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At least 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

Volume changes upon heating of aerosol particles from biomass burning using transmission electron microscopy

The responses of aerosol particles to heating are important for measurements of their chemical, physical, and optical properties, classification, and determination of origin. However, the thermal behavior of organic aerosol particles is largely unknown. We provide a method to analyze such thermal behavior through heating from room temperature to >600°C by using a heating holder within a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Here we describe in-situ shape and size changes and variations in the compositions of individual particles before and after heating. We use ambient samples from wildland and agricultural biomass fires in North America collected during the 2013 Biomass Burn Observation Project (BBOP). The results indicate that individual tar balls (TB; spherical organic material) from biomass burning retained, on average, up to 30% of their volume when heated to 600°C. Chemical analysis reveals that K and Na remain in the residues, whereas S and O were lost. In contrast to bulk sample measurements of carbonaceous particles using thermal/optical carbon analyzers, our single-particle results imply that many individual organic particles consist of multiple types of organic matter having different thermal stabilities. Beyond TBs, our results suggest that because of their thermal stability some organic particles may not be detectable by using aerosol mass spectrometry or thermal/optical carbon analyzers. This result can lead to an underestimate of the abundance of TBs and other organic particles, and therefore biomass burning may have more influence than currently recognized in regional and global climate models.

Adachi, Kouji↗
DOE OSTI2021

The Development of Catalysts for Upgrading of Pyrolysis Vapor for Refinery Feedstocks and Intermediates: Cooperative Research and Development, CRADA Number CRD-12-00497 (Final Report)

Fast pyrolysis of biomass with vapor phase upgrading (VPU) can produce refinery feedstocks or intermediates that can meet the Department of Energy’s goal of cost-competitive hydrocarbon fuels by 2017. A key technical barrier for this technology is the lack of selective, cost effective catalysts that can produce high yields of fuel-appropriate hydrocarbons from the pyrolysis vapors. In overcoming this barrier, it will be important to engage leading catalyst development companies to devote their resources and expertise to the development of these materials. Thus, we propose a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a world leader in biomass pyrolysis research and Johnson Matthey (JM), a world leader in the production of advanced catalyst materials to develop and test novel catalysts for efficient VPU. Through its Intercat Inc. subsidiary in Savannah, Ga., Johnson Matthey is internationally recognized as a leader in zeolite-based vapor phase upgrading in refinery duties and an emerging developer of biomass conversion technologies. The research and development efforts described in the proposed work will build upon existing collaborations between NREL and JM and play to the strengths of both institutions. NREL will analyze the composition of pyrolysis vapors as an input to catalyst design, screen and test catalysts, characterize the resulting oil and conduct techno-economic analysis. Catalyst samples will be produced and funded by JM. JM will design and synthesize catalysts, characterize fresh and used catalysts and develop catalyst supports needed to achieve commercially meaningful lifetimes. The project will span catalyst development and testing from the fundamental stage using quantum mechanical modeling and chemical reaction analysis to catalyst screening to integrated pilot studies.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
NASA NTRS1994

Photosynthetic fractionation of 13C and concentrations of dissolved CO2 in the central equatorial Pacific during the last 255,000 years

Carbon isotopically based estimates of CO2 levels have been generated from a record of the photosynthetic fractionation of 13C [is equivalent to epsilon(p)] in a central equatorial Pacific sediment core that spans the last approximately 255 ka. Contents of 13C in phytoplanktonic biomass were determined by analysis of C37 alkadienones. These compounds are exclusive products of Prymnesiophyte algae which at present grow most abundantly at depths of 70-90 m in the central equatorial Pacific. A record of the isotopic composition of dissolved CO2 was constructed from isotopic analyses of the planktonic foraminifera Neogloboquadrina dutertrei, which calcifies at 70-90 m in the same region. Values of epsilon(p), derived by comparison of the organic and inorganic delta values, were transformed to yield concentrations of dissolved CO2 [is equivalent to c(e)] based on a new, site-specific calibration of the relationship between epsilon(p) and c(e). The calibration was based on reassessment of existing epsilon(p) versus c(e) data, which support a physiologically based model in which epsilon(p) is inversely related to c(e). Values of PCO2, the partial pressure of CO2 that would be in equilibrium with the estimated concentrations of dissolved CO2, were calculated using Henry's law and the temperature determined from the alkenone-unsaturation index U(K/37). Uncertainties in these values arise mainly from uncertainties about the appropriateness (particularly over time) of the site-specific relationship between epsilon(p) and 1/c(e). These are discussed in detail and it is concluded that the observed record of epsilon(p) most probably reflects significant variations in delta pCO2, the ocean-atmosphere disequilibrium, which appears to have ranged from approximately 110 microatmospheres during glacial intervals (ocean > atmosphere) to approximately 60 microatmospheres during interglacials. Fluxes of CO2 to the atmosphere would thus have been significantly larger during glacial intervals. If this were characteristic of large areas of the equatorial Pacific, then greater glacial sinks for the equatorially evaded CO2 must have existed elsewhere. Statistical analysis of air-sea pCO2 differences and other parameters revealed significant (p<0.01) inverse correlations of delta pCO2 with sea surface temperature and with the mass accumulation rate of opal. The former suggests response to the strength of upwelling, the latter may indicate either drawdown of CO2 by siliceous phytoplankton or variation of [CO2]/[Si(OH)4] ratios in upwelling waters.

NASA Discipline Exobiology↗
DOE OSTI2019

Development of a high-productivity, halophilic, thermotolerant microalga Picochlorum renovo

Abstract Microalgae are promising biocatalysts for applications in sustainable fuel, food, and chemical production. Here, we describe culture collection screening, down-selection, and development of a high-productivity, halophilic, thermotolerant microalga, Picochlorum renovo . This microalga displays a rapid growth rate and high diel biomass productivity (34 g m −2 day −1 ), with a composition well-suited for downstream processing. P. renovo exhibits broad salinity tolerance (growth at 107.5 g L −1 salinity) and thermotolerance (growth up to 40 °C), beneficial traits for outdoor cultivation. We report complete genome sequencing and analysis, and genetic tool development suitable for expression of transgenes inserted into the nuclear or chloroplast genomes. We further evaluate mechanisms of halotolerance via comparative transcriptomics, identifying novel genes differentially regulated in response to high salinity cultivation. These findings will enable basic science inquiries into control mechanisms governing Picochlorum biology and lay the foundation for development of a microalga with industrially relevant traits as a model photobiology platform.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Total Protein Analysis in Algae via Bulk Amino Acid Detection: Optimization of Amino Acid Derivatization after Hydrolysis with O -Phthalaldehyde 3-Mercaptopropionic Acid (OPA-3MPA)

The analysis of protein in algal biomass is one of the most critical areas of commercial development of algae characterization for nutritional or other high value applications. A new rapid and accurate method is required that can be widely implemented and that is free from interferences from the complex algal biomass matrix. We developed a simple spectrophotometric method for primary amino acid quantification bulk measurement in an acid hydrolyzed algal biomass preparation, as an alternative to the more labor-intensive amino HPLC acid analysis or less specific nitrogen-to-protein conversion. We have validated an O -phthalaldehyde (OPA)-based derivatization method, showing accurate and linear quantification for standard reference amino acids as well as mixtures, mimicking the amino acid complexity found in algal biomass. The presence of interferences that may be derived from the complex biomass biochemical composition was tested during the method validation phase. We document the application of a novel method of OPA derivatization with 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3MPA) to determine the total amino acid content of harvested algal biomass collected from different, controlled cultivation conditions and demonstrated a within 10% accuracy against a reference measurement of amino acid content in at least 4 species and 10 algal biomass samples, across early, mid, and late-stages of cultivation.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Optimization of the pyrolysis process of empty fruit bunch (EFB) in a fixed-bed reactor through a central composite design (CCD)

The production of crude palm oil from the processing of palm fresh fruit bunches in the palm oil mills in Malaysia hs resulted in a huge quantity of empty fruit bunch (EFB) accumulated. The EFB was used as a feedstock in the pyrolysis process using a fixed-bed reactor in the present study. The optimization of process parameters such as pyrolysis temperature (factor A), biomass particle size (factor B) and holding time (factor C) were investigated through Central Composite Design (CCD) using Stat-Ease Design Expert software version 7 with bio-oil yield considered as the response. Twenty experimental runs were conducted. The results were completely analyzed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The model was statistically significant. All factors studied were significant with p-values < 0.05. The pyrolysis temperature (factor A) was considered as the most significant parameter because its F-value of 116.29 was the highest. The value of R{sup 2} was 0.9564 which indicated that the selected factors and its levels showed high correlation to the production of bio-oil from EFB pyrolysis process. A quadratic model equation was developed and employed to predict the highest theoretical bio-oil yield. The maximum bio-oil yield of 46.2 % was achieved at pyrolysis temperature of 442.15 °C using the EFB particle size of 866 μm which corresponded to the EFB particle size in the range of 710–1000 μm and holding time of 483 seconds.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2018

Novel Biocomposites Based on Sunflower Oil and Alfa Fibers as Renewable Resources

The aim of this work is to develop biocomposites based on modified sunflower oil as resin and short natural fibers from Alfa plants (Stipa tenacissima) as reinforcement. Epoxidized sunflower oil (ESFO) was chemically modified via acrylation reaction to obtain acrylated epoxidized sunflower oil resin (AESFO). The AESFO resin was then copolymerized with styrene as co-monomer in the presence of boron trifluoride (BF{sub 3}) as cationic initiator and cobalt octoate (Co) as catalyst. Experimental conditions of this modification were optimized by varying styrene, Co and BF{sub 3} wt%. The styrene was varied from 30, 40 to 50 wt% while the catalyst (Co) was varied from 0, 0.01, 0.02 to 0.03 wt%. Two different percents of BF{sub 3} were considered: 0.5 and 1 wt%. The prepared samples were evaluated according to their appearance and then characterized in terms of tensile properties (stress at break, Young’s modulus and elongation at break) to determine the best ratio of styrene/BF{sub 3}/Co. Alfa fibers, used as bio-reinforcement, were treated with a 5% NaOH solution and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). Biocomposites were prepared by using untreated (UAF) and treated Alfa fibers (TAF) at a ratio of 5 wt% and characterized in terms of tensile properties and morphology by SEM. The best results were obtained with TAF. Then, the ratio of TAF was varied (5, 7.5 and 10 wt%) and the tensile and thermal properties of the biocomposites were characterized. The results showed that the best results were obtained with the ratio of 7.5 wt%.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Metabolic and transcriptomic study of pennycress natural variation identifies targets for oil improvement

Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.), a member of the Brassicaceae family, produces seed oil high in erucic acid, suitable for biodiesel and aviation fuel. Although pennycress, a winter annual, could be grown as a dedicated bioenergy crop, an increase in its seed oil content is required to improve its economic competitiveness. The success of crop improvement relies upon finding the right combination of biomarkers and targets, and the best genetic engineering and/or breeding strategies. In this work, we combined biomass composition with metabolomic and transcriptomic studies of developing embryos from 22 pennycress natural variants to identify targets for oil improvement. The selected accession collection presented diverse levels of fatty acids at maturity ranging from 29% to 41%. Pearson correlation analyses, weighted gene co‐expression network analysis and biomarker identifications were used as complementary approaches to detect associations between metabolite level or gene expression and oil content at maturity. The results indicated that improving seed oil content can lead to a concomitant increase in the proportion of erucic acid without affecting the weight of embryos. Processes, such as carbon partitioning towards the chloroplast, lipid metabolism, photosynthesis, and a tight control of nitrogen availability, were found to be key for oil improvement in pennycress. Besides identifying specific targets, our results also provide guidance regarding the best timing for their modification, early or middle maturation. Thus, this work lays out promising strategies, specific for pennycress, to accelerate the successful development of lines with increased seed oil content for biofuel applications.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2011

Biorefinery Development using Multiple Feedstocks, Audubon Sugar Institute - Factory Operations Seminar 2011

This report is a summary of research that has been conducted under the auspices of a US DOE grant (DE-FG-08GO88151) and is a compilation of the efforts of a significant portion of the Audubon Sugar Institute faculty and staff. This project continued the developments initiated under DOE Awards No. DE-FC36-04GO14236 and DE-FG -05GO85007. There, the focus was on the development of a technology for a bagasse based biorefinery that will give sufficient economic advantage when integrated with a cane raw sugar mill, to support low-cost ethanol production. The purpose of this work is to lay the foundation for utilization of new grassy crops that can be utilized in a sugarcane raw mill based biorefinery. Determination of the appropriate payment analysis technique, pre-processing requirements and operational conditions for each feedstock is within the scope of this project. In addition to agronomic data, a foundation of basic analytical information on composition, handling characteristics, response to pretreatment, and fermentability of pretreated biomass hydrolysates were developed.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
NASA NTRS2018

Air Quality Modeling Using the NASA GEOS-5 Multispecies Data Assimilation System

The NASA Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) data assimilation system (DAS) has been expanded to include chemically reactive tropospheric trace gases including ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO). This system combines model analyses from the GEOS-5 model with detailed atmospheric chemistry and observations from MLS (O3), OMI (O3 and NO2), and MOPITT (CO). We show results from a variety of assimilation test experiments, highlighting the improvements in the representation of model species concentrations by up to 50% compared to an assimilation-free control experiment. Taking into account the rapid chemical cycling of NO2 when applying the assimilation increments greatly improves assimilation skills for NO2 and provides large benefits for model concentrations near the surface. Analysis of the geospatial distribution of the assimilation increments suggest that the free-running model overestimates biomass burning emissions but underestimates lightning NOx emissions by 5-20%. We discuss the capability of the chemical data assimilation system to improve atmospheric composition forecasts through improved initial value and boundary condition inputs, particularly during air pollution events. We find that the current assimilation system meaningfully improves short-term forecasts (1-3 day). For longer-term forecasts more emphasis on updating the emissions instead of initial concentration fields is needed.

Keller, Christoph A.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Enabling Production of Algal Biofuels by Techno-Economic Optimization of Co-Product Suites

Recent techno-economic analysis (TEA) has underscored that for algal biofuels to be cost competitive with petroleum fuels, co-products are necessary to offset the cost of fuel production. The co-product suite must scale with fuel production while also maximizing value from the non-fuel precursor components. The co-product suite also depends on algal biomass composition, which is highly dynamic and depends on environmental conditions during cultivation. Intentional shifts in composition during cultivation are often associated with reduced biomass productivity, which can increase feedstock production costs for the algae-based biorefinery. The optimal algae-based biorefinery configuration is thus a function of many factors. We have found that comprehensive TEA, which requires the construction of process models with detailed mass and energy balances, along with a complete accounting of capital and operating expenditures for a commercial-scale production facility, provides invaluable insight into the viability of a proposed biorefinery configuration. This insight is reflected in improved viability for one biorefining approach that we have developed over the last 10 years, namely, the Combined Algal Processing (CAP) approach. This approach fractionates algal biomass into carbohydrate-, lipid-, and protein-rich fractions, and tailors upgrading chemistry to the composition of each fraction. In particular, transitioning from valorization of only the lipids to a co-product suite from multiple components of high-carbohydrate algal biomass can reduce the minimum fuel selling price (MFSP) from more than $8/gallon of gasoline equivalent (GGE) to $2.50/GGE. This paper summarizes that progress and discusses several surprising implications in this optimization approach.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Insights into plant cell wall structure, architecture, and integrity using glycome profiling of native and AFEX TM -pre-treated biomass

We report that cell walls, which constitute the bulk of plant biomass, vary considerably in their structure, composition, and architecture. Studies on plant cell walls can be conducted on both native and pre-treated plant biomass samples, allowing an enhanced understanding of these structural and compositional variations. Here glycome profiling was employed to determine the relative abundance of matrix polysaccharides in several phylogenetically distinct native and pre-treated plant biomasses. Eight distinct biomass types belonging to four different subgroups (i.e. monocot grasses, woody dicots, herbaceous dicots, and softwoods) were subjected to various regimes of AFEX™ (ammonia fiber expansion) pre-treatment [AFEX is a trademark of MBI, Lansing (http://www.mbi.org]. This approach allowed detailed analysis of close to 200 cell wall glycan epitopes and their relative extractability using a high-throughput platform. In general, irrespective of the phylogenetic origin, AFEX™ pre-treatment appeared to cause loosening and improved accessibility of various xylan epitope subclasses in most plant biomass materials studied. For most biomass types analysed, such loosening was also evident for other major non-cellulosic components including subclasses of pectin and xyloglucan epitopes. The studies also demonstrate that AFEX™ pre-treatment significantly reduced cell wall recalcitrance among diverse phylogenies (except softwoods) by inducing structural modifications to polysaccharides that were not detectable by conventional gross composition analyses. Lastly, we found that monitoring changes in cell wall glycan compositions and their relative extractability for untreated and pre-treated plant biomass can provide an improved understanding of variations in structure and composition of plant cell walls and delineate the role(s) of matrix polysaccharides in cell wall recalcitrance.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Development of Integrated Screening, Cultivar Optimization, and Verification Research (DISCOVR)

The objective of the DISCOVR consortia is to develop an integrated algae strain screening platform for the discovery of high-productivity and resilient strains of algae that can be cultivated outdoors year-round via crop rotation. The data includes annual weather data, algae cultivation composition data, and pond water chemistry data between 2018 and 2021. This year-over-year cultivation data provides the underlying data in direct support of the annual State of Technology (SOT) analysis effort. These field experimental data and SOT reports are of interest to the U.S. Department of Energys (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energys (EERE) Bioenergy Technologies office (BETO) in understanding current best algae agronomic practices in demonstrating progress towards future algae biomass productivity goals as outlined in the BETO Multi-Year Program Plan.

algae↗
DOE OSTI2018

Characterization of Lignin Streams during Bionic Liquid-Based Pretreatment from Grass, Hardwood, and Softwood

Delignification as a function of ionic liquid (IL) pretreatment has potential in terms of recovering and converting the fractionated lignin streams to renewable products. Renewable biogenic ionic liquids, or bionic liquids (eg. cholinium lysinate, ([Ch][Lys])), provide opportunities in terms of effective, economic and sustainable lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment. We have evaluated [Ch][Lys] pretreatment in terms of sugar and lignin yields for three different feedstocks: switchgrass, eucalyptus, and pine. Four lignin streams isolated during [Ch][Lys] pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis were comprehensively analyzed, tracking their changes in physical-chemical structures. We observed changes in major lignin linkages and lignin aromatics units (p-hydroxyphenyl (H), guaiacyl (G), and syringil (S)) that occurred during pretreatment. A compositional analysis of the different process streams and a comprehensive mass balance in conjunction with multiple analytical techniques (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Mass Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC)) is presented. Qualitative and quantitative analyses indicates that there are significantly more lignin-carbohydrate interactions for G-rich lignin in pine. The lignin removal and extent of lignin depolymerization for switchgrass and eucalyptus were higher than pine, and follows the order of switchgrass > eucalyptus > pine. The recovered lignin from pretreated liquid contained a lower relative amount of carbohydrate signals than raw biomass, indicating a high degree of dissociation of lignin carbohydrate complex (LCC) linkages for all samples analyzed. The insights gained from this work contribute to better understanding of physiochemical properties of lignin streams generated during [Ch][Lys] pretreatment, offering a starting point for lignin valorization strategies.

lignin, ionic liquids, NMR↗
DOE OSTI2013

Proteogenomic Analysis of a Thermophilic Bacterial Consortium Adapted to Deconstruct Switchgrass

Thermophilic bacteria are a potential source of enzymes for the deconstruction of lignocellulosic biomass. However, the complement of proteins used to deconstruct biomass and the specific roles of different microbial groups in thermophilic biomass deconstruction are not well-explored. Here we report on the metagenomic and proteogenomic analyses of a compost-derived bacterial consortium adapted to switchgrass at elevated temperature with high levels of glycoside hydrolase activities. Near-complete genomes were reconstructed for the most abundant populations, which included composite genomes for populations closely related to sequenced strains of Thermus thermophilus and Rhodothermus marinus, and for novel populations that are related to thermophilic Paenibacilli and an uncultivated subdivision of the littlestudied Gemmatimonadetes phylum. Partial genomes were also reconstructed for a number of lower abundance thermophilic Chloroflexi populations. Identification of genes for lignocellulose processing and metabolic reconstructions suggested Rhodothermus, Paenibacillus and Gemmatimonadetes as key groups for deconstructing biomass, and Thermus as a group that may primarily metabolize low molecular weight compounds. Mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis of the consortium was used to identify .3000 proteins in fractionated samples from the cultures, and confirmed the importance of Paenibacillus and Gemmatimonadetes to biomass deconstruction. These studies also indicate that there are unexplored proteins with important roles in bacterial lignocellulose deconstruction.

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory↗
DOE OSTI2021

Accurate determination of genotypic variance of cell wall characteristics of a Populus trichocarpa pedigree using high-throughput pyrolysis-molecular beam mass spectrometry

Abstract Background Pyrolysis-molecular beam mass spectrometry (py-MBMS) analysis of a pedigree of Populus trichocarpa was performed to study the phenotypic plasticity and heritability of lignin content and lignin monomer composition. Instrumental and microspatial environmental variability were observed in the spectral features and corrected to reveal underlying genetic variance of biomass composition. Results Lignin-derived ions (including m/z 124, 154, 168, 194, 210 and others) were highly impacted by microspatial environmental variation which demonstrates phenotypic plasticity of lignin composition in Populus trichocarpa biomass. Broad-sense heritability of lignin composition after correcting for microspatial and instrumental variation was determined to be H 2 = 0.56 based on py-MBMS ions known to derive from lignin. Heritability of lignin monomeric syringyl/guaiacyl ratio ( S / G ) was H 2 = 0.81. Broad-sense heritability was also high (up to H 2 = 0.79) for ions derived from other components of the biomass including phenolics (e.g., salicylates) and C5 sugars (e.g., xylose). Lignin and phenolic ion abundances were primarily driven by maternal effects, and paternal effects were either similar or stronger for the most heritable carbohydrate-derived ions. Conclusions We have shown that many biopolymer-derived ions from py-MBMS show substantial phenotypic plasticity in response to microenvironmental variation in plantations. Nevertheless, broad-sense heritability for biomass composition can be quite high after correcting for spatial environmental variation. This work outlines the importance in accounting for instrumental and microspatial environmental variation in biomass composition data for applications in heritability measurements and genomic selection for breeding poplar for renewable fuels and materials.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
NASA NTRS2003

Characteristics and Influence of Biosmoke on the Fine-Particle Ionic Composition Measured in Asian Outflow during the Transport and Chemical Evolution Over the Pacific (TRACE-P) Experiment

We investigate the sources, prevalence, and fine-particle inorganic composition of biosmoke over the western Pacific Ocean between 24 February and 10 April 2001. The analysis is based on highly time-resolved airborne measurements of gaseous and fine- particle inorganic chemical composition made during the NASA Transport and Chemical Evolution over the Pacific (TRACE-P) experiment. At latitudes below approximately 25 deg. N, relatively pure biomass burning plumes of enhanced fine-particle potassium, nitrate, ammonium, light-absorbing aerosols, and CO concentrations were observed in plumes that back trajectories and satellite fire map data suggest originated from biomass burning in southeast Asia. Fine-particle water-soluble potassium (K+) is confirmed to be a unique biosmoke tracer, and its prevalence throughout the experiment indicates that approximately 20% of the TRACE-P Asian outflow plumes were influenced, to some extent, by biomass or biofuel burning emissions. At latitudes above 25 deg. N, highly mixed urban/industrial and biosmoke plumes, indicated by SO(sup 2, sub 4) and K+, were observed in 5 out of 53 plumes. Most plumes were found in the Yellow Sea and generally were associated with much higher fine-particle loadings than plumes lacking a biosmoke influence. The air mass back trajectories of these mixed plumes generally pass through the latitude range of between 34 deg. and 40 deg. N on the eastern China coast, a region that includes the large urban centers of Beijing and Tianjin. A lack of biomass burning emissions based on fire maps and high correlations between K+ and pollution tracers (e.g., S(sup 2, sub 4) suggest biofuel sources. Ratios of fine-particle potassium to sulfate are used to provide an estimate of relative contributions of biosmoke emissions to the mixed Asian plumes. The ratio is highly correlated with fine-particle volume (r(sup 2) = 0.85) and predicts that for the most polluted plume encounter in TRACE-P, approximately 60% of the plume is associated with biosmoke emissions. On average, biosmoke contributes approximately 35-40% to the measured fine inorganic aerosol mass in the mixed TRACE-P plumes intercepted north of 25% latitude.

Ma, Y.↗