Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Emissions Of Nitrogen-Containing Organic Compounds From The Burning Of Herbaceous And Arboraceous Biomass: Fuel Composition Dependence And The Variability Of Commonly Used Nitrile Tracers, Matthew M. Coggon, Patrick R. Veres, Bin Yuan, Abigail Koss, Carsten Warneke, Jessica B. Gilman, Brian M. Lerner, Jeff Peischl, Kenneth C. Aikin, Chelsea E. Stockwell, Lindsay E. Hatch, Thomas B. Ryerson, James M. Roberts, Robert J. Yokelson, Joost A. De Gouw

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from residential wood and crop residue burning were measured in Colorado, U.S. When compared to the emissions from crop burning, residential wood burning exhibited markedly lower concentrations of acetonitrile, a commonly used biomass burning tracer. For both herbaceous and arboraceous fuels, the emissions of nitrogen-containing VOCs (NVOCs) strongly depend on the fuel nitrogen content; therefore, low NVOC emissions from residential wood burning result from the combustion of low-nitrogen fuel. Consequently, the emissions of compounds hazardous to human health, such as HNCO and HCN, and the formation of secondary pollutants, such as ozone generated by NOx, …