ABSTRACT

Recent particulate matter emisssion tests at an ArcelorMittal sintering line in Vitoria, Brazil have indicated a change in particulate matter emissions that was not consistent with the steady and proper operation of the combined electrostatic precipitator and pulse jet fabric filter control system. ArcelorMittal Brazil, ERM Brasil, and Air Control Techniques, P.C. have evaulated the use of borosilicate glass fiber filters in the U.S. EPA Method 5 sampling train as a possible reason for the anomolous change. The scope of this study included (1) possible adsorption and oxidation of SO2 on borosilicate glass and quartz filter media, and (2) the possible loss of fibers from borosilicaate glass and quartz filter media at normal sampling train vacuums and temperatures. Air Control Techniques, P.C. conducted a series of laboratory tests replicating gas stream conditions using both borosilicate and quartz circular and thimble filters. The laboratory tests confirmed the formation of sulfate artifacts due to sulfur dioxide adsorption on the borosilicate filters. These tests also confirmed that neither the borosilicate glass-fiber filters or the quartz filter lost significant filter weight during sampling at normal Method 5 sampling train vacuum levels and filter temperatures. Tests conducted by ERM Brasil, SA on the ArcelorMittal sintering process stack using both quartz and borosilicate glass fibers also indicated significant adsorption and oxidation of sulfur dioxide on the borosilicate filters. These laboratory and field tests confirmed the positive bias associated with glass fiber filters in SO2 environments reported as early as 1970. The authors recommend that only quartz fiber filter be used for particulate matter testing in SO2-containing gas streams. Furthermore, EPA Method 5 Section 7.1.1 should be revised to explicitly approve the use of quartz fiber filters.

Implications: Filterable particulate matter emission tests using EPA Method 5 in sulfur dioxide laden gas streams have had a large positive bias due to outdated sampling practices. Our manuscript provides bias quantification data from both laboratory tests and tests on a sintering process stack. We recommend that (1) particulate matter emission tests conducted in SO2-containing gas streams be conducted using only quartz filter and (2) The U.S. EPA change the definition of filter media to be used in EPA Method 5 and other particulate matter test methods based on Method 5 specifically allow the use of quartz filters.

摘要

最近在巴西维多利亚的 ArcelorMittal 烧结线进行的颗粒物排放测试表明，颗粒物排放的变化与静电除尘器和脉冲喷射织物过滤器控制系统组合的稳定和正常运行不一致。ArcelorMittal Brazil、ERM Brasil 和 Air Control Techniques、PC 已经评估了在美国 EPA 方法 5 采样序列中使用硼硅酸盐玻璃纤维过滤器作为异常变化的可能原因。本研究的范围包括 (1) SO2 在硼硅酸盐玻璃和石英过滤介质上可能发生的吸附和氧化，以及 (2) 在正常采样系统真空和温度下，硼硅酸盐玻璃和石英过滤介质可能会损失纤维。空气控制技术，PC 进行了一系列实验室测试，使用硼硅酸盐和石英圆形和套管过滤器复制气流条件。实验室测试证实了由于二氧化硫吸附在硼硅酸盐过滤器上而形成的硫酸盐伪影。这些测试还证实，在正常方法 5 采样系统真空水平和过滤器温度下采样期间，硼硅酸盐玻璃纤维过滤器或石英过滤器均不会显着减少过滤器重量。ERM Brasil, SA 使用石英和硼硅玻璃纤维对 ArcelorMittal 烧结工艺堆栈进行的测试也表明，硼硅酸盐过滤器上的二氧化硫有明显的吸附和氧化作用。这些实验室和现场测试证实了早在 1970 年就报告的与 SO2 环境中的玻璃纤维过滤器相关的正偏差。作者建议仅使用石英纤维过滤器进行含 SO2 气流中的颗粒物测试。此外，应修订 EPA 方法 5 第 7.1.1 节以明确批准使用石英纤维过滤器。

影响：由于过时的采样做法，在含有二氧化硫的气流中使用 EPA 方法 5 进行的可过滤颗粒物排放测试具有很大的正偏差。我们的手稿提供了实验室测试和烧结工艺堆栈测试的偏差量化数据。我们建议 (1) 在含 SO2 的气流中进行的颗粒物排放测试仅使用石英过滤器进行，以及 (2) 美国 EPA 更改了 EPA 方法 5 和其他基于颗粒物测试方法中使用的过滤介质的定义方法 5 特别允许使用石英过滤器。