Finer Particle Size Distribution and Potential Higher Toxicity of Elemental Carbon and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Emitted by Ships after Fuel Oil Quality Improvement

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c01183
• Publication Date: 2024-07-25T13:01:31Z
• Authors: Zeyu Liu; Yingjun Chen; Yishun Zhang; Junjie Cai; Xinxin Feng; Hongxing Jiang; Fan Zhang; Yan Zhang; Yanli Feng; Yongming Han
• Keywords: Carbon fibers; Particle (ecology); Fuel oil

Ship emissions are a significant source of air pollution, and the primary policy to control is fuel oil quality improvement. However, impact this on particle size distribution composition characteristics remains unclear. Measurements were conducted nine different vessels (ocean-going vessels, coastal cargo ships, inland ships) determine upgrading (S < 0.1% m/m marine gas (MGO) vs S 0.5% heavy (HFO)) elemental carbon (EC) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emitted by ships. (1) Fuel improvement significantly reduced EC PAH emission, 31 ± 25 45 38%, respectively. distributions showed trend toward finer particles, with peak decreasing from DP = 0.38–0.60 μm (HFO) 0.15–0.25 (MGO), emission factor 100 nm increased. (2) Changes in led an increase toxicity ultrafine particulate matter. (3) types engine conditions affected distributions. Inland ships have more concentrated distribution. Higher loads result higher emissions. (4) The oils jointly pollutant formation mechanisms. MGO HFO exhibited opposite when emitting same level PAHs.