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Final Report: Development and Application of a Real Time Optical Sensor for Atmospheric Formaldehyde
EPA Grant Number: R828598C731Title: Development and Application of a Real Time Optical Sensor for Atmospheric Formaldehyde
Investigators: Fraser, Matthew P. , Tittel, Frank K.
Institution: Rice University
EPA Project Officer: Krishnan, Bala S.
Project Period: September 1, 1999 through August 31, 2002
Project Amount: $86,476
RFA: Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center (Lamar University) (1996)
Research Category: Targeted Research , Hazardous Waste/Remediation
Description:
Objective:The project was undertaken to develop a real-time sensor for atmospheric formaldehyde and then use that sensor to better understand the role of formaldehyde in the formation of ground-level ozone in Houston. Specific objectives include: comparison of the optical sensor to traditional wet-chemical techniques, quantification of the diurnal variation in atmospheric formaldehyde concentrations and statistical modeling of concentrations of formaldehyde to determine the relative contributions of primary (directly emitted from sources) and secondary (formed by atmospheric chemical reactions) to ambient formaldehyde levels.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):An optical sensor was developed capable of quantification of atmospheric levels of formaldehyde with a precision of 0.5 ppbV. Three field campaigns were undertaken. The first in December 1999 compared the sensor to traditional wet chemistry quantification of formaldehyde. The second during the summer of 2000 yielded a full week worth of ambient concentrations of formaldehyde which was used in a statistical model developed to separate trends in formaldehyde concentrations including direct emission to the atmosphere and formation by atmospheric chemical reactions. The third sampling project during the summer of 2002 yielded measurements of formaldehyde over a period of two months. This data will be used in future research to validate the models that predict ozone and formaldehyde generation from photochemical smog reactions.
"Postdoctoral position in environmental monitoring technology development" Profs. Bob Curl, Matthew Fraser, Ron Sass, and Frank Tittel funded by the Dreyfus Foundation, July 2000. Total Funding: $96,000.
Journal Articles on this Report: 2 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 10 publications | 3 publications in selected types | All 2 journal articles |
| Type | Citation | ||
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Chen JH, So S, Lee HS, Fraser MP, Curl RF, Tittel FK, Harman T. Atmospheric formaldehyde monitoring in the Greater Houston area in 2002. Applied Spectroscopy 2004; 58(2): 243-247. |
R828598C731 (Final) |
not available |
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Friedfeld S, Fraser MP, Ensor K, Tribble S, Rehle D, Leleux D, Tittel FK. Statistical analysis of primary and secondary atmospheric formaldehyde. Atmospheric Environment 2002; 36(30): 4767-4775. |
R828598C731 (Final) |
not available |
atmospheric formaldehyde photochemical reactions of volatile organic compounds optical sensors,
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Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, POLLUTANTS/TOXICS, Air, Scientific Discipline, RFA, Air Pollutants, Chemicals, Atmospheric Sciences, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, Monitoring/Modeling, aerosols, Formaldehyde, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), real-time monitoring, environmental monitoring, optical detection, atmospheric chemistry, atmospheric measurements, optical sensor
Relevant Websites:
http://www.ece.rice.edu/lasersci/
Progress and Final Reports:
Original Abstract