Sources of Fine Organic Aerosol. 9. Pine, Oak, and Synthetic Log Combustion in Residential Fireplaces

Abstract

Combustion of wood in residential fireplaces contributes approximately 14% on an annual average of the total primary fine particle organic carbon (OC) emissions to the Los Angeles urban atmosphere and up to 30% of the fine particulate OC emissions on winter days. This paper presents comprehensive organic compound source profiles for smoke from burning pine, oak, and synthetic logs in residential fireplaces. Mass emission rates are determined for approximately 200 organic compounds including suites of the n-alkanes, n-alkenes, cyclohexylalkanes, n-alkanals, n-alkanoic acids, alkenoic acids, dicarboxylic acids, resin acids, hydroxylated/methyoxylated phenols, lignans, substituted benzenes/benzaldehydes, phytosterols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and oxy-PAHs. Wood smoke constituents reflect to a great extent the underlying composition of the wood burned:  pine and oak logs produce smoke that is enriched in lignin decomposition products, pine smoke is enriched in resin acids and their thermal alteration products, while smoke from the synthetic log burned here bears the major signature of the petroleum products combined with traces of the sawdust components from which it is made. Resin acids are discussed as potential wood smoke tracers in the environment, and it is shown that the time series of resin acids concentrations in the Los Angeles atmosphere follows the extreme seasonal variation in wood use reported in previous emissions inventories for the Los Angeles urban area.

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