Formation and stability of sulfite species in aerosols

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:7300371

Eatough, D J; Major, T; Ryder, J; Hill, M; Mangelson, N F; Eatough, N L; Hanson, L D; Meisenheimer, R G; Fischer, J W

Recent epidemiological and animal toxicological studies indicate that reactions between SO/sup 2/ and metal containing aerosols result in the formation of respiratory irritants. These studies point out the importance of understanding in detail the chemical species formed by such interactions. Using a combination of thermometric, ESCA, and PIXE analysis techniques, it has been demonstrated that both inorganic and organic S(IV) species are stable constituents of aerosols associated with pollution sources containing SO/sub 2/ and transition metals or with pollution sources resulting from the combustion of fossil fuels. The data indicate the inorganic sulfite species are present as complexes with Fe(III), CU(II), Zn(II), and possibly Pb(II). The concentration of these inorganic sulfite species is 10 to 30% of the sulfate concentration in primary aerosols produced by smelters. These inorganic sulfite species tend to be evenly distributed over the various particle sizes. Oxidation of S/sup 0/ or S(-II) species to form inorganic sulfite complexes or oxidation of the sulfite species to sulfate are both extremely slow, with time constants on the order of months. Aerosol samples collected from the plume, stack, or flue lines of coal burning facilities or collected in New York City or rural Utah produce sulfite when hydrolyzed with dilute aqueous acid. It is postulated this sulfite is produced from organic-SO/sub 2/ adducts in the sample. These organic S(IV) containing species are predominantly found in the respirable size rangeand are present at from 5 to 50% of the sulfate concentration. It is probable that some of these S(IV) species play an important role in the removal of SO/sub 2/(g) from the atmosphere to form sulfur containing aerosol species.

• Research Organization: Brigham Young Univ., Provo, UT (USA); California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
• OSTI ID: 7300371
• Report Number(s): COO-2988-5; CONF-770909-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE SIZE
POLLUTION
POPULATIONS
POWER PLANTS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SIZE
SOLS
SULFITES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
SYNTHESIS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TOXICITY
URBAN AREAS