Identification of gas-phase pyrolysis products in a prescribed fire: first detections using infrared spectroscopy for naphthalene, methyl nitrite, allene, acrolein and acetaldehyde

Nicole K. Scharko; Ashley M. Oeck; Russell G. Tonkyn; Stephen P. Baker; Emily N. Lincoln; Joey Chong; Bonni M. Corcoran; Gloria M. Burke; David R. Weise; Tanya L. Myers; Catherine A. Banach; David W. T. Griffith; Timothy J. Johnson

doi:10.5194/amt-12-763-2019

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Identification of gas-phase pyrolysis products in a prescribed fire: first detections using infrared spectroscopy for naphthalene, methyl nitrite, allene, acrolein and acetaldehyde

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Nicole K. Scharko, Ashley M. Oeck, Russell G. Tonkyn, Stephen P. Baker, Emily N. Lincoln, Joey Chong, Bonni M. Corcoran, Gloria M. Burke, David R. Weise, Tanya L. Myers, Catherine A. Banach, David W. T. Griffith, Timothy J. Johnson

Year:

2019

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Pacific Southwest Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-763-2019

Source:

Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. 12(1): 763-776.

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Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted from many sources, including wildland fire. VOCs have received heightened emphasis due to such gases’ influential role in the atmosphere, as well as possible health effects. We have used extractive infrared (IR) spectroscopy on recent prescribed burns in longleaf pine stands and herein report the first detection of five compounds using this technique. The newly reported IR detections include naphthalene, methyl nitrite, allene, acrolein and acetaldehyde. We discuss the approaches used for detection, particularly the software methods needed to fit the analyte and multiple (interfering) spectral components within the selected spectral micro-window(s). We also discuss the method’s detection limits and related parameters such as spectral resolution.

Keywords

volatile organic compounds (VOCs), gas-phase pyrolysis products, prescribed fire, wildland fire

Citation

Scharko, Nicole K.; Oeck, Ashley M.; Tonkyn, Russell G.; Baker, Stephen P.; Lincoln, Emily N.; Chong, Joey; Corcoran, Bonni M.; Burke, Gloria M.; Weise, David R.; Myers, Tanya L.; Banach, Catherine A.; Griffith, David W. T.; Johnson, Timothy J. 2019. Identification of gas-phase pyrolysis products in a prescribed fire: First detections using infrared spectroscopy for naphthalene, methyl nitrite, allene, acrolein and acetaldehyde. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. 12(1): 763-776.