ICSE Research - Institute for Clean and Secure Energy

Aerosol Formation

In the past decade, a correlation between increases in fine particle concentration and morbidity and mortality has been established, and combustion processes are the main source of fine particles. ICSE's work focuses on improving our understanding of aerosol formation associated with combustion systems, the causes of the correlation between fine particles and adverse health effects, and the development of control strategies for aerosols. This work combines simulation, experimental, and analytical techniques. See our current and recent aerosol projects.

Simulation

ICSE is studying aerosol formation and transformation using the techniques of computational chemistry, aerosol dynamics, and computational fluid dynamics. Currently, these techniques are being applied to understand aerosol formation in fires and diesel engines. Our work on aerosol formation focuses on identifying mechanistic pathways for hydrocarbon growth, condensation, and transformation of carbonaceous particles. Our work on aerosol transformation focuses on using aerosol dynamics for simulating aerosol particle growth, agglomeration, and oxidation. This research is being done in collaboration with Prof. G. A. Voth from the Department of Chemistry (http://www.cbms.utah.edu).

Key personnel: Adel Sarofim

Experimental studies and aerosol generation

Our experimental and field studies to characterize aerosols are critical to the understanding of aerosol formation and the contribution of various sources to ambient levels of particulate matter. We are working toward gaining a fundamental understanding of aerosol formation and oxidation in our laboratory-scale reactors. This work includes looking at the effect of charge on particle coagulation rate, developing systems to generate well-defined, reproducible nanoparticles, and studying soot formation and oxidation. At larger scales, ICSE is working to improve the understanding complex reactions and transformations occurring in realistic combustion systems of our pilot-scale reactors. This work includes our studies of fuel additives for the reduction of aerosol emissions in gas turbine and diesel engines. ICSE has extensive aerosol characterization capabilities that complement our laboratory- and pilot-scale reactors.

As part of our aerosol characterization work, ICSE uses multivariate data analysis techniques to determine the contribution of different sources to ambient levels of particulate matter. We recently completed some source attribution work of organic constituents of particulate matter along the U.S.-Mexico border under a Southwest Center for Environmental Policy and Research program.

Key Personnel: JoAnn Lighty, Adel Sarofim, Kerry Kelly

Analytical

ICSE researchers are employing the advanced analytical techniques of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to combustion processes. NMR techniques are used in the NIRT program to provide information about molecular and skeletal structures of carbonaceous aerosols and to determine the role of free radicals in aerosol formation. NMR is also being used to evaluate the effects of surrogate fuel on the residues of soot in the C-SAFE program.

ICSE researchers pioneered a thermal-desportion GC/MS technique that requires small amounts of sample and enables us to identify the composition of aerosols collected during short time periods. This technique has been used together with multivariate data analysis methods to identify the sources of particulate matter along the U.S. Mexico border over two hour intervals. Thermal-desportion GC/MS techniques are also useful for ICSE's work on ambient particulate matter and studying transient events in combustion processes.

In addition to our analytical techniques, ICSE has extensive real-time instrumentation for measuring aerosol concentration and composition and for measuring gas-phase species.

Key Personnel: Ron Pugmire, Henk Meuzelaar

Current and recent aerosol generation/ characterization projects

Nanocarbon particles in the atmosphere addresses the important problems associated with the emission of carbonaceous nanoparticles from diesel engines.

Characterization of particulate emissions: size fractionation and chemical speciation is a recently completed project that evaluated the effectiveness of several real-time instruments for characterizing particulate matter from military sources. We characterized particulate emissions under challenging conditions including in the exhaust of a rocket motor and an F-18 aircraft.

Molecular Structure and Microstrucute of PM2.5 Derived from Stationary and Mobile Fossil-Fuel Sources (CRAEMS)is a program that is looking comprehensive analysis of the molecular structure (specific chemical phases, valence states, etc.) and microstructure (particle size distributions, composition ranges of different phases, and particle morphologies) of PM2.5 derived from major fossil energy sources of airborne particulate matter - coal and oil. The primary objectives of the research are: to identify analytical source signatures for PM2.5 derived from fossil energy sources; to identify structural features that may be important for human-health considerations; and to achieve, through laboratory experiments and modeling, a basic understanding of the formation mechanisms of critical structures identified. ICSE is collaborating with Researchers at the University of Kentucky's Consortium for Fossil Fuel Science.

ICSE has been studying aerosol particles and related health issues along U.S.-Mexico border while working with the Southwest Center for Environmental Research & Policy. Our studies have focused on aerosol sources in the region including agricultural burning, trash burning, brick kilns, and vehicles. Source attribution techniques are being used to identify the sources responsible for organic contributions to ambient levels of particulate matter. ICSE has also been looking at periodic diurnal high levels of particulate matter in the El Paso-Juárez and the lower Rio Grande areas.




Research Fires and explosions Aerosol formation Black liquor gasification Coal- and natural-gas-fired boilers Glass-melting furnaces Spreader stoker-fired combustors Diesel and gas-turbine engines Air toxics Ultra-Clean Coal Utilization flares process heaters and cracking furnaces mixing tanks	Aerosol Formation In the past decade, a correlation between increases in fine particle concentration and morbidity and mortality has been established, and combustion processes are the main source of fine particles. ICSE's work focuses on improving our understanding of aerosol formation associated with combustion systems, the causes of the correlation between fine particles and adverse health effects, and the development of control strategies for aerosols. This work combines simulation, experimental, and analytical techniques. See our current and recent aerosol projects. Simulation ICSE is studying aerosol formation and transformation using the techniques of computational chemistry, aerosol dynamics, and computational fluid dynamics. Currently, these techniques are being applied to understand aerosol formation in fires and diesel engines. Our work on aerosol formation focuses on identifying mechanistic pathways for hydrocarbon growth, condensation, and transformation of carbonaceous particles. Our work on aerosol transformation focuses on using aerosol dynamics for simulating aerosol particle growth, agglomeration, and oxidation. This research is being done in collaboration with Prof. G. A. Voth from the Department of Chemistry (http://www.cbms.utah.edu). Key personnel: Adel Sarofim Experimental studies and aerosol generation Our experimental and field studies to characterize aerosols are critical to the understanding of aerosol formation and the contribution of various sources to ambient levels of particulate matter. We are working toward gaining a fundamental understanding of aerosol formation and oxidation in our laboratory-scale reactors. This work includes looking at the effect of charge on particle coagulation rate, developing systems to generate well-defined, reproducible nanoparticles, and studying soot formation and oxidation. At larger scales, ICSE is working to improve the understanding complex reactions and transformations occurring in realistic combustion systems of our pilot-scale reactors. This work includes our studies of fuel additives for the reduction of aerosol emissions in gas turbine and diesel engines. ICSE has extensive aerosol characterization capabilities that complement our laboratory- and pilot-scale reactors. As part of our aerosol characterization work, ICSE uses multivariate data analysis techniques to determine the contribution of different sources to ambient levels of particulate matter. We recently completed some source attribution work of organic constituents of particulate matter along the U.S.-Mexico border under a Southwest Center for Environmental Policy and Research program. Key Personnel: JoAnn Lighty, Adel Sarofim, Kerry Kelly Analytical ICSE researchers are employing the advanced analytical techniques of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to combustion processes. NMR techniques are used in the NIRT program to provide information about molecular and skeletal structures of carbonaceous aerosols and to determine the role of free radicals in aerosol formation. NMR is also being used to evaluate the effects of surrogate fuel on the residues of soot in the C-SAFE program. ICSE researchers pioneered a thermal-desportion GC/MS technique that requires small amounts of sample and enables us to identify the composition of aerosols collected during short time periods. This technique has been used together with multivariate data analysis methods to identify the sources of particulate matter along the U.S. Mexico border over two hour intervals. Thermal-desportion GC/MS techniques are also useful for ICSE's work on ambient particulate matter and studying transient events in combustion processes. In addition to our analytical techniques, ICSE has extensive real-time instrumentation for measuring aerosol concentration and composition and for measuring gas-phase species. Key Personnel: Ron Pugmire, Henk Meuzelaar Current and recent aerosol generation/ characterization projects Nanocarbon particles in the atmosphere addresses the important problems associated with the emission of carbonaceous nanoparticles from diesel engines. Characterization of particulate emissions: size fractionation and chemical speciation is a recently completed project that evaluated the effectiveness of several real-time instruments for characterizing particulate matter from military sources. We characterized particulate emissions under challenging conditions including in the exhaust of a rocket motor and an F-18 aircraft. Molecular Structure and Microstrucute of PM2.5 Derived from Stationary and Mobile Fossil-Fuel Sources (CRAEMS)is a program that is looking comprehensive analysis of the molecular structure (specific chemical phases, valence states, etc.) and microstructure (particle size distributions, composition ranges of different phases, and particle morphologies) of PM2.5 derived from major fossil energy sources of airborne particulate matter - coal and oil. The primary objectives of the research are: to identify analytical source signatures for PM2.5 derived from fossil energy sources; to identify structural features that may be important for human-health considerations; and to achieve, through laboratory experiments and modeling, a basic understanding of the formation mechanisms of critical structures identified. ICSE is collaborating with Researchers at the University of Kentucky's Consortium for Fossil Fuel Science. ICSE has been studying aerosol particles and related health issues along U.S.-Mexico border while working with the Southwest Center for Environmental Research & Policy. Our studies have focused on aerosol sources in the region including agricultural burning, trash burning, brick kilns, and vehicles. Source attribution techniques are being used to identify the sources responsible for organic contributions to ambient levels of particulate matter. ICSE has also been looking at periodic diurnal high levels of particulate matter in the El Paso-Juárez and the lower Rio Grande areas.