[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ border_style=”solid” padding_top=”20px” padding_bottom=”20px”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” hover_type=”none” link=”” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” padding=”” dimension_margin=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”no”][fusion_tabs design=”classic” layout=”horizontal” justified=”yes” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility”][fusion_tab title=”Air Quality”]EGAR has developed a robust monitoring and chemical characterization strategy of particulate matter (PM) and gaseous pollutants, producing some of the longest (since 2001) aerosol chemical composition time series in Europe. These allow investigating trends and source apportionment, supporting air quality action plans, validating dispersion modelling, and investigating health outcomes.
Beside regulation, EGAR advanced towards new metrics and parameters. Our supersites network (one urban, one rural, one remote and one mobile station) includes size-resolved particle number counters, black carbon and surface area monitors, aerosol chemical speciation monitor (ACSM) and, as well as ultrafine particle impactors. Offline analyses are also available for VOCs and organic and inorganic PM speciation. A detailed description of the instruments used in these sites can be found in this link.
Source apportionment is performed with receptor modelling. Our expertise evolved from PCA rapidly to CMB, PMF up to innovative hybrid multi-linear engine (ME) scripts, for >50 locations among Spain, Europe, Mexico or China, among others. By the year 2000, our team was already an international reference on aerosol chemical speciation techniques. Specifically targeted sources for Southern Europe are Saharan dust outbreaks and non-exhaust traffic emissions (brake and tire wear, road dust), for which we developed innovative quantification tools.
Numerous international collaborations such as the DAURE and SAPUSS campaigns which brought together to Barcelona >15 research teams with state-of-the-art instrumentation (AToF-MS, HR-ATof-MS, AMS, PTR-MS), evidenced aerosol sources and processes which are specific of the Mediterranean region, with markedly different behaviors to other EU regions. Shipping emissions in Mediterranean (and USA) harbors are also investigated through EU-funded projects.
Our team members have been frequently requested to act as advisor to regional, national and European administrations such as the Spanish Ministry of the Environment, EMEP, expert groups on PM and BC for UNECE, SACC of the WHO, the EEA through the European Topic Centre of Air Quality and Climate Change Mitigation (ETC/ACM), or the Expert Group of Stakeholders for the EC Air Quality Policy.
Other ongoing projects on air quality:
- Identification of air pollution exposure and causes inside urban taxis. Contact: Teresa Moreno
- Research of traffic-related air pollutants variability with height Contact: Xavier Querol
- Impact of shiping emissions on Barcelona air quality. Contact: Xavier Querol
- Size distribution and chemical characterization of PM in Catalonia. Contact: Andrés Alastuey
- Research through intensive campaigns on photochemical pollutants in Madrid. Contact: Xavier Querol
- Impact of dusty material logistics in commercial harbours. Contact: Andrés Alastuey
- Road dust resuspension on road network of Milan. Contact: Fulvio Amato
- New tools for urban air quality assessment. Contact: Mar Viana
- Analysis of black carbon aerosols for the assessment of the environmental impacts of cookstove emissions in Senegal. Contact: Mar Viana
- COST Action CA16109 Chemical On-Line cOmpoSition and Source Apportionment of fine aerosoL, COLOSSAL Contact: Maria Cruz Minguillon
- European Topic Centre on Air pollution and climate change mitigation 2011-2018 (ETC/ACM). Contact: Mar Viana
- Synergistic Understanding of Best Ways to improve Air qualitY in underground rail transport systems (SUBWAY) Contact: Fulvio Amato
- Health effects of air pollution from ultrafine particles in Spain. Contact: Aureli Tobias
- CEN/TC 264/WG 35 Ambient air – Measurement of airborne elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) in PM2.5 deposited on filters – Contact: Andrés Alastuey
[/fusion_tab][fusion_tab title=”Aerosols y climate”]
Atmospheric aerosols affect the Earth’s climate depending on their scattering and absorbing properties with respect to the solar and terrestrial radiation. Aerosols may act as condensation nuclei for cloud droplets and ice particles, therefore affecting cloud formation and life, and consequently affecting radiation and precipitation.
The magnitude of energy scattered and absorbed by aerosols on the global scale and the corresponding forcing to climate change are still uncertain. Aerosols originate from a huge variety of sources and processes and present very different chemical and physical properties that affect the extent to which they absorb and scatter radiation. Thus, different aerosol types may have a cooling or warming effect. Mass, number concentrations and composition of aerosols are highly variable in space and time due to theirs much shorter atmospheric lifetime compared with greenhouse gases. Consequently, an improvement of the estimate of the aerosol direct forcing requires extensive observations, including physical (such as optical properties, number or mass size distributions) and chemical (composition) measurements of the aerosol. The study of the aerosol-climate interaction is of special interest in the Mediterranean due to its specific features such as high insolation and complex meteorology causing the recirculation of aged air masses with consequent stratification of polluted layers at different heights and high load of particles with different chemical composition originating from a high variety of sources (both natural and anthropogenic).
Since 2002 the EGAR group is carrying out the characterization of atmospheric aerosols at a regional background site (Montseny, MSY) and a remote background site (Montsec, MSC), in the framework of the projects ACTRIS, PRISMA, HOUSE, among others, with the main objective is to achieve a complete characterization of regional and remote background aerosols in the Western Mediterranean. This permits to interpret the variability of aerosol levels and composition at daily, seasonal and annual levels, to study in detail the formation and transformation processes of aerosols in this complex environment at sites uninfluenced by local anthropogenic emissions, to identify the PM sources and to quantify their mass contributions, with special interest in external contributions due to long distance transport. Additionally, recent research focuses on the absorbing and scattering properties of different types of aerosols in the Western Mediterranean Basin using detailed surface optical measurements of atmospheric particles. Then, the measurements performed and the retrieved optical parameters will be analysed as a function of their origin, age and chemical composition in the Western Mediterranean region.
A detailed description of the instrument used in these sites can be found in this link.
[/fusion_tab][fusion_tab title=”Exposure”]
In urban areas, where the largest fraction of the population in Europe is exposed, particulate matter concentrations (PM10 and PM2.5) are monitored at central outdoor locations in numerous air quality monitoring networks. However, it is estimated that adults spend approximately 60–80 % of their time indoors, and in the case of children at least 50 % of this time is spent in school.
Major knowledge gaps remain regarding exposure to fine and ultrafine particles in indoor and outdoor environments.
Objectives
Our aim is to research the pathways of human exposure to air pollutants in both types of environments, and to understand and quantify the contribution of different emission sources on health. Examples of environments studied are urban air, primary schools, commuting (by metro, bus, etc.), and industrial workplaces (occupational exposure). Target pollutants assessed in our research are PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentration and chemical composition, ultrafine particle number concentration, particle surface area, black carbon concentration, particle morphology, and engineered nanoparticle concentration. Within this research line, IDAEA assesses particle characteristics as well as their emission sources, in order to quantify human exposure through an experimental approach and using statistical methods for source allocation and apportionment.
[/fusion_tab][fusion_tab title=”Industrial emissions”]
Industrial emissions from large industrial facilities (coal-fired power plants, ceramic and cement industry, refineries) are important sources of air pollutants (SOx, NOx, and particulate matter (PM)) producing also significant emissions to water and soil. Our research group is working on this research area focusing research on the following main topics:
– Coal deposits geochemistry for environmentally friendly coal utilization, potential extraction of valuable elements, and origin of coal deposits
– Quantification and abatement of atmospheric emission of minor and trace pollutants from Power generation PCC, IGCC, oxy-combustion plants (including mass balance and partitioning and speciation of pollutant trace pollutants, ceramic industry, mining restoration (spontaneous combustion) and harbor activities
– Identification of leachable potential of pollutants from wastes and soils and abatement: development of immobilization methods for F, Se, Ni in Coal combustion and gasification residues (CCR and CGR) and using CCR and other materials for inertitzation of wastes with high leachable potential.
–Industrial emissions and soil pollution: identification and source apportionment of pollutants in contaminated soils by industrial emissions (including mining activities) in Tunis, Romania, Teruel Power plant, and Chile.
The research is carried out mainly in Spain but it is extended worldwide, principally in Europe, China, Turkey, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Tunisia, Israel within the framework of -European, National, and Regional projects, projects and contracts with private Companies and in collaboration and with International Universities and Research Centers
Projects
- APICE: Common Mediterrranean strategy and local practical Actions for the mitigation of Port, Industries and Cities Emissions. EU-MED Programme. 2010-2013, IDAEA-CSIC: Natalia Moreno (2010-2011) y Jorge Pey (2011-2013).
- Abatement of Emissions of Trace Pollutants by FGD from co-combustion and environmental characteristics of by-products (ABETRAP). UE, RFCR-CT-2006-00006 2006-2010, ICTJA-CSIC: X.Querol .
- Advanced gas purification technology for co-gasification of coal, refinery by-products, biomass & waste, targeted to clean power produced from gas & steam turbine generator set fuel cells (AGAPUTE). UE, ECSC RFC-CR-04006. 2004-2008, ICTJA-CSIC: X. Querol.
- Herramienta Automática de Diagnóstico Ambiental (HADA). Puertos del Estado-CIEMAT-CSIC. UE, LIFE-Programm, 2002-2005, ICTAJA-CSIC: X. Querol.
[/fusion_tab][fusion_tab title=”Industrial waste”]Since the earlier 1980s the research group is developing research on environmental valorisation of industrial wastes with special emphasis on coal combustion/gasification residues. Besides emissions industries generate high amounts of solid residues. These wastes may be toxic, ignitable, corrosive or reactive. If improperly managed, this waste can pose dangerous health and environmental consequences.
Objectives
The main objectives of the research are focus on the study of the environmental impact of the utilization of coal and other fuels (such as petroleum coke , biomass,..) and on the valorisation of combustion/gasification by-products at laboratory, pilot plant scale, and field tests, using real matrices. The beneficial use of waste industrial materials has the potential to provide economic benefits, preserve virgin resources, and avoid negative environmental impacts, such us: reduced greenhouse gas emissions, reduced the disposal in landfills, and provide significant opportunities to advance on sustainable materials.
The studies were carried out in the framework of Research Fund. for Coal and Steel (RFCS) and national projects, in collaboration with private companies (ENDESA, ELCOGAS, and WAREAGLE), and with international (Universidad de la Frontera (Chile), University of Wuhan (China), CINVESTAV IPN from Mexico) and national universities.
Topics
The research was focused in following main topics:
VALORISATION OF COAL FLY ASH
- Zeolite synthesis: The coal fly ash can be converted into zeolites for soil and water treatment, as molecular sieves (gaseous pollutants adsorption), for the uptake of nutrients (P and NH4+) and as slow release fertilizer. The synthesis is carried out by direct hydrothermal conversion (NaOH, KOH), silica extraction and subsequent Al addition and fusion method.
- Extraction of valuable elements: developing environmentally friendly extraction and recovery methods for valuable elements such Ge, Ga, and Ni from IGCC fly ash and Cu smelter dust. A 90% GeO2-hexagonal purity end products was obtained.
- Synthesis of geopolymers: a high strength material for concrete replacement mixing fly ash with slags and NaOH at low temperature.
- Manufacturing of conventional bricks and foam glass
- CO2 carbonation under aqueous conditions using petroleum coke combustion fly ash. Fly ash from petroleum coke combustion was evaluated for CO2 capture in aqueous medium. The results show that petroleum coke fly ash achieved a CO2 capture yield of 21% at the experimental conditions of 12 g/L, 363°K.
- Production of aggregates mixing fly ash and toxic wastes (solid or liquid) for inertitzation and fixation, being suitable materials for its use in construction.
VALORISATION OF SLAG/BOTTOM ASH
- Road base material: use of city waste incineration bottom ash as a road base material and subsequent environmental control of leachates
- Acoustic barriers: developments of materials suitable as acoustic barriers with similar density and compressive strength than conventional acoustic barriers, good noise absorption compared with typical commercial porous concrete and any relevant environmental issue according to general regulations.
VALORISATION OF FGD-GYPSUM
- Insulating and Fire-Resistant panels with FGD GYPSUM and FGD-GYPSUM/FLY ASH mixtures with higher insulating capacity, compressive strength and slightly lower density than commercial gypsum panels.
Projects
Abatement of Emissions of Trace Pollutants by FGD from co-combustion and environmental characteristics of by-products (ABETRAP). UE, RFCR-CT-2006-00006 2006-2010, ICTJA-CSIC: X.Querol
Desarrollo de un adsorbente a partir de residuos industriales de interés nacional y su uso en la retención de metales pesados presentes en efluentes liquidos I (7060298). FONDECYT, CONICYT (2006-2007). Universidad de La Frontera (Chile) e Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra “Jaume Almera”, CSIC. ICTJA-CSIC, Natalia Moreno.
Advanced gas purification technology for co-gasification of coal, refinery by-products, biomass & waste, targeted to clean power produced from gas & steam turbine generator set fuel cells (AGAPUTE). UE, ECSC RFC-CR-04006. 2004-2008, ICTJA-CSIC: X. Querol.
Understanding and mastering coal fired ashes geopolymerization process in order to turn potential into profit (GEOASH). UE, ECSC RFC-CR-04005. 2004-2007, ICTJA-CSIC: F. Plana.
Patents
Inventores (p.o. de firma): Querol X., Font O., López-Soler A., Plana F., Espiell F., Chimenos, J.M., Burgos S. Titulo: Procedimiento para la recuperación de metales a partir de las cenizas volantes generadas en una central térmica de tipo gasificación integrada en ciclo combinado (GICC). Nº de solicitud: PCT/ES02/00275, Entidad titular: ELCOGAS; Empresa/s que la esta/n explotando : WAREAGLE (2008-2009)
Inventores (p.o. de firma): Arroyo F., Fernández Pereira C., Querol X., Font O, Coca M.P, Chilenos J.M, Fernández A.I. Titulo: Procedimiento para la recuperación de Ge en cenizas de carbón; Nº de solicitud:PCT/ES2007/000397;FECHA DE Prioridad: 03/0701/2006; Entidad titular: UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA Empresa/s que la esta/n explotando: WAREAGLE (2008-2009).[/fusion_tab][/fusion_tabs][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ border_style=”solid” padding_top=”20px” padding_bottom=”20px”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” hover_type=”none” link=”” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” padding=”” dimension_margin=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”no”][fusion_portfolio layout=”grid-with-text” picture_size=”default” boxed_text=”unboxed” columns=”4″ one_column_text_position=”below” column_spacing=”20″ number_posts=”8″ portfolio_title_display=”all” portfolio_text_alignment=”left” filters=”yes” cat_slug=”1-air-quality” pagination_type=”none” offset=”0″ content_length=”excerpt” excerpt_length=”35″ strip_html=”yes” carousel_layout=”title_below_image” autoplay=”no” show_nav=”yes” mouse_scroll=”no” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ /][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]