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At least 307 records · Page 17
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2022

Anthropogenic Sulfate Aerosol Pollution in South and East Asia Induces Increased Summer Precipitation Over Arid Central Asia

Precipitation has increased across the arid Central Asia region over recent decades. However, the underlying mechanisms of this trend are poorly understood. Here, we analyze multi-model simulations from the Precipitation Driver and Response Model Intercomparison Project (PDRMIP) to investigate potential drivers of the observed precipitation trend. We find that anthropogenic sulfate aerosols over remote polluted regions in South and East Asia lead to increased summer precipitation, especially convective and extreme precipitation, in arid Central Asia. Elevated concentrations of sulfate aerosols over remote polluted Asia cause an equatorward shift of the Asian Westerly Jet Stream through a fast response to cooling of the local atmosphere at mid-latitudes. This shift favours moisture supply from low-latitudes and moisture flux convergence over arid Central Asia, which is confirmed by a moisture budget analysis. High levels of absorbing black carbon lead to opposing changes in the Asian Westerly Jet Stream and reduced local precipitation, which can mask the impact of sulfate aerosols. This teleconnection between arid Central Asia precipitation and anthropogenic aerosols in remote Asian polluted regions highlights long-range impacts of anthropogenic aerosols on atmospheric circulations and the hydrological cycle.

Atmospheric dynamics↗
NASA NTRS2022

Investigating Drivers of Particulate Matter Pollution Over India and the Implications for Radiative Forcing With GEOS-Chem-TOMAS15

Ambient fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) concentrations in India frequently exceed 100 μg/m 3 during fall and winter pollution episodes. We use the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model with the TwO-Moment Aerosol Sectional microphysics scheme with 15 size bins (TOMAS15) to assess PM 2.5 composition and impacts on radiation and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) during pollution episodes as compared to the seasonal (October-December) average. We conduct high resolution (0.25° × 0.3125°) nested-domain simulations over India for short-duration, high-PM2.5 episodes in the fall of 2015 and 2017. The simulations capture the magnitude and spatial patterns of pollution episodes measured by surface monitors (r PM2.5 = 0.69) although aerosol optical depth is underestimated. During the episodes, near-surface organic matter (OM), black carbon (BC), and secondary inorganic aerosol concentrations increase from seasonal averages by up to 36, 7, and 7 μg/m 3 , respectively. Episodic aerosol increases enhance cooling by lowering the top-of-atmosphere clear-sky direct radiative effect (DRE TOA ) during the 2015 episode (−6 W/m 2 ), with a smaller impact during the 2017 episode (−1 W/m 2 ). Differences in DRE TOA reflect larger increases in scattering aerosols in the column during the 2015 episode (+17 mg/m 2 ) than in 2017 (+13 mg/m 2 ), while absorbing aerosol column enhancements are smaller (+3 mg/m2) in both years. Changes in shortwave radiation at the surface (SW sfc ) are spatially similar to DRE TOA and mostly negative during both episodes. CCN enhancements (0.2% supersaturation) during these episodes occur across the western Indo-Gangetic Plain, coincident with higher PM 2.5 concentrations. Changes in DRE TOA , SW sfc , and CCN during high-PM 2.5 episodes may have implications for crops, the hydrologic cycle, and surface temperature.

PM2.5↗
DOE OSTI2017

Integrated assessment of infant exposure to persistent organic pollutants and mercury via dietary intake in a central western Mediterranean site (Menorca Island)

In this research the levels of organochlorine compounds (OCs) and mercury (Hg) in several food items from Menorca Island were presented. The dietary exposure assessment was performed in children population from the island. Finally, body burden of OCs and Hg in these infants were associated with their dietary intakes of the selected food items. The dietary exposure to persistent pollutants by children population from Menorca Island was assessed. The concentrations of 11 organochlorine pesticides, 6 polychlorinated biphenils (PCBs) and 1 inorganic toxic element, Hg, were determined in 46 food samples that included fish, shellfish, meat, fruit, vegetables, cheese and eggs, which were acquired in local markets and department stores in the Menorca Island. The most contaminated food items were fish and shellfish, followed by meat and cheese products. OC levels were similar or lower than in other previous studies. However, 66% of the analysed fish and shellfish species for Hg exceeded the human consumption safety limits according to the European Union Legislation. Pollutant data from food was combined with the pattern of consumption of these foodstuffs in order to calculate the estimated daily intake (EDI) of these contaminants. According to our results, fish and fruit were the main sources of OCs to the EDIs (contributing to 37% and 29%, respectively) while fish and shellfish were the main sources of Hg (76% and 17%). The estimated EDIs of OCs were well below to the reported FAO/WHO Tolerable Intakes. However, estimated weekly intake of Hg would exceed the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake indicated by EFSA in the case that the only fish and seafood source would be from the central western Mediterranean. Direct associations between fish/shellfish consumption and hair concentrations of Hg and fish and meat consumption and 4,4’-DDT concentrations in venous serum in the Menorcan children were observed. - Highlights: • The levels of the organochlorine compounds in the Menorcan food items were low. • Mercury was above the EU recommendations in 66% of the analysed seafood samples. • Fish/shellfish consumption was related with the Hg levels in hair of children. • 4,4’-DDT in serum of children was related to fish and meat consumption. • The Hg weekly intake of Menorcan children exceeded more than twice the EFSA limits.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Persistent organic pollutants, skull size and bone density of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from East Greenland 1892–2015 and Svalbard 1964–2004

Highlights: • Density in East Greenland males decreased over time. • Size in East Greenland females tented to decrease over time. • Size was highest in Svalbard polar bears. • Density was positive correlated to POPs. • Environmental changes and POPs may affect bone density and size. We investigated skull size (condylobasal length; CBL) and bone mineral density (BMD) in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from East Greenland (n = 307) and Svalbard (n = 173) sampled during the period 1892–2015 in East Greenland and 1964–2004 at Svalbard. Adult males from East Greenland showed a continuous decrease in BMD from 1892 to 2015 (linear regression: p < 0.01) indicating that adult male skulls collected in the early pre-pollution period had the highest BMD. A similar decrease in BMD over time was not found for the East Greenland adult females. However, there was a non-significant trend that the skull size of adult East Greenland females was negatively correlated with collection year 1892–2015 (linear regression: p = 0.06). No temporal change was found for BMD or skull size in Svalbard polar bears (ANOVA: all p > 0.05) nor was there any significant difference in BMD between Svalbard and East Greenland subpopulations. Skull size was larger in polar bears from Svalbard than from East Greenland (two-way ANOVA: p = 0.003). T-scores reflecting risk of osteoporosis showed that adult males from both East Greenland and Svalbard are at risk of developing osteopenia. Finally, when correcting for age and sex, BMD in East Greenland polar bears increased with increasing concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) i.e. ΣPCB (polychlorinated biphenyls), ΣHCH (hexachlorohexane), HCB (hexachlorobenzene) and ΣPBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) while skull size increased with ΣHCH concentrations all in the period 1999–2014 (multiple linear regression: all p < 0.05, n = 175). The results suggest that environmental changes over time, including exposure to POPs, may affect bone density and size of polar bears.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and diabetes mortality in the US

Highlights: • The NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study was linked with latest prediction models for PM{sub 2.5}, NO{sub 2}, and O{sub 3}. • Long-term exposures to PM{sub 2.5} and NO{sub 2} are significantly associated with elevated diabetes mortality risk. • The associations were significantly modified by BMI and total fruit consumption. Recent mechanistic and epidemiological evidence implicates air pollution as a potential risk factor for diabetes; however, mortality risks have not been evaluated in a large US cohort assessing exposures to multiple pollutants with detailed consideration of personal risk factors for diabetes.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Impact of Urban Pollution on Organic-Mediated New-Particle Formation and Particle Number Concentration in the Amazon Rainforest

A major challenge in assessing the impact of aerosols on climate change is to understand how human activities change aerosol loading and properties relative to the pristine-preindustrial baseline. Here we combine chemical transport simulation and field measurements to investigate the effect of anthropogenic pollution from an isolated metropolis on particle number concentration over the preindustrial-like Amazon rainforest through various new-particle formation (NPF) mechanisms and primary particle emissions. To represent organic-mediated NPF, we employ a state-of-the-art model that systematically simulates the formation chemistry and thermodynamics of extremely low volatility organic compounds as well as their roles in NPF processes, and further update the model to improve organic NPF simulations under human-influenced conditions. Results show that urban pollution from the metropolis increases particle number concentration by a factor of 5–25 over the downwind region (within 200 km from city center) compared to background conditions. Overall, our model indicates that NPF contributes over 70% of the total particle number in the downwind region except immediately adjacent to the sources. Among different NPF mechanisms, the ternary NPF involving organics and sulfuric acid overwhelmingly dominates. The improved understanding of particle formation mechanisms will help better quantify anthropogenic aerosol forcing from pristine-preindustrial times to present day.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Natural gas shortages during the “coal-to-gas” transition in China have caused a large redistribution of air pollution in winter 2017

The Chinese “coal-to-gas” and “coal-to-electricity” strategies aim at reducing dispersed coal consumption and related air pollution by promoting the use of clean and low-carbon fuels in northern China. Here, we show that on top of meteorological influences, the effective emission mitigation measures achieved an average decrease of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) concentrations of ~14% in Beijing and surrounding areas (the “2+26” pilot cities) in winter 2017 compared to the same period of 2016, where the dispersed coal control measures contributed ~60% of the total PM 2.5 reductions. However, the localized air quality improvement was accompanied by a contemporaneous~15% upsurge of PM 2.5 concentrations over large areas in southern China. We find that the pollution transfer that resulted from a shift in emissions was of a high likelihood caused by a natural gas shortage in the south due to the coal-to-gas transition in the north. The overall shortage of natural gas greatly jeopardized the air quality benefits of the coal-to-gas strategy in winter 2017 and reflects structural challenges and potential threats in China’s clean-energy transition.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2018

Advancing the Science of Both Coastal Ocean Biophysics and Atmospheric Pollution Chemistry: A Final Report to the Nasa Earth Science Division by the GEO-CAPE Team

The 2007 Decadal Survey (DS) included the recommendation for the Geostationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) mission to launch in 2013–2016 to advance the science of both coastal ocean biophysics and atmospheric-pollution chemistry. In 2009 the NASA Earth Science Division (ESD) initiated study activities for GEO-CAPE and 8 other near- to medium-term missions to help determine the readiness of these conceptual missions to begin the formulation phase. In FY15 the GEO-CAPE mission study team completed a white paper summarizing the results of the pre-formulation work accomplished to date: https://geo-cape.larc.nasa.gov/pdf/GEO-CAPE_2009-2015_SummativeWhitePaper.pdf The team was directed to complete a final report in FY18. This document, prepared as an addendum to the FY15 white paper, serves as the GEO-CAPE final report and focuses only on FY16-18 activities and on summarizing the final state.

Geostationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events↗
DOE OSTI2024

Potential reductions in fine particulate matter and premature mortality following implementation of air pollution controls on coal-fired power plants in India

Coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) account for > 70% of electricity generation in India, but < 5% of facilities have installed technologies for sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) and nitrogen oxide (NO X ) removal. Emissions of these pollutants lead to the formation of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) and an increased risk of premature mortality for exposed populations. Here, we use a nested version of the GEOS-Chem global chemical transport model (0.5° × 0.625° resolution) for India to estimate reductions in PM 2.5 concentrations that could have been achieved by implementing existing emission control technologies like flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) and/or selective catalytic reduction (SCR). We quantify the associated burden of disease using the integrated exposure response (IER) and global exposure mortality model (GEMM) functions and compare the costs of premature mortality to those for FGD installation. Model simulations for 2010 suggest installation of FGD would have reduced mean annual PM 2.5 concentrations across India by 8%, compared to 3% with SCR installation, and 11% with both FGD and SCR. A 7–28% reduction in PM 2.5 was simulated for local communities closest to CFPPs (same model grid cell), leading to up to 17% reduction in annual premature mortality. Overall, more than 0.21–0.48 million premature deaths would have been avoided over a 10-year period if FGD had been implemented on all CFPPs, compared to 0.09–0.21 million with SCR and 0.22–0.72 million with both FGD and SCR. Benefits associated with such actions are approximately $\$18.1$–$\$604$ billion USD per year, which is equivalent to ~ 0.44 to 10% of India’s GDP. These results suggest that monetary benefits from avoided premature mortality far outweigh the capital and operational costs of FGD and/or SCR installation of $\$19.5$ billion and/or $\$32.8$ billion per year, respectively. This information is essential because the high costs of installation and operation are often given as reasons for delaying installation and commissioning. Finally, we conclude that policy actions to control air pollution from CFPPs are economically justifiable.

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTAN↗
DOE OSTI2025

Source attribution of near-surface ozone pollution in Jiangsu Province of China over 2013–2019

Near-surface ozone (O3) is one of the most severe air pollutants in China, particularly over densely populated Jiangsu Province in the Yangtze River Delta. In this study, an O3 source tagging technique is utilized in a chemistry-climate model to quantify the source contributions of various emission sectors and regions for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to O3 concentrations in Jiangsu Province during 2013–2019. The results show that the near-surface O3 in Jiangsu Province is mainly contributed by surrounding and remote anthropogenic NOx emissions through long-range transport. Local anthropogenic NOx emissions account for only 13 % and 18 % of the annual and summertime mean near-surface O3 in Jiangsu Province, respectively. Anthropogenic NOx emissions from the surface transportation, industry, and energy sectors account for 21 %, 22 % and 20 % of the annual mean near-surface O3 concentration in Jiangsu Province, respectively. Biogenic and anthropogenic VOCs emissions each explains one-third of the annual mean near-surface O3 concentration in Jiangsu, while methane and stratospheric chemical production contribute 21 % and 6 %, respectively. The sources from stratospheric production, aircraft, lightning, and foreign emissions are the primary contributors to O3 in the mid- and high troposphere. During high pollution days in Jiangsu Province, the near-surface O3 concentrations increase with the maximum exceeding 20 ppb, which is attributed to both the enhanced photochemical production and regional transport in favorable meteorological conditions.

ozone pollution↗
DOE OSTI2020

Quantifying the reductions in mortality from air-pollution by cancelling new coal power plants

Deep decarbonization paths to the 1.5°C or 2°C temperature stabilization futures require a rapid reduction in conventional coal-fired power plants, but countries are currently building 223 GW of new coal power capacity and plan to build 377 GW more in the next decade. Coal-fired plants are also a major contributor to air pollution related health impacts. Here, we couple an integrated human-earth system model (GCAM) with an air quality model (TM5-FASST) to examine regional health co-benefits from cancelling new coal-fired plants worldwide. Additionally, we find that cancelling all new proposed projects would decrease air pollution related premature mortality between 101,388 - 213,205 deaths (2-5%) in 2030, and 213,414 - 373,054 (5-8%) in 2050, globally, but heavily concentrated in developing Asia. Furthermore, we estimate that strengthening the climate target from 2°C to 1.5°C would avoid 326,351 additional mortalities in 2030, of which 251,011 (75%) are attributable to the incremental coal plant shutdown.

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTAN↗
DOE OSTI2018

Assessing changes in eco-productivity of wastewater treatment plants: The role of costs, pollutant removal efficiency, and greenhouse gas emissions

Highlights: • Temporal dynamics of eco-efficiency were measured for wastewater treatment plants. • Individual drivers (costs, pollutants, GHG) of eco-productivity were quantified. • Most of the plants evaluated worsened its eco-efficiency over time. • Operational costs were the main responsible of negative eco-technical change. - Abstract: Improving eco-efficiency of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has been identified as being essential for achieving urban sustainability. Several previous papers have evaluated the eco-efficiency of WWTPs using data envelopment analysis (DEA) models. However, those models provided only a static assessment in that they ignored possible fluctuations over time within each plant. To overcome this temporal limitation, this paper evaluates dynamic eco-efficiency (changes in eco-productivity over time) of WWTPs using the dynamic weighted Russell directional distance model (WRDDM). This approach allows one to obtain an eco-productivity change index for each major component of the WRDDM model (costs, pollutants removal, and greenhouse gas emissions). Our results illustrate that although eco-productivity improved in half of the WWTPs we assessed, there was still potential for improving some eco-efficiency components. Moreover, operational costs and greenhouse gases emissions were the main drivers reducing eco-productivity. This paper demonstrates the importance of evaluating change in eco-productivity over time and in identifying the drivers associated with those changes, both of which can be used to support decision-making focused on the sustainability of WWTPs.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

The short-term comprehensive impact of the phase-out of global coal combustion on air pollution and climate change

With the continuous intensification of global warming, the reduction and ultimate phase-out of coal combustion is an inevitable trend in the future global energy transformation. This study comprehensively analyzed the impact of phasing out coal combustion on global emissions and concentrations of air pollutants, radiative fluxes, meteorology and climate using Community Earth System Model 2 (CESM2). The results indicate that after the global phase-out of coal combustion, there is a marked decrease in the concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), nitrogen oxides (NO x ) and fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), with some regions experiencing a reduction of exceeding 50%. There is no significant change in global ozone (O 3 ) concentration. There are decreasing AOD and positive radiative fluxes globally in the short term, though the cloud contributes minor negative radiative fluxes. The global air temperature may increase by approximately (0.02 ± 0.15) °C on average with regional and seasonal variations, and the precipitation may potentially increase by approximately (2.7 ± 40.6) mm yr −1 globally and over 20% in equatorial regions in the short term. But combined with the decreasing trend of cloud water content in the Northern Hemisphere, it indicates a potential increase in the extremity of precipitation events. In conclusion, this study provides references for global control of air pollution, mitigation strategies of climate change, and transformation of energy structures under the objective of “carbon neutrality”, such as focusing on the negative climate impacts of exacerbating regional warming and increasing extreme precipitation resulting from the rapid reduction of aerosols in the short term.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2018

Systemic inflammatory markers associated with cardiovascular disease and acute and chronic exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution (PM2.5) among US NHANES adults with metabolic syndrome

Highlights: • A cross sectional study of the effect of PM{sub 2.5} AP on inflammatory biomarkers among NHANES participants was conducted. • Participants’ Census tract of residence was linked to USEPA downscaler modeled air pollution for the continental US. • Goal was the assessment of susceptibility of adults with metabolic syndrome to PM2.5 exposure and levels of CRP and WBC. • There was a significant effect of PM2.5 at lag day 0; a 10 µg/m3 rise was associated with a 10.1% increase in CRP level. • There were no significant associations with CRP or WBC for those without metabolic syndrome. There has been no investigation to date of adults with metabolic syndrome examining the association of short and long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM{sub 2.5}) air pollution with cardiovascular-disease related inflammatory marker (WBC and CRP) levels in a nationally representative sample. The goal of this study is to assess the susceptibility of adults with metabolic syndrome to PM{sub 2.5} exposure as suggested by increased cardiovascular-disease related inflammatory marker levels.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Spatial associations between social groups and ozone air pollution exposure in the Beijing urban area

Highlights: • Greater percentages of persons living alone and migrants were associated with higher O{sub 3} exposure. • Social groups divided by Hukou status had distinct spatial distributions in the Beijing urban area. • Migrants bore a double burden of social deprivation and O{sub 3} exposure due to city development planning and the Hukou system. • Areas with greater percentages of seniors had lower O{sub 3} exposure but higher NO{sub 2} exposure. Few studies have linked social factors to air pollution exposure in China. Unlike the race or minority concepts in western countries, the Hukou system (residential registration system) is a fundamental reason for the existence of social deprivation in China. To assess the differences in ozone (O{sub 3}) exposure among social groups, especially groups divided by Hukou status, we assigned estimates of O{sub 3} exposure to the latest census data of the Beijing urban area using a kriging interpolation model. We developed simultaneous autoregressive (SAR) models that account for spatial autocorrelation to identify the associations between O{sub 3} exposure and social factors. Principal component regression was used to control the multicollinearity bias as well as explore the spatial structure of the social data. The census tracts (CTs) with higher proportions of persons living alone and migrants with non-local Hukou were characterized by greater exposure to ambient O{sub 3}. The areas with greater proportions of seniors had lower O{sub 3} exposure. The spatial distribution patterns were similar among variables including migrants, agricultural population and household separation (population status with separation between Hukou and actual residences), which fit the demographic characteristics of the majority of migrants. Migrants bore a double burden of social deprivation and O{sub 3} pollution exposure due to city development planning and the Hukou system.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Increase of lifetime cadmium intake dose-dependently increased all cause of mortality in female inhabitants of the cadmium-polluted Jinzu River basin, Toyama, Japan

Highlights: • The mortality risk ratios of LCd (+1 g) for all causes in women were dose-dependently increased (risk ratio: 1.08). • Relative risk of LCd for kidney and urinal tract disease, renal diseases and renal failure were higher in women. • Life prognosis was adversely affected by Cd-exposure, especially in women. Exposure to cadmium (Cd) via food is supposed to affect life prognosis of inhabitants of Cd-polluted area in Japan. However, there have been few reports demonstrating a significant relationship between the amount of Cd intake and mortality. We aimed to investigate the relationship between mortality and individual lifetime Cd intake (LCd) in inhabitants of the polluted Jinzu River basin, Toyama, Japan.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Socioeconomic and particulate air pollution correlates of heart disease risk

Highlights: • Heart disease risk varies with age, sex, smoking, income, education, and particulate (PM2.5) air pollution. • How these risk factors interact is unclear. • We examine correlates of self-reported heart disease risk in a large data set. • Income is negatively associated with both PM2.5 exposure and heart disease risk. • Income is an important confounder of air pollution-heart disease associations. • Nonparametric methods can quantify associations and suggest causal interpretations. How does risk of heart disease depend on age, sex, smoking, income, education, marital status, and outdoor concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5)? We join data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance (BRFSS) System for years 2008–2012 to US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data on county-specific concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) to quantify associations among these variables and to explore possible causal interpretations. Low income is identified as a direct cause of increased heart disease risk in this data set. The effect depends on age and sex: it is most pronounced for men under age 70 and for women under age 80. Income is significantly associated with all of the other variables examined and confounds the association between PM2.5 and heart disease risk. This association is significant in regression models that exclude income, but not in regression models that include it, both in the data set as a whole and in the subset of observations with PM2.5 < 15 μg/m{sup 3}. Causal directed acyclic graph (DAG) models and non-parametric model ensemble partial dependence plots confirm that higher incomes reduce heart disease risk, consistent with previous observations of socioeconomic gradients in health risks. They support interpretation of this as a robust causal relation apparent in non-parametric analyses, and hence independent of any specific parametric modeling assumptions.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Biorefinery upgrading of herbaceous biomass to renewable hydrocarbon fuels, Part 2: Air pollutant emissions and permitting implications

The development of advanced biofuel production facilities is still at a nascent stage, and the biorefineries could face challenges in obtaining air permits required for their construction and operation because they are novel emission sources. To fill gaps in knowledge regarding potential emissions, we perform a detailed federal regulatory analysis and estimate air pollutant emissions for an advanced biorefinery that produces renewable diesel blendstock (RDB) from lignocellulosic biomass via aerobic respiration documented in Part 1 of the paper. We evaluate 12 design permutations that include two feedstocks, a uniform format blend (UFB) and corn stover; three biorefinery scales, 2,000, 5,200, and 9,100 dry metric tons per day (dmtd) of lignocellulosic biomass feed; and two lignin uses, as either a boiler fuel or for pellet production. We also evaluate 6 additional design permutations by incorporating non-emitting renewable power, which could reduce up to 63% carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NO x ) each, 21% volatile organic compounds (VOC), and 43% hazardous air pollutants (HAP) as opposed to on-site power production, for biorefineries that produce pellets, using either UFB or corn stover. Our results indicate that all 18 design permutations would be classified as a major source under the Clean Air Act's New Source Review program without additional emission controls. Compared to using lignin as a boiler fuel, diverting lignin for pellet production reduces the emissions of CO up to 88%, NOx up to 73%, sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) up to 99%, VOCs up to 72%, and HAPs up to 66%. Additionally, we explore control options that could further reduce emissions and assess whether reductions are enough to achieve minor source classification. Insights from our analysis can help biorefinery developers and regulators develop permitting strategies to mitigate investment risks.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗