Study Focuses on Particulate Emissions From Coal Plants

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Study Focuses on Particulate Emissions From Coal Plants

EarthVision Environmental News

PITTSBURGH, PA, December 12, 2000 - Carnegie Mellon University is developing

an air monitoring " supersite " at its Pittsburgh campus to study microscopic

airborne particles in an attempt to gain a better understanding of where

these particles originate and how they are transported. In an effort to

augment this investigation, the US Department of Energy's fossil energy

research program has just awarded the university $3.4 million over three

years.

The work funded by the Energy Department aids work Carnegie Mellon and other

university partners have already started with the US Environmental

Protection Agency. This previous work created an air monitoring station for

the purpose of deciphering the chemical and physical " fingerprints " of tiny

airborne particulate matter. The objective is to determine how much

coal-fired power plants contribute to atmospheric levels of these pollutants

compared to other possible sources.

Now, with the additional funding, the university will enhance the site's

analysis capabilities, permitting scientists to examine the size, surface

area, volume, mass distribution and detailed chemical composition of the

particles. The researchers will make continuous measurements of metals and

semi-continuous measurements of aerosol organic and elemental carbon and

also gather data on the distribution and composition of ultrafine aerosols.

In addition, the researchers will study the organic components of single

particles, some 1/30th the width of a human hair.

From this information, the scientists hope to determine the extent to which

coal-fired boilers in the Pittsburgh region contribute to particle levels in

the air. Five major sources of the particulate matter, including coal

boilers, will be investigated, along with studies of emissions from

automobiles and trucks.

Modeling studies will also be done to determine how the particulate matter

might be best controlled under various management strategies, especially

applied to coal plants. Once this information is gathered and analyzed, it

will be used to guide strategies to reduce particulate air pollution.