Kuo-Lin Huang

PM, carbon, and PAH emissions from a diesel generator fuelled with soy-biodiesel blends

Biodiesels have received increasing attention as alternative fuels for diesel engines and generators. This study investigates the emissions of particulate matter (PM), total carbon (TC), e.g., organic/elemental carbons, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from a diesel generator fuelled with soy-biodiesel blends. Among the tested diesel blends (B0, B10 (10 vol% soy-biodiesel), B20, and B50), B20 exhibited the lowest PM emission concentration despite the loads (except the 5 kW case), whereas B10 displayed lower PM emission factors when operating at 0 and 10 kW than the other fuel blends. The emission concentrations or factors of EC, OC, and TC were the lowest when B10 or B20 was used regardless of the loading. Under all tested loads, the average concentrations of total-PAHs emitted from the generator using the B10 and B20 were lower (by 38% and 28%, respectively) than those using pure petroleum diesel fuel (B0), while the emission factors of total-PAHs decreased with an increasing ratio of biodiesel to premium diesel. With an increasing loading, although the brake specific fuel consumption decreased, the energy efficiency increased despite the bio/petroleum diesel ratio. Therefore, soy-biodiesel is promising for use as an alternative fuel for diesel generators to increase energy efficiency and reduce the PM, carbon, and PAH emissions.

Determination of levels of persistent organic pollutants (PCDD/Fs, PBDD/Fs, PBDEs, PCBs, and PBBs) in atmosphere near a municipal solid waste incinerator.

This work develops a comprehensive approach for quantitatively analyzing polychlorinated and polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs/PBDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs/PBDFs), biphenyls (PCBs/PBBs) and diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). This technique, based on multiple (silica, alumina, and active carbon) columns, can be applied to prepare samples for determining the five group compounds based on high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry. The method was also validated by analyses of blank and spiked samples. In the sampled air, the mean PCDD/F, PCB, PBDD/F, PBDE, and PBB concentrations were 59.6 fg WHO-TEQ Nm(-3), 6.74 fg WHO-TEQ Nm(-3), 12.2 fg WHO-TEQ Nm(-3), 52100 fg Nm(-3), and 341 fg Nm(-3), respectively. The WHO-TEQ of dioxin-like PCB and PBDD/Fs counted for 8.9% and 16% of total TEQ (summed over PCDD/Fs, PBDD/Fs, and dioxin-like PCBs), respectively, suggesting that the atmospheric concentrations of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds should be regulated together because of the persistence and toxicity of PBDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs.

Emissions from a generator fueled by blends of diesel, biodiesel, acetone, and isopropyl alcohol: Analyses of emitted PM, particulate carbon, and PAHs

Biodiesel is one of alternative energies that have been extensively discussed and studied. This research investigates the characteristics of particulate matter (PM), particulate carbon, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emitted from a generator fueled by waste-edible-oil-biodiesel with acetone and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) addition. The tested biodieselhols consisted of pure diesel oil (D100) with 1-3 vol.% pure acetone (denoted as A), 1-70 vol.% waste-edible-oil-biodiesel (denoted as W), and 1 vol.% pure isopropyl alcohol (the stabilizer, denoted as P). The results show that in comparison to W1D99, W3D97, W5D95, W10D90, and W20D80, the use of biodieselhols achieved additional reduction of PM and particulate organic carbon (OC) emission, and such reduction increased as the addition percentage of pure acetone increased. Regardless of the percentages of added waste-edible-oil-biodiesel, acetone, and isopropyl alcohol, the use of biodieselhol in place of D100 could reduce the emissions of Total-PAHs (by 6.13-42.5% (average = 24.1%)) and Total-BaPeq (by 16.6-74.8% (average = 53.2%)) from the diesel engine generator. Accordingly, the W/D blended fuels (W<20 vol.%) containing acetone (1-3 vol.%) and isopropyl alcohol (1 vol.%) are a potential alternative fuel for diesel engine generators because they substantially reduce emissions of PM, particulate OC, Total-PAHs, and Total-BaPeq.

Characteristics of particulate emissions from a diesel generator fueled with varying blends of biodiesel and fossil diesel

This study investigated the particulate matter (PM), particle-bound carbons, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emitted from a diesel-engine generator fuelled with blends of pure fossil diesel oil (D100) and varying percentages of waste-edible-oil biodiesel (W10, 10 vol %; W20, 20 vol %; W30, 30 vol %; and W50, 50 vol %) under generator loads of 0, 1.5, and 3 kW. On average, the PM emission factors of all blends was 30.5 % (range, 13.7–52.3 %) lower than that of D100 under the tested loads. Substituting pure fossil diesel oil with varying percentages of waste-edible-oil biodiesel reduced emissions of particle-bound total carbon (TC) and elemental carbon (EC). The W20 blend had the lowest particle-bound organic carbon (OC) emissions. Notably, W10, W20, and W30 also had lower Total-PAH emissions and lower total equivalent toxicity (Total-BaPeq) compared to D100. Additionally, the brake-specific fuel consumption of the generator correlated positively with the ratio of waste-edible-oil biodiesel to pure fossil diesel. However, generator energy efficiency correlated negatively with the ratio of waste-edible-oil biodiesel to pure fossil diesel.

Characteritization of, and health risks from, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans from incense burned in a temple.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) may cause adverse health effects. However, PCDD/F emissions from burning incense in temples have rarely been addressed. This study investigates PCDD/F emissions from burning incense in a temple. The mean total PCDD/F concentrations were 72.4-82.2 pg Nm(-3) at two indoor sites; their corresponding mean total PCDD/Fs I-TEQ concentrations (0.24-0.27 pg I-TEQ Nm(-3)) were approximately 11 times that at a background location. In air samples collected from burning incense, OCDFs accounted for approximately 90% of total PCDD/Fs at the two indoor sites and an outdoor site near the temple, while the major PCDD/Fs in incense ash were PCDDs. The total PCDD/F content and toxic equivalent value of incense ash were 617 pg g(-1) and 1.55 pg I-TEQ g(-1), respectively. At the three sites inside/outside the temple, the air and ash samples contained the same four primary PCDD/Fs-OCDD, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD, OCDF and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF. The Cl- emission factor, which is related to the PCDD/F formation, from burning incense was 0.454 mg g(-1). The resultant lifetime average daily dose and cancer risk for temple workers were 0.00964 pg I-TEQ day(-1) kg(-1) and 9.64 x 10(-6), respectively, approximately 2 times that for residents near the temple (0.00489 pg I-TEQ day(-1) kg(-1) and 4.89 x 10(-6), respectively). We suggest that the chlorine content in incense must be regulated, and the high risk of PCDD/F exposure from burning incense for temple workers and visitors should be of concern.

Regeneration of Ce(IV) in simulated spent Cr-etching solutions using an undivided cell.

This study investigated regeneration of Ce(IV) from Ce(III) oxidation at 0.05-0.5Acm(-2) in 4M HNO(3) with/without anion impurities (SO(4)(2-) (0.01-0.2M), Cl(-) (0.01-0.08M), and/or Cr(2)O(7)(2-) (0.005-0.016M)) in an undivided cell. Both Ce(IV) yield and current efficiency (CE) were significantly lower in 0.1M than in 1-4M HNO(3) and different on anode materials (in order Pt>IrO(2)/Ti>glassy carbon). The apparent rate constants for Ce(III) oxidation on the Pt anode (k(1)) and for Ce(IV) reduction on a stainless steel cathode (k(2)) were (0.40-1.80)x10(-4) and (0.08-1.01)x10(-4)s(-1), respectively, corresponding to the apparent mass transfer coefficients of (2.0-9.0)x10(-3) and (0.4-5.1)x10(-3)cms(-1), respectively. For Ce(III) oxidation at 0.3Acm(-2) in 4M HNO(3) containing multi-impurity (0.025M SO(4)(2-)+0.08M Cl(-)+0.016M Cr(2)O(7)(2-)), the k(1) was lowered by one order of magnitude although the k(2) remained unchanged, and both Ce(IV) yield and CE were reduced by approximately 89%. The decrease of Ce(IV) yield and CE by the uni-impurity was in order Cl(-)>Cr(2)O(7)(2-)>SO(4)(2-). The obtained parameters are useful to design undivided batch reactors for the Ce(IV) electro-regeneration in spent Cr-etching solutions.

Characterization of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/dibenzofuran emissions from joss paper burned in a furnace with air pollution control devices.

Burning joss paper, a common practice in temples in some Asian countries, can release toxic pollutants. This study investigated polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/dibenzofuran (PCDD/F) emissions and profiles from burning joss paper in a temple furnace connected to two wet scrubbers. The mean total PCDD/F content and corresponding toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) in joss paper were 193 ng kg(-1) and 0.645 ng I-TEQ kg(-1), respectively, whereas those in bottom ash from burned joss paper were 18.5 ng kg(-1) and 1.92 ng I-TEQ kg(-1), respectively. The wet scrubbers decreased individual PCDD/F emissions by 26.7-71.0% and those of total PCDD/Fs and I-TEQ by 47.2% and 66.0%, respectively. The total PCDD/F TEQ emission factors before and after the wet scrubbers were 8.14 and 3.42 microg I-TEQ ton-feedstock(-1), respectively. The estimated total PCDD/F and corresponding TEQ emissions were 5.29 g year(-1) and 0.462 g I-TEQ year(-1), respectively, in Taiwan. Burning joss paper in temple furnaces is a significant source of PCDD/F emissions.

Emission reduction of NOx, PM, PM-carbon, and PAHs from a generator fuelled by biodieselhols.

This investigation examines the particulate matter (PM), particulate carbon, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted from a generator fueled by petroleum diesel blended with waste-edible-oil-biodiesel and water-containing acetone. Experimental results show that using biodieselhols with water-containing (or pure) acetone as the fuel of generator, in comparison to using petroleum diesel, significantly reduces PM emission; roughly, this reduction increased as percentage of water-containing acetone increased. When the percentages of waste-edible-oil-biodiesel were ≤ 5 vol%, adding pure or water-containing acetone (1-3 vol%) to biodieselhols generated emission reductions of NOx, PM, particle-bound organic carbon (OC), total-PAHs, and total-BaPeq. Consequently, using water-containing acetone biodieselhols as an alternative generator fuel is feasible and helps recycle and reuse waste solvents containing water-containing acetone.

Effect of Al2O3 mole fraction and cooling method on vitrification of an artificial hazardous material. Part 1: variation of crystalline phases and slag structures.

This study investigated how Al ions affect slag structure. During vitrification, pure Al(2)O(3), CaO, and SiO(2) served as the encapsulation phases with the use of Al mol% as an operating parameter. All specimens with the same basicity (mass ratio of CaO to SiO(2)) of 2/3 were vitrified at 1400 degrees C and cooled by air cooling or water quenching. XRD was used to measure the volume fractions of crystalline and amorphous phases. In a non-Al environment, CaSiO(3) was formed in air-cooled and water-quenched slags. With the addition of Al(2)O(3), no crystalline phases were observed in water-quenched slags. With the increase of Al mol% in specimens, the Al ions in air-cooled slags initially acted as an intermediate linking one tetrahedron chain to another and reducing the amount of crystalline phase, then behaved as a network former making the slags amorphous, and finally replaced Si ions in silicate frames to generate a large amount of CaAl(2)Si(2)O(8). Air cooling improved the formation of crystallize structures with more leachable metal ions. A highly crystallized Al-framed structure is not suitable for encapsulating hazardous metals in vitrified slags.

Kinetic and Mass-Transfer Parameters for Ce(III) Electro-oxidation in Nitric Acid with∕without Anion Impurities

In this study, Koutecky-Levich (K-L) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) techniques were used to measure the kinetic and diffusion parameters for Ce(III) electro-oxidation on glassy carbon in 4 M HNO 3 with/without SO 2- 4 , Cl - , or Cr 2 O 2- 7 impurities. It was found that the apparent diffusion coefficients (D) of Ce(III) determined using the K-L and CV approaches were 1.65 X 10 -5 and 1.12 X 10 -5 cm 2 s -1 , respectively, while the D values varied by -5 to +15% and -2 to -26%, respectively, for the single-impurity cases. For the three-impurity case, the D value (1.59 X 10 -5 cm 2 s -1 ) from K-L estimation was approximately three times that from the CV approach. The standard rate constants (k°) for Ce(III) oxidation estimated from the K-L and CV approaches were 2.63 and 1.80 X 10 -3 cm s -1 , respectively, whereas the k° values were lowered by 35-91% and 38-80%, respectively, for the SO 2- 4 case and by 46-49 and 33-58%, respectively, for the Cl - case. The multi-impurity case had the lowest rate constant around limiting current for Ce(III) oxidation. The obtained kinetic and diffusion data are useful for the design of Ce(III) to Ce(IV) electro-regenerating systems and the evaluation of using spent Cr-etching solutions as candidate electrolytes in zinc-cerium redox flow batteries.