Long-term Measurement of Black Carbon Concentration and Source Apportionment Analysis

Abstract

Continuous measurement of black carbon (BC) concentrations in ambient air was performed using the optical-based instrument called aethalometer. The attenuation of light by BC was measured at 7 different wavelengths. This gives not only the pure concentration of BC in the ambient air but also dependence of attenuation on the wavelength of light, from which the Angstrom exponent can be derived. Based on the Angstrom exponent, we can estimate the percentage of BC that originates from solid fuel (wood and coal burning) or liquid fuel (diesel). Thus, a simple source apportionment analysis is presented.
Keywords: black carbon; source apportionment; fossil fuels; biomass burning.

Full text

32ND DAAAM INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON INTELLIGENT MANUFACTURING AND AUTOMATION
DOI: 10.2507/32nd.daaam.proceedings.020
LONG-TERM MEASUREMENT OF BLACK CARBON
CONCENTRATION AND SOURCE APPORTIONMENT ANALYSIS
Adnan Masic, Goran Kepnik, Dzevad Bibic, Elmedin Mesic & Boran Pikula
This Publication has to be referred as: Masic, A[dnan]; Kepnik, G[oran]; Bibic, D[zevad]; Mesic, E[lmedin] & Pikula,
B[oran] (2021). Long-term Measurement of Black Carbon Concentration and Source Apportionment Analysis,
Proceedings of the 32nd DAAAM International Symposium, pp.0131-0135, B. Katalinic (Ed.), Published by DAAAM
International, ISBN 978-3-902734-33-4, ISSN 1726-9679, Vienna, Austria
DOI: 10.2507/32nd.daaam.proceedings.020
Abstract
Continuous measurement of black carbon (BC) concentrations in ambient air was performed using the optical-based
instrument called aethalometer. The attenuation of light by BC was measured at 7 different wavelengths. This gives not
only the pure concentration of BC in the ambient air but also dependence of attenuation on the wavelength of light, from
which the Angstrom exponent can be derived. Based on the Angstrom exponent, we can estimate the percentage of BC
that originates from solid fuel (wood and coal burning) or liquid fuel (diesel). Thus, a simple source apportionment
analysis is presented.
Keywords: black carbon; source apportionment; fossil fuels; biomass burning.
1. Introduction
Aerosol black carbon (BC) is a very important component of air pollution. It originates from incomplete combustion
of fossil fuels and has deep effects on climate. It is argued that BC is the second largest anthropogenic climate change
factor [1], [2] (carbon dioxide being first). The negative health effects of black carbon are well documented [3], [4]. Thus,
the research on black carbon is a very significant step towards decarbonization. Previous research articles include
Evaluation with a Photoacoustic Instrument [5], method comparisons [6], vertical profiles over Milan [7], diesel exhaust
[8], wood combustion particles [9], emissions from fresh biomass burning [10], and source apportionment [11]. The
novelty in this article is the long-term campaign of continuous BC measurement with source apportionment analysis.
2. The aethalometer
The instrument for the measurement of BC concentration is called aethalometer (the word comes from the classical
Greek verb aethaloun which means “to blacken with soot”). The AE33 aethalometer, Magee Scientific, USA (Figure 1)
is used in this research. The main specifications of AE33 are:
• 7 measurement wavelengths: 370, 470, 520, 590, 660, 880 and 950 nm,
• Airflow: set-points of 2, 3, 4, and 5 LPM,
• Max power consumption: 90 W. Typical power consumption: 25 W.
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32ND DAAAM INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON INTELLIGENT MANUFACTURING AND AUTOMATION
Figure 2 shows the flow diagram of AE33. The inlet cyclone, at the beginning of the air sampling line, separates
particles greater than 2.5 mm in diameter. BC particles are collected on filter tape and the light absorption method is used
to calculate BC concentration at 880 nm of wavelength, as described in our previous work [12]. The black carbon facility
is one component of a larger project of our research group, where different aspects of air pollution are observed and
compared, including toxic gases [13], [14], and particulate matter [15]-[21].
Fig. 1. The aethalometer.
Fig. 2. AE33 flow diagram (image source: AE33 user manual)
3. Measurements of black carbon in Sarajevo
The test facility is located at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Sarajevo (Figure 3). The average concentration
of BC in the period 27.11.2020 - 31.5.2021 was 5,67 g/m3, or 14,82% of total PM2.5 mass. Figure 4 shows the daily
average values of BC concentrations. Since we have measurements from all 7 wavelengths of light, we can calculate the
Angstrom exponent [12]. If we assume that value 1 corresponds to liquid fuel (diesel) and value 2 of Angstrom exponent
corresponds to biomass burning, we can estimate the biomass burning percentage in total BC mass (Figure 5). From
Figure 5 we can see that up to 70% of BC comes from burning solid fuels in the winter (domestic heating season), and
only around 20% in May, when the majority of BC comes from diesel engines.
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32ND DAAAM INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON INTELLIGENT MANUFACTURING AND AUTOMATION
Fig. 3. The location of measurements.
Fig. 4. Daily average values.
Fig. 5. Biomass burning percentage.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
BC (g/m3)
Daily average values of BC concentration in Sarajevo
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
BC from biomass burning
Angstrom exponent based source apportionment
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32ND DAAAM INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON INTELLIGENT MANUFACTURING AND AUTOMATION
Figure 5 also shows significant noise in the results, which should be investigated in more details. But even though this is
a rough estimate, this method is a very promising tool for source apportionment of BC.
4. Conclusion
The AE33 aethalometer was successfully used for continuous measurement of BC concentration in Sarajevo from
27.11.2020 - 31.5.2021. The average value of BC concentration was 5,67 g/m3, or 14,82% of total PM2.5 mass. Angstrom
exponent based source apportionment analysis shows that during the domestic heating season most of the BC originates
from solid fuels, as expected. However, during May, only 20% of solid fuels and 80% of liquid fuels contributed to the
total BC mass. The Angstrom exponent based source apportionment of BC is a very promising tool and it should be
investigated more in future work.
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