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Determination of Atmospheric Particulate Matter Composition in the Dayton Metro Area.pdf (1.86 MB)
ETD Abstract Container
Abstract Header
Determination of Atmospheric Particulate Matter Composition in the Dayton Metro Area
Author Info
Patel, Saagar Mahendra
Permalink:
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1465430000
Abstract Details
Year and Degree
2016, Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, Chemistry.
Abstract
Quartz filters from high-volume air samplers of particulate matter of a size less than 10 micrometers in diameter (PM
10
) located in Moraine and Yellow Springs, Ohio, were obtained from the Regional Air Pollution Control Agency and analyzed for levoglucosan, metals, and the EPA 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Average concentration of levoglucosan increased as ambient temperature decreased. Winter concentrations of levoglucosan for Moraine and Yellow Springs were 39.41 ± 31.58 µg/g and 51.52 ± 27.44 µg/g, respectively, which is due to a greater amount of residential wood burning in the colder months. The concentration of biomass burning marker potassium correlated with levoglucosan greater in Moraine (R
2
=0.6097) than in Yellow Springs (R
2
=0.4035), indicating the presence of other, most likely agricultural, inputs of potassium in Yellow Springs. The mean concentrations of aluminum in Moraine and Yellow Springs were 184.6 ± 96.67 ng/m
3
and 138.6 ± 84.94 ng/m
3
, respectively. The mean concentrations of silicon in Moraine and Yellow Springs were 529.1 ± 228.4 ng/m
3
and 547.4 ± 203.6 ng/m
3
, respectively. Aluminum and silicon represent two commonly found elements in road dust, and their variability indicates the lack of predictability that road dust has on air quality. The quantity of PAHs in Yellow Springs on average was greater than that of Moraine (2075 ± 660 µg/g vs. 1620 ± 1324 µg/g). An incredibly large amount of PAHs measured on 2/16/14 (142.322 ng/m
3
), coupled with high PM
2.5
values, low wind speeds, variable wind direction, low temperature and high humidity around the same date express the possibility that a temperature inversion occurred in Yellow Springs during the middle of February 2014. When compared to the PM
2.5
& PM
10
data obtained by RAPCA and this study’s analysis, the occurrence of an inversion was supported; however, low levoglucosan and potassium concentrations indicate a minimal contribution from wood smoke. The combined use of three analytical methods allowed for a more comprehensive understanding of atmospheric particulate matter in the Dayton metro area to be achieved.
Committee
Audrey McGowin, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Steven Higgins, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Rachel Aga, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Pages
121 p.
Subject Headings
Analytical Chemistry
;
Atmospheric Chemistry
;
Chemistry
Keywords
particulate matter
;
levoglucosan, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, temperature inversion
Recommended Citations
Refworks
EndNote
RIS
Mendeley
Citations
Patel, S. M. (2016).
Determination of Atmospheric Particulate Matter Composition in the Dayton Metro Area
[Master's thesis, Wright State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1465430000
APA Style (7th edition)
Patel, Saagar.
Determination of Atmospheric Particulate Matter Composition in the Dayton Metro Area.
2016. Wright State University, Master's thesis.
OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center
, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1465430000.
MLA Style (8th edition)
Patel, Saagar. "Determination of Atmospheric Particulate Matter Composition in the Dayton Metro Area." Master's thesis, Wright State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1465430000
Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)
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Document number:
wright1465430000
Download Count:
594
Copyright Info
© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Wright State University and OhioLINK.