Particulate matter secondary

Environmental Aspects. Airborne particulate matter (187) and aerosol (188) samples from around the world have been found to contain a variety of organic monocarboxyhc and dicarboxyhc acids, including adipic acid. Traces of the acid found ia southern California air were related both to automobile exhaust emission (189) and, iadirecfly, to cyclohexene as a secondary aerosol precursor (via ozonolysis) (190). Dibasic acids (eg, succinic acid) have been found even ia such unlikely sources as the Murchison meteorite (191). PubHc health standards for adipic acid contamination of reservoir waters were evaluated with respect to toxicity, odor, taste, transparency, foam, and other criteria (192). BiodegradabiUty of adipic acid solutions was also evaluated with respect to BOD/theoretical oxygen demand ratio, rate, lag time, and other factors (193). 

Filtration. Filtration is usually a misnomer for tertiary processes that remove particulate matter. Small particles are removed by adsorption rather than by physical straining. If secondary effluents contain a high concentration of soHds, filter beds clog and binding occurs at the bed surface. 

The sources of particulate matter in the atmosphere can be primary, directly injected into the atmosphere, or secondary, formed in the atmosphere by gas-to-particle conversion processes (13). The primary sources of fine particles are combustion processes, e.g., power plants and diesel... 

Calcium oxide (lime) Rotary kilns, vertical and shaft kilns, fluidized bed furnaces Particulate matter Cyclones plus secondary collectors (baghouse, ESP, wet scrubbers, granular bed filters, wet cyclones)... 

Secondary lead smelters— standards for particulate matter blast (cupola) or reverberatory furnace <50 mg/dscm (0.022 gr/dscf) <20% opacity 40 CFR 60, Subpart L EPA 1977... 

During occupational exposure, respiratory absorption of soluble and insoluble nickel compounds is the major route of entry, with gastrointestinal absorption secondary (WHO 1991). Inhalation exposure studies of nickel in humans and test animals show that nickel localizes in the lungs, with much lower levels in liver and kidneys (USPHS 1993). About half the inhaled nickel is deposited on bronchial mucosa and swept upward in mucous to be swallowed about 25% of the inhaled nickel is deposited in the pulmonary parenchyma (NAS 1975). The relative amount of inhaled nickel absorbed from the pulmonary tract is dependent on the chemical and physical properties of the nickel compound (USEPA 1986). Pulmonary absorption into the blood is greatest for nickel carbonyl vapor about half the inhaled amount is absorbed (USEPA 1980). Nickel in particulate matter is absorbed from the pulmonary tract to a lesser degree than nickel carbonyl however, smaller particles are absorbed more readily than larger ones (USEPA 1980). Large nickel particles (>2 pm in diameter) are deposited in the upper respiratory tract smaller particles tend to enter the lower respiratory tract. In humans, 35% of the inhaled nickel is absorbed into the blood from the respiratory tract the remainder is either swallowed or expectorated. Soluble nickel compounds... 

Complex reactions involving radicals occur, giving rise to secondary pollutants such as ozone, aldehydes, peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) and particulate matter. 

The extent of PPCP removal is, in general, >90%. The presence of particulate matter at concentrations regularly measured in the secondary effluent does not influence the removal efficiency of soluble compounds showing high reaction rates with ozone. 

Nitrogen oxides (NO ) are formed during the combustion at high temperature of fossil fuels and of biomasses and are blamed for the production of acid rain, the formation of ozone in the troposphere and of secondary particulate matter and for causing a reduction in breathing functionality and damage to the cardio-circulatory system in humans. 

In developing a multiple regression model for apportioning sources of TSP in New York City, Kleinman, et al.(2) selected Pb, Mn, Cu, V and SO, as tracers for automotive sources, soil-related sources, incineration, oil-burning and secondary particulate matter, respectively. These were chosen on the basis of the results of factor analysis and a qualitative knowledge of the principal types of sources in New York City and the trace metals present in emissions from these types of sources. Secondary TSP, automotive sources and soil resuspension were found to be the principal sources of TSP in 1974 and 1975 ( ). 

However, without knowledge of the source of the increased OH flux, extrapolation of the concentration-time profiles of both the primary and secondary pollutants observed in such smog chamber studies to real atmospheres becomes less certain. For example, the reactions leading to the unknown precursor(s) to OH may occur only in smog chambers. Extrapolation to ambient air would thus require subtracting out this radical source. On the other hand, the same reactions may occur in ambient air where surfaces are available in the form of particulate matter, buildings, the earth, and so on if this is true, then the rates would be expected to depend on the nature and types of surfaces available and may thus differ quantitatively from the smog chamber observations. 

Many municipalities also require tertiary treatment. There are a number of tertiary processes, most involving filtration of some sort. A common method is to pass secondary effluent through a bed of finely powdered carbon, which captures any remaining particulate matter and many of the organic molecules not removed in earlier stages. The advantage of tertiary treatment is greater protection of our water resources. Unfortunately, tertiary treatment is cosdy and ordinarily used only in situations where the need is deemed vital. 

Fine PM, Sioutas C, Solomon PA (2008) Secondary particulate matter in the United States insights from the particulate matter supersites program and related studies. J Air Waste Manage Assoc 58(2) 234—253... 

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