Report on preliminary results of aerosol measurements at the Rio Blanco oil-shale retort, Burn No. 1
Solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the treated and untreated off-gas from the Rio Blanco Retort were sampled during a seven-day period beginning August 3, 1981. The purpose of the work was to characterize the major constituents of the aerosol particles and droplets, to determine their distribution with respect to size, to determine their mutagenic activity, and finally to evaluate the performance of inertial collectors for sampling and sizing liquid droplets suspended in the untreated off-gas. The ultimate objective is to characterize potential air emissions, and to identify possible control needs. In this report, the measurements and samples made and collected in August are summarized, and the mass concentrations, particle-size distributions, and basic gas parameters measured in the field are reported. Results show that both the treated and untreated off-gas streams were totally saturated with water vapor at the two sampling locations. Approximately half of the stack emitted particulate material is in the form of hydroscopic salts, that are probably produced by the flue gas scrubber. Estimates of the total aerosol mass discharge to the atmosphere ranged from 5.4 to 16.2 lbs/h. Six of the 8 values reported were less than or equal to 9 lbs/h, expressed as dry particulate weight. Approximately 70% of the particulate mass emitted to the atmosphere resided in particles of submicrometer aerodynamic diameter. Preliminary mutagenic assays indicate that components of the untreated off-gas aerosol contained as much as 18 times more specific mutagenic activity (No. revertants/mg of material tested) than the product oil. The stack emitted aerosol contained very low levels (about 50 times less than the product oil sample) of direct acting mutagens.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 5250123
- Report Number(s):
- UCID-19306; ON: DE82012713
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
MIRAGE: Model Description and Evaluation of Aerosols and Trace Gases
Industrial hygiene sampling at Rio Blanco Oil Shale Facility. II. Sampling during burn of retort one
Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
MODIFIED IN-SITU PROCESSES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
RIO BLANCO OIL SHALE PROJECT
AEROSOL MONITORING
AEROSOLS
DISTRIBUTION
DROPLETS
FLUE GAS
MUTAGENESIS
PARTICLE SIZE
PARTICULATES
RETORTS
WATER VAPOR
CHEMICAL REACTORS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
MONITORING
PARTICLES
SIZE
SOLS
VAPORS
WASTES
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560301 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Cells- (-1987)