AAAR 33rd Annual Conference
October 20 - October 24, 2014
Rosen Shingle Creek
Orlando, Florida, USA
Abstract View
Chemical and Physical Characterization of Particulate Emissions from Different Phases of an Improved Cookstove Operation
Raul Martinez, SAMEER PATEL, Anna Leavey, Dhruv Mitroo, Ruijie Yu, Brent Williams, Pratim Biswas, Washington University in St. Louis
Abstract Number: 327 Working Group: Biomass Burning Aerosol: From Emissions to Impacts
Abstract Three billion people worldwide rely on biomass to cook their food; and due to the inefficient combustion in cookstoves (Sahu et al. 2011), this results in a serious public health and climate issue. The World health organization reported that the exposure to air pollution led to 7 million deaths in 2012, making it the world’s largest single environmental health risk. Indoor air pollution accounted for more than half of the deaths. At the same time, biomass is emerging as a sustainable and carbon-neutral energy resource and thus its use is receiving attention.
Biomass combustion in cook stoves typically results in higher PM, mostly organic, which deteriorates air quality and impacts health adversely. The goal of this study was to characterize the particulate emissions from an improved cookstove during three operating phases viz. startup, steady state and extinguishing phase. Chemical characterization was conducted using a Thermal Desorption Aerosol Gas Chromatograph (TAG) to obtain detailed organic speciation and an Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) for organic and inorganic mass loadings. Real-time measurements of PM$_(2.5), particle number size distribution, total number concentration and lung-deposited surface area concentration were conducted for physical characterization of the particulate emissions. Effect of fuel type on emissions during each of the three combustion stages was studied by measuring emissions from different biomass and fossil fuel types. Data presented in this study will facilitate a better understanding of the environmental and health impacts of pollution from biomass combustion.
References:
Sahu, M., J. Peipert, V. Singhal, G. N. Yadama and P. Biswas (2011). "Evaluation of Mass and Surface Area Concentration of Particle Emissions and Development of Emissions Indices for Cookstoves in Rural India." Environmental Science & Technology 45(6): 2428-2434.