Impact of Primary Sulfate and Nitrate Emissions from Selected Major Sources. Phase 2: Sulfuric Acid Plant and Pulp and Paper Mill

摘要

The report covers Phase two of a two phase study of the near source impacts of primary sulfate and nitrate emission sources. The phase two portion of the study was an investigation of the impact of the emissions from a sulfuric acid plant, and a pulp and paper mill. The study was designed to measure the increases in the ground-level ambient air sulfate and nitrate concentrations resulting from the plant's emission within ten kilometers of the plants. The field sampling involved concurrent sampling at the source and in the ambient upwind and downwind of the plants for particulate matter, sulfates, nitrates, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, SO2, and NOx. The tests were conducted in Savannah, Georgia and were centered around a sulfuric acid plant operated by American Cyanamid; Inc., and a pulp and paper mill operated by the Union Camp Corporation. Both plants operated at full capacity throughout the tests. The Factor analyses based on elemental analyses of the ambient air particulate samples, the plants emission and local soil samples indicated that wind blown soil was the dominant source of ambient particulate matter. The target sources were responsible for only a small fraction of sulfate and nitrates. The major source appeared to be secondary aerosols, perhaps dominated by long-range transport.