Real-Time Measurements of Nonmetallic Fine Particulate Matter Adjacent to a Major Integrated Steelworks

Abstract

A campaign took place in Wales (UK) in the spring of 2006 to characterize emissions from a major steelworks through atmospheric measurements. At no time during the measurements was the 24-h air quality standard for PM 10 exceeded. However, real-time measurements of single particles by aerosol time-offlight mass spectrometry (ATOFMS) allowed detection of particulate matter from the steelworks, which could be associated with specific emission areas within the works from measurements of wind direction. Three main wind sectors were identified with possible sources of emissions of fine nonmetallic particulate matter (PM < 1 µm). Characterization of the aerosol composition by a high resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) of the nonrefractory material associated with the specific plumes is also reported, along with results from other real-time techniques. The ATOFMS detected for the first time a unique elemental sulfur-rich particle type, likely to originate from the blast furnaces. AMS results, supported also by laboratory studies, confirm this finding by reporting elevated mass ratios m/z 64/48 and m/z 64/80. Two other novel ATOFMS particulate types were found to be associated with steelworks emissions. One was characterized by nitrogen-containing organic species, aromatic compounds, and high-molecular-weight (MW) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and was associated with the sources in the area of the hot and cold mills. The second was found to be rich in organic carbon internally mixed with elemental carbon, nitrate, sulfate, and PAHs with lower MW. These particle types were likely related to the coke ovens and the basic oxygen steelmaking plant.

Aerosol mass spectrometry: particle–vaporizer interactions and their consequences for the measurements

“…In the measurements of fireworks (Drewnick et al, 2006) and hand flare emissions (Faber et al, 2013) several metal-containing species (e.g., with Fe, Mg, K, Cu, Li, Na) and their fragments have been identified, albeit not quantified in the mass spectra. Close to a steelworks plant elemental sulfur particles were identified in AMS spectra with the help of colocated single-particle mass spectrometric measurements (Dall'Osto et al, 2012). Finally, during a few AMS measurements in urban environments metals or metal-containing compounds including Rb, Cs, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sn, Sb or Pb have been found in the aerosol mass spectra (Takegawa et al, 2009;Salcedo et al, 2010Salcedo et al, , 2012.…”

Multivariate and Interdisciplinary Air Pollution Case Studies at Rural, Urban-Coastal, and Protected Sites: An Endeavor to Advance the Public and Environmental Health Comprehension

“…The integrated steelworks close to the sites adjusted its processes and this may be one of the factors for the mitigation of high concentration of PM 2.5 . The problem seem to be related to the cooling practice (157). After 2012, an active emission collection system composed of capturing hoods was installed at the integrated steelworks.…”

“…Previous works in sites close to large integrated steelworks stress that local meteorology (i.e., wind speed and mixing layer height) are essential to source apportionment (57,157,166). Emissions in the surroundings of steelworks are time dependent as well as height dependent (56,154,167).…”

“…These findings may be associated to integrated steelworks emissions. A variable particle size range has been attributed to PM and its components in samples collected nearby industrial areas (148,154,157). Many processes associated to steelworks are intermittent.…”

“…Many processes associated to steelworks are intermittent. However, in integrated steelworks some processes, e.g., the coke ovens, operate in a batch mode process, which result in regularity of subsequent steps and emissions (157).…”