Correlation Between Graphitic Carbon and Elemental Carbon in Diesel Particulate Matter in Workplace Atmospheres

Details

• Personal Author:
  Birch, M. Eileen ; Breitenstein, Michael J. ; Johnson B ; Kulkarni P ; Snawder, John E. ; Zheng L
• Description:
  We investigated the suitability of the graphitic carbon (GC) content of diesel particulate matter (DPM), measured using Raman spectroscopy, as a surrogate measure of elemental carbon (EC) determined by thermal optical analysis. The Raman spectra in the range of 800-1800 cm-1 (including the D mode at approx. 1322 cm-1 and the G mode at approx. 1595 cm-1) were used for GC identification and quantification. Comparison of the Raman spectra for two certified DPM standards (NIST SRM 1650 and SRM 2975), two types of diesel engine exhaust soot, and three types of DPM-enriched workplace aerosols show that the uncertainty of GC quantification based on the D peak height, G peak height, and the total peak area below D and G peaks was about 6.0, 6.7, and 6.9%, respectively. The low uncertainty for different aerosol types suggested possible use of GC as a surrogate measure of EC in workplace atmospheres. A calibration curve was constructed using two laboratory-aerosolized DPM standards to describe the relationship between GC measured by a portable Raman spectrometer and the EC concentration determined by NIOSH Method 5040. The calibration curve was then applied to determine GC-based estimates of the EC contents of diesel engine exhaust samples from two vehicles and seven air samples collected at a hydraulic fracturing worksite. The GC-EC estimates obtained through Raman measurements agreed well with those found by NIOSH Method 5040 for the same samples at EC filter loadings below 2.86 µg/cm2. The study shows that using an appropriate sample collection method that avoids high filter mass loadings, onsite measurement of GC by a portable or hand-held Raman spectrometer can provide a useful indicator of EC in workplace aerosol. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety
• Keywords:
  Carbon Diesel Exhaust Emission Sources Exposure Assessment Fracking Hydraulic Fracturing Occupational Exposure Particulates Particulate Sampling Methods Spectroscopes
• ISSN:
  0003-2700
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division ; WSD - Western States Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  95
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20066895
• Citation:
  Anal Chem 2023 Feb; 95(6):3283-3290
• Contact Point Address:
  Pramod Kulkarni, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, United States
• Email:
  PSKulkarni@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon (CAS RN 7440-44-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction ; Manufacturing
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Analytical Chemistry
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:aa512d76586820358ec150312296f9da5c4d446842a3e0227a48b0ad0342a412d73e2e54ff179f7f7ca3c1ccaff0d0fa106657374ae12e37e8f96a257daef949
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/231191/cdc_231191_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.79 MB ]