Qian-Feng Li¹, Lingjuan Wang-Li^2*, R. K. M. Jayanty³, Sanjay Shah²

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¹ Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA.
² Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA.
³ RTI International, Research Triangle Park, USA.
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Abstract: Particulate matter (PM) emissions from animal feeding operations (AFOs) have been considered as an important contributor to ambient PM in rural areas. Investigation of the chemical compositions of PM_2.5 inside and in the vicinity of AFOs can enhance our understanding of the AFO emissions impact on ambient PM characteristics. This year-long field study was conducted on a commercial egg production farm to investigate ambient PM chemical compositions as impacted by the air emissions from the production houses. The PM_2.5 samples were collected from five sampling stations (one in-house station and four ambient locations in four wind directions). The trace elements, major ions, organic carbon (OC) and element carbon (EC) were analyzed by X-ray florescence (XRF), ion chromatography (IC), and thermo-optical analyzer, respectively. There were significant differences in elemental compositions between PM samples from in-house station (ST1) and ambient stations (ST2-ST5). The chemical mass balance analysis revealed that OC accounted for above 50% of PM_2.5 mass at in-house and ambient stations; NH₄⁺, SO₄^2-, and NO₃^- accounted for about 40.0% of the total PM_2.5 mass in ambient locations and for only 12% of the total PM_2.5 mass in house. The measured PM_2.5 masses agreed with the sums of the masses of chemical compositions at all stations except for the in-house station. Knowledge gained from this study, with additional consideration of NH₃ concentrations and emissions, will lead to better understanding of PM_2.5 source and formation, fate and transport, and their atmospheric dynamics.

Keywords: Animal Feeding Operations, PM_2.5, Chemical Speciation, Elemental Composition, Mass Balance

Cite this paper: Li, Q. , Wang-Li, L. , Jayanty, R. and Shah, S. (2015) Elemental Compositions and Chemical Mass Closure of Fine Particulate in an Animal Feeding Operation Facility and Its Vicinity. Journal of Environmental Protection, 6, 409-425. doi: 10.4236/jep.2015.65040.

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