Measurements of soot, OH, and PAH concentrations in turbulent ethylene/air jet flames

This paper presents results from an investigation of soot formation in turbulent, non-premixed, C₂H₄/air jet flames. Tests were conducted using a H₂-piloted burner with fuel issuing from a 2.18 mm i.d. tube into quiescent ambient air. A range of test conditions was studied using the initial jet velocity (16.2-94.1 m/s) as a parameter. Fuel-jet Reynolds numbers ranged from 4000 to 23,200. Planar laser-induced incandescence (LII) was employed to determine soot volume fractions, and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) was used to measure relative hydroxyl radical (OH) concentrations and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations. Extensive information on the structure of the soot and OH fields was obtained from two-dimensional imaging experiments. Quantitative measurements were obtained by employing the LII and LIF techniques independently. Imaging results for soot, OH, and PAH show the existence of three soot formation/oxidation regions: a rapid soot growth region, in which OH and soot particles lie in distinctly different radial locations; a mixing-dominated region controlled by large-scale motion; and a soot-oxidation region in which the OH and soot fields overlap spatially, resulting in the rapid oxidation of soot particles. Detailed quantitative analyzes of soot volume fractions and OH and soot zone thicknesses were performed along with the temperature measurement using the N₂-CARS system. Measurements of OH and soot zone thicknesses show that the soot zone thickness increases linearly with axial distance in the soot formation region, whereas the OH zone thickness is nearly constant in this region. The OH zone thickness then rapidly increases with downstream distance and approximately doubles in the soot-oxidation region. Probability density functions also were obtained for soot volume fractions and OH concentrations. These probability density functions clearly define the spatial relationships among the OH, PAH concentrations, the soot formation, and oxidation processes.     

Effect-directed analysis of Ah receptor-mediated activities caused by PAHs in suspended particulate matter sampled in flood events

Suspended particulate matter (SPM) sampled during a flood event in the year 2004 at the rivers Neckar and Rhine (Southwest Germany) was assessed for aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-mediated activities using EROD induction in the rainbow trout liver cell line RTL-W1. All EROD inductions were normalized to the positive control TCDD and given as bio-TEQ values. Since all samples indicated elevated AhR-mediated toxicities, an effect-directed analysis (EDA) was applied to identify substances causing the effects. In three primary fractions (F1 to F3) non-polar aliphatics, non-polar aromatic substances and more polar substances were separated. Fraction F2, co-eluting with non-polar polyaromatic substances (PACs) including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) gave highest AhR-agonistic effects and, thus, were sub-fractionated into seven secondary fractions (F2-1 to F2-7). Fraction F2-1, co-eluting with PCBs and PCDD/Fs, did not cause AhR-agonist activities. F2-2 to F2-4 containing PACs of less than 16 aromatic C-atoms produced minor activities. Highest inductions were detected with fraction F2-5 to F2-7, containing substances of more than 16 aromatic C-atoms (bio-TEQs up to approximately 4500 pg/g).Concentrations and relative potencies (REPs) of priority EPA-PAHs allowed the calculation of chemical toxicity equivalent concentrations (chem-TEQ values). Based on the chem-TEQs, EPA-PAHs explained between 5 and 58% of crude extract bio-TEQs from both rivers. Whereas fractions F2-1 to F2-4 indicated no biological activities, EPA-PAHs in fraction F2-5 to F2-7 accounted for 2 to 137% of AhR-related activities.     

Three‐dimensional bright‐field scanning transmission electron microscopy elucidate novel nanostructure in microbial biofilms

Bacterial biofilms play key roles in environmental and biomedical processes, and understanding their activities requires comprehension of their nanoarchitectural characteristics. Electron microscopy (EM) is an essential tool for nanostructural analysis, but conventional EM methods are limited in that they either provide topographical information alone, or are suitable for imaging only relatively thin (<300 nm) sample volumes. For biofilm investigations, these are significant restrictions. Understanding structural relations between cells requires imaging of a sample volume sufficiently large to encompass multiple cells and the capture of both external and internal details of cell structure. An emerging EM technique with such capabilities is bright‐field scanning transmission electron microscopy (BF‐STEM) and in the present report BF‐STEM was coupled with tomography to elucidate nanostructure in biofilms formed by the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon‐degrading soil bacterium, Delftia acidovorans Cs1‐4. Dual‐axis BF‐STEM enabled high‐resolution 3‐D tomographic recontructions (6–10 nm) visualization of thick (1250 and 1500 nm) sections. The 3‐D data revealed that novel extracellular structures, termed nanopods, were polymorphic and formed complex networks within cell clusters. BF‐STEM tomography enabled visualization of conduits formed by nanopods that could enable intercellular movement of outer membrane vesicles, and thereby enable direct communication between cells. This report is the first to document application of dual‐axis BF‐STEM tomography to obtain high‐resolution 3‐D images of novel nanostructures in bacterial biofilms. Future work with dual‐axis BF‐STEM tomography combined with correlative light electron microscopy may provide deeper insights into physiological functions associated with nanopods as well as other nanostructures.     

Workshop on flame radiation and soot

The Ad Hoc Mathematical Fire Modeling Working Group was organized about eight years ago to facilitate voluntary cooperation and coordination in developing mathematical fire modeling capability. The group has a steering committee of representatives of agencies that support fire modeling and related research. These include the National Bureau of Standards' Center for Fire Research, Factory Mutual Research Corp., the Naval Research Laboratory, NASA, and the Federal Aviation Agency.The Group holds plenary meetings when it seems desirable to do so (about once each 1 1/2 years), and workshops on topical subjects. Normally, Group meetings are held before or after other meetings at which a number of interested personnel would likely be present. Minutes are mailed to those who attended and to others (including European and Japanese personnel) who have indicated interest. This workshop was held at the National Bureau of Standards Center for Fire Research, Gaithersburg, MD, in May 1984. Reference: Robert S. Levine, Workshop on Flame Radiation and Soot, Proceedings: Ad Hoc Mathematical Fire Modeling Working Group,Fire Technology, Vol. 21, No. 1, February 1985. p. 41. Note: The author accepts responsibility for any pertinent omissions or distortions. If you have any questions concerning statements made by an individual group member, please contact that member directly.     

Release of polycyclic aromatic compounds into a Mediterranean creek (Catalonia, NE Spain) after a forest fire

Wildfires produce polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), among which polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are of environmental concern. After a fire affecting a Mediterranean creek, we studied the distribution and short-term permanence of PACs and of 16 priority PAH pollutants in the aquatic environment. PACs were traced through absorbance and fluorescence emissions and organic carbon concentrations. PAHs were analysed by gas chromatography. High TOC/DOC concentrations and fluorescence/absorbance values reflected abnormal inputs of fire-induced aromatic compounds. Their concentrations decreased gradually but showed sporadic peaks after precipitation. Fifteen months later, values still surpassed background levels. Initially concentrations of individual and total PAH species of the dissolved, particulate and sediment phases were increased. Then they fluctuated with new PAH inputs related with runoff, leaching and soil erosion following precipitation events. All PAH concentrations approached background levels 15 months after the fire, and never reached values of toxicological concern. However, some bioaccumulation may have occurred.     

Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene and PAH exposure in 4-year-old Spanish children

Aims:

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), among the main compounds present in polluted urban air, is of concern for children's health. Childhood exposure to PAH was assessed by urinary monitoring of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), a pyrene metabolite, investigating its association with exposure to air pollution and other factors related to PAH in air.

Methods:

A group of 174 4-year-old children were recruited and a questionnaire on their indoor and outdoor residential environment was completed by parents. At the same time, environmental measurements of traffic-related air pollution (NO₂) were carried out. A urine sample was collected from each child in order to analyze 1-OHP using HPLC with fluorescence detection, correcting for creatinine concentrations. Non-parametric tests and regression analyses were used to identify environmental factors that influence 1-OHP excretion.

Results:

Mean urinary 1-OHP concentration was 0.061 μmol/mol creatinine, ranging from 0.004 to 0.314 μmol/mol. Non-parametric tests and regression analysis showed positive and significant associations (P ≤ 0.05) between 1-OHP and predicted residential exposure to NO₂ (which was based on outdoor environmental measurements and geo-statistical analysis), self-reported residential vehicle traffic, passive smoking and cooking appliance. 1-OHP levels tended to be higher among children living in urban areas (0.062 μmol/mol vs. 0.058 μmol/mol for children living in rural areas) but differences were not significant (P = 0.20).

Conclusion:

In Southern Spain, concentrations of urinary 1-OHP were in the lower range of those generally reported for children living in non-polluted areas in Western Europe and the USA. Traffic-related air pollution, passive smoking and cooking appliance influenced urinary 1-OHP level in the children, which should be prevented due to the health consequences of the inadvertent exposure to PAH during development.     

Hydrodechlorination and hydrogenation of aromatic compounds over palladium on alumina in hydrogen-saturated water

The catalytic transformations of 1,2-dichlorobenzene, chlorobenzene, 4-chlorobiphenyl, γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (Lindane), naphthalene and phenanthrene were studied over palladium on alumina in hydrogen-saturated water (Pd/Al₂O₃/H₂) at room temperature and ambient pressure. The chlorinated benzenes were rapidly hydrodechlorinated and Lindane was dehydrochlorinated to benzene. Partial or complete hydrogenation was observed for biphenyl and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The phenanthrene ring was cleaved at the 9,10-position. In general dechlorination reactions were faster than hydrogenation reactions.     

Elevated concentrations of 1-hydroxypyrene in schoolchildren during winter in Christchurch, New Zealand

Particulate air pollution is significantly elevated during the winter in Christchurch, New Zealand, largely attributable to use of wood burners for domestic home heating, topography, and meteorological conditions. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a key component of airborne particulate matter (PM) and urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) has previously been used to assess exposure of people to PAHs. We examined urinary 1-OHP in Christchurch male non-smoking schoolchildren (12-18 yr) on two occasions after high pollution events (48 and 72 microg PM(10)/m(3) 24-h average) and two occasions during periods of low pollution (19 and 12 microg PM(10)/m(3)). Concentrations of urinary 1-OHP were significantly elevated in the students during high pollution events (median (mean+/-SD) 0.043 (0.051+/-0.032) and 0.042 (0.060+/-0.092) micromol OHP/mol creatinine respectively) compared with low pollution periods (median (mean+/-SD) 0.019 (0.026+/-0.032) and 0.025 (0.028+/-0.018) micromol/mol creatinine respectively). The observed 1-OHP concentrations are at the lower end of those determined in children and non-occupationally exposed adults in international studies and suggest a generally low exposure to PAHs. The increased urinary 1-OHP concentrations following nights of elevated particulate concentrations in ambient air suggest increased exposure to ambient air pollution during winter time, and could potentially be used as a biomarker of exposure in this population.