Volker Scheer

Occurrence and formation of nitrated phenols in and out of cloud

In this study, the concentrations of phenol, four nitrated phenols, their precursors and reactants in air and cloud water, are presented. The concentrations in air and cloud water were measured simultaneously at the summit of Great Dun Fell (GDF). The measured concentrations were compared with emission data, leading to the conclusion, that in particular dinitrophenols are formed by atmospheric reactions, while car exhaust accounts to a significant extent for the mononitrophenols observed. The experimental results point to a formation of dinitrophenols in the liquid phase (cloud droplets). This is corroborated by flow tube experiments which show that phenol in aqueous solution reacts with N2O5 and ClNO2 to form nitrophenols.

Performance Evaluation of a Novel Sampling and Measurement System for Exhaust Particle Characterization

This paper presents a novel partial flow sampling system for the characterization of airborne exhaust particle emissions. The sampled aerosol is first conditioned in a porous dilutor and then subsequent ejector dilutors are used to decrease its concentration to the range of the instrumentation used. First we examine the sensitivity of aerosol properties to boundary sampling conditions. This information is then used to select suitable sampling parameters to distinguish both the nucleation and the accumulation mode. Selecting appropriate sampling parameters, it is demonstrated that a distinct nucleation mode can be formed and measured with different instruments. Using these parameters we examine the performance of the system over transient vehicle operation. Additionally, we performed calculations of particle losses in the various components of the system which are then used to correct signals from the instruments. Several quality characteristics are then discussed, such as the repeatability and reproducibility of the measurements and the potential to derive total emission rate with a partial flow sampling system. Comparisons in different laboratories show that repeatability (intra-laboratory variability) is in the order of 10% for accumulation mode particles and 50% for nucleation mode ones. Reproducibility (inter-laboratory variability) values are in the range of ±20-30%. Finally, we compared laboratory size distributions with ambient samples obtained chasing a vehicle. This demonstrated that the sampling system accurately reproduced the accumulation mode particles as well as the potential for nucleation mode formation. This sampling system has been used in the framework of a European project for measurement of emissions of a number of light duty vehicles and heavy duty engines.

Composition of Semi-volatile Particles from Diesel Exhaust

Vehicle exhaust particles from diesel passenger vehicles were studied in terms of volatility and chemical composition. Condensation of semi-volatile compounds leads to particle growth during exhaust dilution and cooling. The particle growth was observed to be particle surface related. At higher vehicle speed and load some of the semi-volatile material forms nucleation particles that are dominating the particle number concentration. The nucleation mode is completely volatile at 180°C and consists mainly of sulfate. The amount of organic material is smaller. The organics/sulfate ratio is larger for the soot mode indicating an earlier condensation process of organics before they are incorporated in the nucleation process. Under typical atmospheric dilution conditions most of the semi-volatile material is present in the soot mode. The semi-volatile material evaporates at temperature between 130°C and 180°C. Thermal treatment using a thermodenuder enables complete evaporation of the nucleation particles, however not all material from the soot particles is removed.

Roadside Measurements of Traffic Emissions from Motorway BAB 656 in Heidelberg with Emphasis on Particles

Particles in the atmosphere originate either from direct emissions (primary aerosols) or from gas to particle conversion of gaseous compounds in the atmosphere (secondary aerosols). Atmospheric particles are involved in several global air pollution issues, e.g. reactions can take place on particle surfaces. Particles influence the Earth’s radiation balance by directly scattering and absorbing radiation and indirectly by acting as cloud condensation nuclei. Furthermore, there is an intensive discussion on the health effects of ambient particulate matter. Also, new air quality standards differentiating between different sizes are foreseen.