Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1161
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1161
02 May 2024
 | 02 May 2024

Organic vapors from wood, straw, cow dung, and coal burning using Vocus PTR-TOF

Tiantian Wang, Jun Zhang, Houssni Lamkaddam, Kun Li, Ka Yuen Cheung, Lisa Kattner, Erlend Gammelsæter, Michael Bauer, Zachary C. J. Decker, Deepika Bhattu, Rujin Huang, Rob L. Modini, Jay G. Slowik, Imad El Haddad, Andre S. H. Prevot, and David M. Bell

Abstract. Solid fuel (SF) combustions, including coal and biomass, are important sources of pollutants in the particle and gas phase and therefore have significant implications for air quality, climate, and human health. In this study, we systematically examined real-time gas-phase emissions using the Vocus proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer, from a variety of solid fuels, including beech logs, spruce and pine logs, spruce and pine branches and needles, straw, cow dung, and coal. The average emission factors (EFs) for organic gases ranged from 6.7 to 74.2 g kg-1, depending on the combustion phases and fuel types. Despite slight differences in modified combustion efficiency (MCE) for some experiments, increasing EFs for primary organic gases were observed with lower MCE. The CxHyOz family is the most abundant group, but a greater contribution of nitrogen-containing species and CxHy families (related to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) could be found in cow dung burning and coal burning, respectively. Intermediate volatility organic compounds (IVOCs) also constituted a considerable fraction in solid-fuel combustions (from 12.6 % to 39.3 %), especially for spruce and pine branches and needles (39.3 %), and coal (31.1 %). Despite the large variability of EFs in the organic gas emissions, the relative contribution of different classes showed large similarities between the combustion phases in beech stove burning. The product from pyrolysis of coniferyl-type lignin and the extract of cedar pine needle were identified as characteristic compounds in the spruce and pine branches and needles open burning (e.g., C10H14O2, C11H14O2, C10H10O2). The characteristic product (C9H12O) from the pyrolysis of beech lignin was identified as the characteristic compound for beech log stove burning. Many series of nitrogen-containing homologues (e.g., C10H11-21NO, C12H11-21N, C11H11-23NO and C15H15-31N) and nitrogen-containing species (e.g., acetonitrile, acrylonitrile, propanenitrile, methylpentanenitrile) were specifically identified in cow dung burning emissions. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with 9-12 carbons were identified with significantly higher abundance from coal burning compared to emissions from other studied fuels. The composition of these characteristic organic vapors reflects the burned fuel types and can help constrain emissions of solid fuel burning in regional models.

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Tiantian Wang, Jun Zhang, Houssni Lamkaddam, Kun Li, Ka Yuen Cheung, Lisa Kattner, Erlend Gammelsæter, Michael Bauer, Zachary C. J. Decker, Deepika Bhattu, Rujin Huang, Rob L. Modini, Jay G. Slowik, Imad El Haddad, Andre S. H. Prevot, and David M. Bell

Status: final response (author comments only)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1161', Meinrat O. Andreae, 03 May 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on CC1', Tiantian Wang, 23 Nov 2024
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1161', Anonymous Referee #1, 25 Jun 2024
    • RC2: 'Reply on RC1', Anonymous Referee #1, 26 Jun 2024
      • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Tiantian Wang, 23 Nov 2024
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1161', David Weise, 26 Jun 2024
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC3', Tiantian Wang, 23 Nov 2024
    • AC4: 'Reply on RC3', Tiantian Wang, 23 Nov 2024
Tiantian Wang, Jun Zhang, Houssni Lamkaddam, Kun Li, Ka Yuen Cheung, Lisa Kattner, Erlend Gammelsæter, Michael Bauer, Zachary C. J. Decker, Deepika Bhattu, Rujin Huang, Rob L. Modini, Jay G. Slowik, Imad El Haddad, Andre S. H. Prevot, and David M. Bell
Tiantian Wang, Jun Zhang, Houssni Lamkaddam, Kun Li, Ka Yuen Cheung, Lisa Kattner, Erlend Gammelsæter, Michael Bauer, Zachary C. J. Decker, Deepika Bhattu, Rujin Huang, Rob L. Modini, Jay G. Slowik, Imad El Haddad, Andre S. H. Prevot, and David M. Bell

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Short summary
Our study analyzes real-time emissions of primary organic gases from solid fuel combustion, including residential and open burning. Using Vocus-PTR-TOF, we tested various fuels, finding higher emissions from wood burning. Statistical tests identified unique characteristic compounds. IVOCs are key precursors to SOA formation, particularly in open burning. Our insights benefit air quality, climate, and health, advancing atmospheric chemistry and aiding accurate emission assessments.