45 ± 0.24) further supported vehicular emission as the main source of the ambient NMHCs except for aromatic hydrocarbons. These aromatic hydrocarbons were mainly from solvent evaporation, as indicated by the diurnal variations in the ratios of toluene and m/p-xylene to benzene. The results from factor analysis also showed that combustion process and solvent usage were the major sources of NMHCs. On average, total Prop-Equiv and OFP were 153.0 ppbc and 863.4 μg/m 3 , respectively. Based on MIR (maximum incremental reactivity) scale, the leading contributors to OFP in decreasing concentrations were ethene, toluene, propene, i-pentane, m/p-xylene, 1-butene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, 2,3-dimethylbutane and trans-2-butene, which in total explained 77% of the total OFP. Ranking by Prop-Equiv, the top 10 species were propene, toluene, ethene, 1-butene, i-pentane, m/pxylene, isoprene, 2,3-dimethylbutane, trans-2-butene and ethylbenzene, accounting for 66% of the total Prop-Equiv. Thus, alkenes played the most important role in O3 formation, followed by aromatics and alkanes during the study periods in Foshan.

Measurements of ozone and its precursors in Beijing during summertime: impact of urban plumes on ozone pollution in downwind rural areas

Abstract. Sea-land and mount-valley circulations are the dominant mesoscale synoptic systems affecting the Beijing area during summertime. Under the influence of these two circulations, the prevailing wind is southwesterly from afternoon to midnight, and then changes to northeasterly till forenoon. In this study, surface ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx) and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) were measured at four sites located along the route of prevailing wind, including two upwind urban sites (Fengtai "FT" and Baolian "BL"), an upwind suburban site (Shunyi "SY") and a downwind rural site (Shangdianzi "SDZ") during 20 June–16 September 2007. The purpose is to improve our understanding of ozone photochemistry in urban and rural areas of Beijing and the influence of urban plumes on ozone pollution in downwind rural areas. It is found that ozone pollution was synchronism in the urban and rural areas of Beijing, coinciding with the regional-scale synoptic processes. Due to the high traffic density and local emissions, the average levels of reactive gases NOx and NMHCs at the non-rural sites were much higher than those at SDZ. The level of long-lived gas CO at SDZ was comparable to, though slightly lower than, at the urban sites. We estimate the photochemical reactivity (LOH and the ozone formation potential (OFP) in the urban (BL) and rural (SDZ) areas using measured CO and NMHCs. The OH loss rate coefficient (LOH by total NMHCs at the BL and SDZ sites are estimated to be 50.7 s-1 and 15.8 s-1, respectively. While alkenes make a major contribution to the LOH, aromatics dominate OFP at both urban and rural sites. With respect to the individual species, CO has the largest ozone formation potential at the rural site, and at the urban site aromatic species are the leading contributors. While the O3 diurnal variations at the four sites are typical for polluted areas, the ozone peak values are found to lag behind one site after another along the route of prevailing wind from SW to NE. Intersection analyses of trace gases reveal that polluted air masses arriving at SDZ were more aged with both higher O3 and Ox concentrations than those at BL. The results indicate that urban plume can transport not only O3 but its precursors, the latter leading more photochemical O3 production when being mixed with background atmosphere in the downwind rural area.

How important is biogenic isoprene in an urban environment? A study in London and Paris

[1] As the emissions of anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are reduced through regulatory measures and improved control technologies, biogenic VOCs could gain in importance in terms of reactivity, especially in urban areas. Here we investigate a 12 year record of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) in central London and the importance of biogenics (in the form of isoprene) for ozone formation through the contribution to OH reactivity. Significant reductions in NMHCs were observed from 1998 through 2009 at an urban traffic site (−13% per year) and suburban background site (−5% per year) in London. Total isoprene levels decreased similarly and the relative contribution of isoprene to the total NMHC OH reactivity did not change. Furthermore, a dataset for Paris showed strong similarities to the data from London, which would indicate that these results are not limited to London. Interestingly, a rural site to the east of London, Harwell, showed similar contributions of isoprene to the total NMHC reactivity, which may indicate the need for measurements of other biogenic species, such as monoterpenes, in some areas to reliably capture the importance of biogenics in the region. These results would indicate that the influence of biogenic isoprene in London, and likely other low isoprene emitter urban areas have a long way to go before the importance of biogenic VOCs equals or exceeds that of anthropogenic contributions.

Volatile hydrocarbon emissions from vehicles and vertical ventilations in the Hsuehshan traffic tunnel, Taiwan

The concentrations of 56 volatile organic hydrocarbons (VOCs) were measured simultaneously in the southbound bore, the northbound bore and the exhaust air shafts of the Hsuehshan tunnel near Yilan, Taiwan during 2007 and 2008. A total of 60 integrated air samples were collected using stainless steel canisters and analyzed using GC/FID and GC/MS. The highest temperature and lowest relative humidity were observed at the exit of the tunnel owing to the accumulation in the tunnel of waste heat that was exhausted from vehicles. The five most abundant species in all samples were ethylene, acetylene, isopentane, propylene, and toluene. The exit/entrance ratios of total non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) concentration were 7.8 and 4.8 for the southbound and northbound bores, respectively. Furthermore, the most abundant species of emission rate (ER) is toluene (21.93-42.89 mg s(-1)), followed by isopentane, ethylene, propylene and 1-butene, with ER ranging from 2.50 to 9.31 mg s(-1) for the three shafts. The ozone formation potential (OFP)/total NMHC ratios in three exhaust air shafts show that the reactivities of these emissions are similar to those of vehicle emissions.

Emissions of C 2 – C 12 hydrocarbons in the Hsuehshan tunnel, Taiwan

The concentrations of 56 hydrocarbons from C 2 to C 12 were measured simultaneously in the southbound bore, the northbound bore and the exhaust air shafts of the Hsuehshan tunnel near Yilan, Taiwan for 12 days during 2007 and 2008. A total of 60 integrated air samples were collected using stainless steel canisters and analyzed using GC/FID and GC/MS. The five most abundant species in all samples were ethylene, acetylene, isopentane, propylene and toluene. The exit/entrance ratios of total non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) concentration were 7.8 and 4.8 for the southbound and northbound bores, respectively. Furthermore, the exhaust from the vertical shafts affects air quality in the neighborhood. The most abundant species of emission rate (ER) was toluene (21.93–42.89 mg/sec), followed by isopentane, ethylene, propylene and 1-butene, with ER ranging from 2.50 to 9.31 mg/sec. The species in the three exhaust air shafts showed that the reactivities of these emissions are similar to those of vehicle emissions. Notably, the control of emissions in the vertical shafts of the vehicle tunnel will be important in the future.

Characteristics of atmospheric non-methane hydrocarbons during high PM 10 episodes and normal days in Foshan, China

Atmospheric non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) were firstly studied during high PM 10 episodes and normal days in December 2008 in Foshan, China. Ethyne, ethene, i-pentane, toluene, ethane and propane are six abundant hydrocarbons, accounting for round 80% of total NMHCs. Both diurnal variations and concentration ratios of morning (evening)/afternoon implied vehicular emission for most hydrocarbons. Correlation coefficients (R 2) of ethene, propene, i-butene, benzene, toluene and i-/n-butanes with ethyne were 0.60–0.88 (they were 0.64–0.88 during high PM 10 episode and 0.60–0.85 in normal days) except for ethene and i-butene in normal days, indicating these hydrocarbons are mainly related to vehicular emission. It suggests liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and natural gas (NG) leakages are responsible for propane and ethane, respectively. The measured mean benzene/toluene (B/T) ratio (wt/wt) was 0.45 ± 0.29 during total sampling periods together with R 2 analysis, again indicating vehicular emission is main contributor to ambient hydrocarbons. And the lower B/T ratio (0.29 ± 0.11) during high PM 10 episodes than that (0.75 ± 0.29) in normal days is likely caused by air transport containing low B/T value (0.23) from Guangzhou as well as solvent application containing toluene in Foshan.

Feeding distillers dried grains with solubles and organic trace mineral sources to swine and the resulting effect on gaseous emissions1

The objective of the study was to evaluate the dietary effects of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) with either inorganic or organic trace mineral sources on air emissions. Three diets were compared: a corn- and soybean meal-based control diet (Con), a diet containing 20% DDGS with inorganic trace mineral sources (20In), and a diet containing 20% DDGS with organic trace mineral sources (20Org). Groups of 6 pigs were allocated randomly to 1 of 12 environmentally controlled rooms for a 98-d experiment. A total of 72 pigs were blocked into 3 light and 3 heavy BW groups to minimize BW variation. Average initial BW for the light and heavy blocks were 22.6 kg and 27.0 kg, respectively. Concentrations and airflow of NH₃, H₂S, N₂O, CH(4), CO₂, and nonmethane total hydrocarbons (NMTHC) were measured in the exhaust air from each room. Body weight gain (94 kg per pig; P = 0.36) and G:F (0.39; P = 0.79) were not different as a result of diet, although a reduced feed intake was observed in pigs offered 20Org (P < 0.05). Total daily H₂S emission mass was greater (P = 0.03) in rooms where the 20In diet was offered (462.26 mg) compared with rooms where the Con (354.62 mg) and 20Org (323.10 mg) diets were offered. No dietary effect (P = 0.47) was observed when H₂S emissions were adjusted for S consumption (14.38 mg of H₂S emitted daily per gram of S consumed). Compared with NH₃ emitted on the Con diet, the daily mass of NH₃ emitted decreased by 7.6% when pigs were fed 20In and increased by 11.0% in rooms where the 20Org was fed (P < 0.05). On a N consumption basis, feeding swine 20In significantly reduced NH₃ emissions compared with 20Org and Con, whereas NH₃ emissions from pigs fed 20Org were significantly greater than emissions from pigs fed the Con diet (P < 0.01). The NH₃ emission mass from rooms offered the Con, 20In, and 20Org diets was 120.1, 109.8, and 142.8 mg/g of N consumed/d, respectively (P < 0.01). Feeding DDGS with either inorganic or organic trace mineral sources increased the daily emission masses of CH₄ and NMTHC (P < 0.01), but not N₂O emissions. Plasma urea N (P = 0.64), albumin (P = 0.39), globulin (P = 0.75), and total bilirubin concentrations (P = 0.82) were not different between diet groups. Results demonstrated that DDGS will increase H₂S, CH₄, NH₃, and NMTHC emissions from pigs, but organic sources of trace minerals are a promising mitigation strategy to alleviate the adverse effect of DDGS on H₂S emissions.

Effect of Amino Acid Formulation and Supplementation on Air Emissions from Tom Turkeys

Air emissions were determined for turkeys fed four diets in a 22 factorial design to determine the effects of diets with 100% or 110% of NRC-recommended amino acid (AA) formulation when the diets contained either two (lysine and methionine) or three (lysine, methionine, and threonine) supplemental AA. Hybrid tom turkeys were raised and monitored in 12 rooms (3 reps per diet; 20 toms per room at hatch, culled to 16 toms per room at 21 days, and then 12 toms per room at 28 days of age). Air emissions were measured throughout the 140-day study. Data were analyzed statistically using the Mixed model procedure of SAS. The 100% NRC diets contained less N compared to the 110% NRC diets. Diets containing three supplemental AA had less N content compared to diets containing two supplemental AA. Cumulative feed intake (55.7 kg bird-1) and bird weight (BW; 19.8 kg bird-1) were not affected by diet. Feeding the 100% NRC diets resulted in 9% less cumulative N intakes and 12% less cumulative NH3 emissions as compared with feeding the 110% NRC diets. Formulation with three supplemental AA did not affect N intake but resulted in 25% less cumulative NH3 emissions, as compared with formulation with two supplemental AA, because it significantly reduced the NH3 emission rate (ER) on a per kg N consumption basis (88 vs. 109 g d-1 kg-1 N consumed) . The toms fed the 100% NRC diets generated lower ER of NH3 (1.5 vs. 1.8 g d-1 bird-1), H2S (3.4 vs. 4.4 mg d-1 bird-1), and non-methane total hydrocarbons (NMTHC; 0.08 vs. 0.10 g d-1 bird-1) than the 110% NRC diets (p < 0.05). Results of stepwise regression analysis confirmed the positive influence of N/S intake, room air RH, ventilation rate, and room air temperature on ER of NH3 and H2S. The study demonstrated the potential of reducing NH3 and H2S emissions from turkeys through diet modification of AA while maintaining acceptable production performance. No diet effect was observed on greenhouse gas emissions (N2O and CH4).

Non-methane hydrocarbons in the atmosphere of a Metropolitan City and a background site in South Korea: Sources and health risk potentials

Abstract Hourly concentrations of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) were collected at a background monitoring site between April of 2004 and March of 2005 and at suburban and urban sites between March and December of 2006. The sources of NMHCs were identified and associated health risks through the inhalation pathway were evaluated. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) results showed that solvent sources account for the largest portion of the total NMHCs at suburban and urban areas in South Korea, and the risk assessment combined with the PMF results indicated that risk-weighted contributions of solvent sources were enhanced compared to the absolute contribution (from 52% to 68% in suburban areas and from 47% to 80% in urban areas). Carcinogenic risk due to benzene exposure exceeded the one-in-a-million (i.e., 10 −6 ) cancer benchmark at all three study sites, and the fractions of the population with greater than the benchmark level were 87%, 99%, and 98% in the background, suburban, and urban sites, respectively. Common benzene sources of three study sites were predicted to be Shandong in China based on the 120 h potential source contribution function (PSCF) analysis. To prioritize management options for NMHC sources, risk term may give more meaningful information than amount term. This study suggests that controlling solvent sources would be better option for the mitigation of non-carcinogenic health risk from airborne NMHCs. In addition, the identification of benzene sources using PSCF can be used to assist policymakers in developing regional measures to reduce benzene.