Emissions of N sub 2 O from the burning of biomass in an experimental system

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/90GL02583· OSTI ID:5663355

Hao, W M; Scharffe, D; Lobert, J M; Crutzen, P J ^[1]

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1. Max-Planck Inst. for Chemistry, Mainz (West Germany)

Fifteen experiments were conducted in an open burning system to determine the amounts of N{sub 2}O produced from burning savanna grass (Venezuelan Trachypogon, Australian Sorghum intrans), straw, hay, oak, pine needles and litter of pine forest. Samples in stainless steel canisters were analyzed within one day after sampling in order to avoid artifact N{sub 2}O formation during storage. Emissions of N{sub 2}O were observed to be nearly coincident with the emissions of CO{sub 2} during the burning period for all the experiments. The amount of N{sub 2}O produced was dependent on the nitrogen content of the biomass. About 0.7% of the fuel nitrogen was oxidized to N{sub 2}O and most of the N{sub 2}O was formed during the flaming stage. Using the experimental data and the amounts of different types of vegetation burned globally per year, the authors estimate that about 2.7 {times} 10{sup 11} g of N{sub 2}O-N are produced per year from burning biomass, contributing only 2% to the global source of N{sub 2}O.

• OSTI ID: 5663355
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Vol. 18:6; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
COMBUSTION
NITROUS OXIDE
EMISSION
AIR POLLUTION
BUDGETS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
FOREST LITTER
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GRAMINEAE
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
LEAVES
OAKS
PINES
STRAW
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLIMATIC CHANGE
CONIFERS
LILIOPSIDA
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAGNOLIOPSIDA
MATERIALS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
ORGANIC WASTES
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PINOPHYTA
PLANTS
POLLUTION
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TREES
WASTES
095000* - Biomass Fuels- Environmental Aspects- (1990-)
540120 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)