Emissions from South Asian Brick Production

Thirteen South Asian brick kilns were tested to quantify aerosol and gaseous pollutant emissions. Particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), and optical scattering and absorption measurements in the exhaust of six kiln technologies demonstrate differences in overall emission profiles and rela...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2014-06, Vol.48 (11), p.6477-6483
Main Authors: Weyant, Cheryl, Athalye, Vasudev, Ragavan, Santhosh, Rajarathnam, Uma, Lalchandani, Dheeraj, Maithel, Sameer, Baum, Ellen, Bond, Tami C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerosols - analysis
Air Pollutants - analysis
Applied sciences
Atmospheric pollution
Building materials
Carbon
Carbon monoxide
Carbon Monoxide - analysis
Climatology. Bioclimatology. Climate change
Construction Materials - analysis
Earth, ocean, space
Emissions
Environmental Pollution - analysis
Exact sciences and technology
External geophysics
India
Industry
Kilns
Meteorology
Other pollution sources in industry
Particulate Matter - analysis
Pollution
Pollution sources. Measurement results
Scattering
Vietnam
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Summary:Thirteen South Asian brick kilns were tested to quantify aerosol and gaseous pollutant emissions. Particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), and optical scattering and absorption measurements in the exhaust of six kiln technologies demonstrate differences in overall emission profiles and relative climate warming resulting from kiln design and fuel choice. Emission factors differed between kiln types, in some cases by an order of magnitude. The kilns currently dominating the sector had the highest emission factors of PM2.5 and light absorbing carbon, while improved Vertical Shaft and Tunnel kilns were lower emitters. An improved version of the most common technology in the region, the zig-zag kiln, was among the lowest emitting kilns in PM2.5, CO, and light absorbing carbon. Emission factors measured here are lower than those currently used in emission inventories as inputs to global climate models; 85% lower (PM2.5) and 35% lower for elemental carbon (EC) for the most common kiln in the region, yet the ratio of EC to total carbon was higher than previously estimated (0.96 compared to 0.47). Total annual estimated emissions from the brick industry are 120 Tg CO2, 2.5 Tg CO, 0.19 Tg PM2.5, and 0.12 Tg EC.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es500186g