CMB7 receptor modelling of airborne particulate matter in the Vaal Triangle

Reddy, Visvanathan Subba

CMB7 receptor modelling of airborne particulate matter in the Vaal Triangle

Master Thesis

1995

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Geological Sciences

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Abstract

The primary aim of the Vaal Air Monitoring (YAM) programme was to do a one year source apportionment study of airborne particulate matter in the Vaal Triangle. The V AM programme was undertaken by Mintek, in South Africa. Three receptor sites were set up, oneea.ch in the Central Business District (CBD) of Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark and Sasolburg. For this thesis, CMB7 receptor modelling was performed on fifteen samples from the V AM study representing the pre-, mid-, and post-winter periods. Five samples from each receptor site were modelled following the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA)PM10 protocol. PM10 size selected particulates were collected on 47 mm Teflon and quartz fibre filter substrates over one week sampling periods. Thirty three chemical species were analysed for use in the Chemical Mass Balance receptor model. Teflon filters were used for inorganic elemental analysis. Inorganic elements were determined by energy dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRFS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). The quartz fibre filters were used for the determination of water soluble ions and carbon by Ion Chromatography (IC), and Thermal Optical Reflectance (TOR) respectively. Elemental and ion analyses were done at Mintek. Carbon analyses by TOR were done at the Desert Research Institute (ORI) in Reno Nevada, USA. Generally sample preparation and analysis of filter substrates followed ORI guidelines Where required, in-house methods developed at Mintek were successfully applied.

Description

Bibliography: pages 86-90.

Keywords

Geology

Reference:

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