James B. Homolya

A Systematic Approach for the Evaluation of Triethanolamine as a Possible Sulfur Dioxide Sorption Detector Coating

Abstract A change in the vibrating frequency of a quartz crystal can be an accurate measurement of the mass change on the surface of the crystal. When coated with an absorbing compound, the subsequent frequency change indicates the sorption of a chemical species by the coating. An approach is proposed for evaluating potential crystal coatings and is. applied to the evaluation of Triethanolamine as a possible sulfur dioxide sorption detector coating.

The development of a sulfur dioxide continuous monitor incorporating a piezo-electric sorption detector

Abstract Several efforts to utilize quartz crystals as detectors have been successful. After a particular coating is evaluated for detection of either a class of compounds or a specific compound, the coated crystal must then be incorporated within some type of instrumentation which will give the desired signal or response. The authors, in addition to efforts directed toward improving the triethanolamine coated crystal for SO 2 detection, have designed and constructed an instrument capable of utilizing such a detector. While the instrument is designed as a continuous monitor, it can also be used as an intermittent sampler. The instrument provides a millivolt readout for recording the signal.

Characterization of Sulfate Emissions from Nonutility Boilers Firing Low-S Residual Oils in New York City

A 10 day study was carried out in the New York Metropolitan area to characterize the sulfur oxides (SO x ) emissions from four packaged boilers burning a 0.3% S hydrodesulfurized residual oil. Emission rates were calculated for SO2, total sulfate, and particulate matter expressed as g emitted/gal of oil fired. Sulfate emissions amounted to ≃ 13.4% of the SO x from the sources. The sulfate emission factor was found to be related to the accumulation of V-containing ash in the boilers resulting in the catalytic oxidation of SO2. Nearly 35,000 boilers of these types are operational in New York City, especially in the winter, to provide heat and hot water. Their elevated suifate emission rates could play a dominant role Jn the occurence of elevated sulfate levels near the metropolitan area during winter episodes.

The measurement of the sulfuric acid and sulfate content of particulate matter resulting from the combustion of coal and oil

Abstract Recent evidence has demonstrated a difference between oil and coal combustion emissions of sulfuric acid and inorganic sulfate compounds (primary sulfate emissions). In general, for a given fuel sulfur content, sulfate emissions from residual oil combustion are from 5 to 10 times higher than those from coal. These differences are thought to be due to the increased oxidation of SO2 by vanadium and nickel found to be present in oil in greater quantities relative to coal. A microdiffusion method for the measurement of total water soluble sulfate and the free sulfuric acid content of combustion particulate has been used as a diagnostic tool to identify boiler/fuel combinations producing significant quantities of primary sulfate emissions. The method accounts for the potential neutralization of acid by the contamination from ammonia during sample preparation and storage. A laboratory study of the recovery efficiencies of H2SO4 and (NH4)2SO4 as well as data obtained from the analysis of field samples from coal and oil-fired boilers are discussed. Oil ash samples were found to contain about 20 times more water-soluble sulfate and about 10 times more free sulfuric acid than ash from coal combustion. The results suggest that in areas where the principal sources of ambient suspended particulate matter (TSP) are emissions from fossil fuel combustion, one should expect that the sulfate to TSP ratio is greater for regions dominated by fuel oil usage than in locations using coal. Measurement of the acid and sulfate content of boiler ash could be helpful in identifying individual chemical compound constituents in TSP samples and to elucidate the relative proportion of primary sulfate as compared to sulfate formed by the atmospheric transformation of SO2.

A Study of Primary Sulfate Emissions From a Coal-Fired Boiler with FGD

A study was carried out to investigate the emissions of SO2 and primary sulfate materials (H2SO4 and inorganic particulate matter) from a boiler burning fossil fuel and using a wet-limestone scrubber for SO2 removal. Experiments were designed to assess the scrubbing efficiency for SO2 and sulfate, as well as the potential for scrubber liquor reentrainment. The boiler studied was an 820 MW cyclone-fired unit equipped with a wet, limestone scrubber, consisting of eight two-stage venturi-absorber modules designed to treat a flue gas flow rate of 2,760,000 acfm. The boiler fuel was a low-grade sub-bituminous coal with ash and sulfur contents of 25 and 5%, respectively. Multiple-sampling methods were employed concurrently on the inlet and outlet of a candidate absorber module to measure SO2, total water-soluble sulfate, and free H2SO4. Samples were collected during three field experiments from September 1977 through April 1978. The average SO2 scrubbing efficiency was 76% and was observed to decrease over the ...

Quenching effects in sulfur dioxide fluorescence monitoring instruments.

concentrations which can occur naturally, the CFC4 saturated hydrocarbons should be the best indicators of any future petrogenic inputs to this region. The unsaturated hydrocarbons, ethylene and propylene, do not occur in as high concentrations as have been reported for many other oceanic locations ( 4 ) which tends to support the view that biological productivity was low during the month of August for both years. I t must be kept in mind that sampling has been restricted to only a one-month period for two consecutive years. Nothing is known about the abundance of LMW-HC in this region prior to breakup of the ice or when the Mackenzie is in full flood.

Observations of aerosol composition and visibility near an isolated power plant

Abstract A 14 day study was carried out at an isolated oil-burning power plant in the northeastern United States during July 1977 to determine the impact of the direct emissions of sulfate on the ambient air environment in the vicinity of the source. An air monitoring network was used to obtain measurements of 24-h average suspended paniculate matter within a 6-km radius of the source emission, which was located in the Hudson River Valley. Ambient paniculate was analyzed for sulfate, nitrate, bromide, and several metals. Meteorological data were recorded at a site adjacent to the source as well as at an airport U.S. National Weather Service — about 18 km north-northwest of the power plant. At the airport, hourly observations of visual range were noted. These measurements were correlated with the total suspended paniculate levels and their chemical composition for each daily sampling interval. In particular, visual range was found to be inversely related to the sulfate fraction of the suspended paniculate matter ( r = 0.94) over an average daily sulfate concentration ranging from 5 to 25/gmm −3 . Measured visibility at the airport was found to be strongly influenced by wind direction with southeasterly winds corresponding to periods of low visibility. Under these conditions the average sulfate content of the suspended paniculate was 35%. Higher visibility levels occurred with northwest winds and sulfate comprised only 15% of the ambient paniculate matter. The sulfate to particulate matter ratio in the boilers was found to be 0.35, which has been identified as being a general characteristic of emissions from residual oil combustion. Although a twofold increase in ambient sulfate was noted in particulate samples taken downwind of the source, the upwind (incoming background) samples also exhibited a sulfate to particulate matter ratio of 0.35–0.40 with southeasterly winds, suggesting the possibility of transport of combustion-generated sulfate from the heavily populated Mid-Atlantic coastal region where residual oil is used as the principal fuel for both electrical energy production and to a large extent, domestic space heating.

Current Technology for Continuous Monitoring of Gaseous Emissions

The purpose of this paper is to present a discussion of the latest developments in continuous gaseous emissions measurement. Subject areas include extractive and in-situ measurement. An exhaustive discussion of all instrumental methods currently available for use is neither appropriate nor productive in that several reviews have already been published in this area. Current needs for the development of new instrumentation in support of pending EPA regulations will be noted.

Dilution Device for Coupling Monitors to Source Emissions

Abstract The coupling of continuous gaseous source monitors to stacks or ducts usually requires some degree of sample conditioning. A novel device has been designed and constructed to eliminate the problems of moisture condensation and particulate entrainment in sampling systems by diluting the stack gas in-situ and measuring the resulting sample stream with ambient air sensors. Dilution ratios of from 500:1 through 2400:1 have been studied and the feasibility of a prototype design has been demonstrated in the field.

A comparison of in situ and extractive measurement techniques for monitoring SO2 emissions from a stationary source

Abstract Recently, an investigation has been completed which compared both extractive and in situ electro-optical instrumentation for the measurement of SO2 emissions from a pulverized-coal power generating boiler. An assessment was made of individual system performance under field conditions. To accomplish this, particular areas of interest in this study included: (1) an investigation of the effects of variations in fuel composition, boiler operating conditions and fly ash emissions on the various measurement systems; (2) a correlation of instrument response with standard EPA compliance test methods; and (3) a determination of several instrument operating criteria such as zero drift, span drift, and maintenance.