Use of infrared and ultraviolet spectrometers to measure the effect of vehicle emissions on urban air quality

Dan Gibbs; Christopher L. Betty; Mohsen Dolaty; Vittorio Argento

doi:10.1117/12.210783

31 May 1995 Use of infrared and ultraviolet spectrometers to measure the effect of vehicle emissions on urban air quality

Dan Gibbs, Christopher L. Betty, Mohsen Dolaty, Vittorio Argento

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2365, Optical Sensing for Environmental and Process Monitoring; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.210783
Event: Optical Sensing for Environmental and Process Monitoring, 1994, McLean, VA, United States

Abstract

Spectroscopic techniques in the infrared and ultraviolet spectral regions may efficiently meet increasing measurement challenges in real-time detection of vehicle emissions in urban air quality studies. The results of a study are presented in which a Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer was used to continuously monitor motor vehicle exhaust emissions. The FT-IR identified several exhaust components, including ethylene, acetylene, propylene, isobutylene, the hydrocarbon continuum, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, nitric oxide, and nitrous oxide. The emission of each species was shown to vary with vehicle type and the operating speed of the motor. Measurement results from this study support at least two commonly observed characteristics of motor vehicle exhaust. First, ethylene, propylene, and acetylene are common exhaust components. Ethylene was observed to be the most abundant and stable of the non-methane hydrocarbon emissions during idling for the three vehicles considered in this study. Second, the emission of NO as a function of time remains high and fairly constant at high speeds, while the concentrations of CO, HC, and the non-methane hydrocarbons decrease sharply. The results of this study strongly suggest that the FT-IR can serve as a continuous, real-time monitor for measuring motor vehicle emissions. Because it can simultaneously detect multiple pollutants and can operate in an automated fashion, the FT-IR represents a cost-effective means of determining the effect of vehicle emissions on air quality.

Citation Download Citation

Dan Gibbs, Christopher L. Betty, Mohsen Dolaty, and Vittorio Argento "Use of infrared and ultraviolet spectrometers to measure the effect of vehicle emissions on urban air quality", Proc. SPIE 2365, Optical Sensing for Environmental and Process Monitoring, (31 May 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.210783

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