Investigation of N0x Artifacts in Diesel Emission Tests

摘要

It has been suggested by some researchers that there is a potential for the diesel particulate sampling technique to alter the characteristics of the samples. A test program was undertaken to investigate the effect of diesel NOx emissions on diesel particulate samples collected in a manner similar to standard EPA procedures. The specific purpose of the program was to determine whether the NOx gases flowing across the particulates trapped on the filtering media would alter the biological characteristics of these samples. The test program was conducted from December 1978 through October 1979. Steady-state tests were run using a small, single-cylinder diesel engine and the Ames bioassay technique was used on the particulate samples to test for changes in biological activity.