AAAR 31st Annual Conference
October 8-12, 2012
Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Abstract View
Measurement of Gas and Particulate Amines at Agricultural Facilities using an Ambient Ion Monitor
PHILIP SILVA, USDA - Agricultural Research Service
Abstract Number: 765 Working Group: Carbonaceous Aerosols in the Atmosphere
Abstract Agricultural facilities are the source of particles and gases that can exhibit an influence on air quality. Particle influences from agricultural sources can include both primary emissions and secondary particle formation through the emission of gaseous precursors. Reports showing amines as particle forming precursors have lead to a need for new measurements of amines from these types of operations.
The ambient ion monitor (AIM) is composed of a parallel plate denuder, aerosol steam generator, and two ion chromatographs equipped with conductivity detectors to provide semi-continuous air quality monitoring capability. We previously reported the adaptation of this method to detect amines and other organic ions important in the field of agricultural emissions.
Here we will discuss recent field deployments of the AIM instrument to detect alkyl amines at agricultural facilities. We show that the AIM instrument detects a number of amines at concentrations relevant to agricultural emissions. Trimethylamine is detected in the highest concentration and is present in both the gas and particle phase. Other amines detected include methylamine, dimethylamine, and butylamine, though not all are observed in the particle phase.