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Airborne Observations of Reactive Inorganic Chlorine and Bromine Species in the Exhaust of Coal‐Fired Power Plants
Author(s) -
Lee Ben H.,
LopezHilfiker Felipe D.,
Schroder Jason C.,
CampuzanoJost Pedro,
Jimenez Jose L.,
McDuffie Erin E.,
Fibiger Dorothy L.,
Veres Patrick R.,
Brown Steven S.,
Campos Teresa L.,
Weinheimer Andrew J.,
Flocke Frank F.,
Norris Gary,
O'Mara Kate,
Green Jaime R.,
Fiddler Marc N.,
Bililign Solomon,
Shah Viral,
Jaeglé Lyatt,
Thornton Joel A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-8996
pISSN - 2169-897X
DOI - 10.1029/2018jd029284
Subject(s) - bromine , chlorine , environmental chemistry , environmental science , coal , chemistry , waste management , organic chemistry , engineering
We present airborne observations of gaseous reactive halogen species (HCl, Cl 2 , ClNO 2 , Br 2 , BrNO 2 , and BrCl), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), and nonrefractory fine particulate chloride (pCl) and sulfate (pSO 4 ) in power plant exhaust. Measurements were conducted during the Wintertime INvestigation of Transport, Emissions, and Reactivity campaign in February–March of 2015 aboard the NCAR‐NSF C‐130 aircraft. Fifty air mass encounters were identified in which SO 2 levels were elevated ~5 ppb above ambient background levels and in proximity to operational power plants. Each encounter was attributed to one or more potential emission sources using a simple wind trajectory analysis. In case studies, we compare measured emission ratios to those reported in the 2011 National Emissions Inventory and present evidence of the conversion of HCl emitted from power plants to ClNO 2 . Taking into account possible chemical conversion downwind, there was general agreement between the observed and reported HCl:SO 2 emission ratios. Reactive bromine species (Br 2 , BrNO 2 , and/or BrCl) were detected in the exhaust of some coal‐fired power plants, likely related to the absence of wet flue gas desulfurization emission control technology. Levels of bromine species enhanced in some encounters exceeded those expected assuming all of the native bromide in coal was released to the atmosphere, though there was no reported use of bromide salts (as a way to reduce mercury emissions) during Wintertime INvestigation of Transport, Emissions, and Reactivity observations. These measurements represent the first ever in‐flight observations of reactive gaseous chlorine and bromine containing compounds present in coal‐fired power plant exhaust.

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