The Tula Industrial Area Field Experiment: Quantitative Measurements of Formaldehyde, Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide Emissions Using Mobile Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy Instruments

The Tula industrial area in Central Mexico comprises, among other industries, a refinery and a thermoelectric power plant. It is well known for its constant emissions of gases into the atmosphere and considered an important area where pollutants released into the atmosphere have an influence on loca...

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Main Authors: Claudia I. Rivera-Cárdenas, Thiare Arellano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Pollutants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4672/4/4/31
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author Claudia I. Rivera-Cárdenas
Thiare Arellano
author_facet Claudia I. Rivera-Cárdenas
Thiare Arellano
author_sort Claudia I. Rivera-Cárdenas
collection DOAJ
description The Tula industrial area in Central Mexico comprises, among other industries, a refinery and a thermoelectric power plant. It is well known for its constant emissions of gases into the atmosphere and considered an important area where pollutants released into the atmosphere have an influence on local and regional air quality. During March and April 2017, a field campaign was conducted with the objective of quantifying formaldehyde (HCHO), sulfur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>), and nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>) emissions from this industrial area using mobile differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) instruments. Calculated average emissions of the Francisco Perez Rios Power Plant and the Miguel Hidalgo Refinery were 3.14 ± 2.13 tons per day of HCHO, 362.08 ± 300.14 tons per day of SO<sub>2</sub>, and 24.76 ± 12.82 tons per day of NO<sub>2</sub>. From the measurements conducted, the spatial distribution patterns of SO<sub>2</sub>, NO<sub>2</sub>, and HCHO were reconstructed, showing a dispersion pattern of SO<sub>2</sub> and NO<sub>2</sub> towards the southwest of the industrial complex, impacting agricultural and urban areas. Occasionally, and usually during the morning hours, SO<sub>2</sub> and NO<sub>2</sub> were dispersed towards the north or northeast of the industrial complex. In the case of HCHO, dispersion was observed towards the south and southeast of the industrial complex. The far-reaching implications of this study are that for the first time, formaldehyde emissions were quantified. In addition, a follow-up study was conducted regarding nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide emissions from the Tula Industrial area.
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spelling doaj-art-656de90e7a6f4d5ca5d49d5f0dd7040c2024-12-27T14:48:07ZengMDPI AGPollutants2673-46722024-10-014446347310.3390/pollutants4040031The Tula Industrial Area Field Experiment: Quantitative Measurements of Formaldehyde, Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide Emissions Using Mobile Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy InstrumentsClaudia I. Rivera-Cárdenas0Thiare Arellano1Instituto de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y Cambio Climático, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, MexicoFacultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, MexicoThe Tula industrial area in Central Mexico comprises, among other industries, a refinery and a thermoelectric power plant. It is well known for its constant emissions of gases into the atmosphere and considered an important area where pollutants released into the atmosphere have an influence on local and regional air quality. During March and April 2017, a field campaign was conducted with the objective of quantifying formaldehyde (HCHO), sulfur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>), and nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>) emissions from this industrial area using mobile differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) instruments. Calculated average emissions of the Francisco Perez Rios Power Plant and the Miguel Hidalgo Refinery were 3.14 ± 2.13 tons per day of HCHO, 362.08 ± 300.14 tons per day of SO<sub>2</sub>, and 24.76 ± 12.82 tons per day of NO<sub>2</sub>. From the measurements conducted, the spatial distribution patterns of SO<sub>2</sub>, NO<sub>2</sub>, and HCHO were reconstructed, showing a dispersion pattern of SO<sub>2</sub> and NO<sub>2</sub> towards the southwest of the industrial complex, impacting agricultural and urban areas. Occasionally, and usually during the morning hours, SO<sub>2</sub> and NO<sub>2</sub> were dispersed towards the north or northeast of the industrial complex. In the case of HCHO, dispersion was observed towards the south and southeast of the industrial complex. The far-reaching implications of this study are that for the first time, formaldehyde emissions were quantified. In addition, a follow-up study was conducted regarding nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide emissions from the Tula Industrial area.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4672/4/4/31sulfur dioxidenitrogen dioxideformaldehydeTula industrial complexDOASremote sensing
spellingShingle Claudia I. Rivera-Cárdenas
Thiare Arellano
The Tula Industrial Area Field Experiment: Quantitative Measurements of Formaldehyde, Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide Emissions Using Mobile Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy Instruments
Pollutants
sulfur dioxide
nitrogen dioxide
formaldehyde
Tula industrial complex
DOAS
remote sensing
title The Tula Industrial Area Field Experiment: Quantitative Measurements of Formaldehyde, Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide Emissions Using Mobile Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy Instruments
title_full The Tula Industrial Area Field Experiment: Quantitative Measurements of Formaldehyde, Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide Emissions Using Mobile Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy Instruments
title_fullStr The Tula Industrial Area Field Experiment: Quantitative Measurements of Formaldehyde, Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide Emissions Using Mobile Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy Instruments
title_full_unstemmed The Tula Industrial Area Field Experiment: Quantitative Measurements of Formaldehyde, Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide Emissions Using Mobile Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy Instruments
title_short The Tula Industrial Area Field Experiment: Quantitative Measurements of Formaldehyde, Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide Emissions Using Mobile Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy Instruments
title_sort tula industrial area field experiment quantitative measurements of formaldehyde sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions using mobile differential optical absorption spectroscopy instruments
topic sulfur dioxide
nitrogen dioxide
formaldehyde
Tula industrial complex
DOAS
remote sensing
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4672/4/4/31
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