Size Distributed Chemical Composition of Fine Particles Emitted from Burning Asian Coals

Abstract:

Much of the energy demand in India and China is met by coal and bio fuel combustion Moreover, residential combustion of coal takes place in homes for heating or cooking purposes and is thought to contribute heavily to global or regional burdens of carbonaceous particles. In order to better quantify the fine particulate emissions for local emissions inventory, it is important to test the emissions from different Asian coals. In this study, we collect diluted exhaust emissions from the combustion of three different Asian coals in a batch underfire air grate furnace using two micro-orifice uniform deposit impactors (MOUDIs). The three Asian coals are from Meghalaya (India), Dinajpur (Bangladesh), and Datong (China). Prior to sample collection, the hot exhaust emissions were diluted in a dilution source sampler. The particle mass distributions from the three coals have a single mode that peaks at 0.18-0.32 µm particle aerodynamic diameter. Particles emitted from coal burning were mostly elemental carbon in nature. Organic matter was the next largest contributor. Size distributions from several trace elements (magnesium, aluminum, chloride, arsenic, bromine, cobalt, sodium, mercury, scandium, antimony, lanthanam, and samarium) were measured using instrumental neutron activation analysis.  The purpose of these experiments was to examine the emissions that occur when chunks of coal, on the order of 2 inches in diameter, are burned under conditions similar to a small industrial or commercial hand-stoked furnaces. The data obtained from these source tests will prove useful in constructing and evaluating regional emission inventory and assessing source impacts on air quality.

Keywords:  PM2.5 Emissions Factors, Fine Particulate Matter, Asian Coal Combustion, Measuring Methodologies,  Bangladesh, India, China