Title: A preliminary review of gas-to-particle conversion monitoring and modelling efforts in the USA

Authors: Bok-Haeng Baek, Jacek A. Koziel, Viney P. Aneja

Addresses: Carolina Environmental Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599–6116, USA. ' Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011–3310, USA. ' Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695–8208, USA

Abstract: Ammonia and inorganic acid gases emitted from livestock and poultry operations, manure treatment, handling and application can affect air quality by the formation of secondary fine particles. The process of gas-to-particle conversion (GTPC) of relatively short-lived gaseous ammonia to more persistent fine particles can affect local and regional air quality far away from the agricultural sources. This study focused on understanding the phenomenon and related problems of the GTPC process between ammonia, acid gases and fine particles in the atmosphere. We discuss the knowledge of PM measurement technologies with their uncertainties and introduce the most recent aerosol models available developed to simulate the equilibrium partitioning of inorganic compounds between the gas and aerosol phases. We discuss the development and evaluate progress on ambient PM research using 3D air quality models and demonstrate the importance of the GTPC process concerning the contribution of ammonia on fine PM formation in agricultural areas.

Keywords: aerosol models; gaseous ammonia; fine particles; PM2.5; gas-to-particle conversion; GTPC; nitric acid; particulate matter; sulphuric acid; agricultural air quality; air pollution; inorganic acid gases.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2006.010155

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2006 Vol.6 No.2/3, pp.204 - 230

Published online: 23 Jun 2006 *

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