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JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 108, NO. D13, 8469, doi:10.1029/2002JD002158, 2003

Trace gas emissions from the production and use of domestic biofuels in Zambia measured by open-path Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Isaac T. Bertschi

Department of Chemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA


Robert J. Yokelson

Department of Chemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA


Darold E. Ward

Fire Science Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Missoula, Montana, USA


Ted J. Christian

Department of Chemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA


Wei Min Hao

Fire Science Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Missoula, Montana, USA


Abstract

Domestic biomass fuels (biofuels) were recently estimated to be the second largest source of carbon emissions from global biomass burning. Wood and charcoal provide approximately 90% and 10% of domestic energy in tropical Africa. In September 2000, we used open-path Fourier transform infrared (OP-FTIR) spectroscopy to quantify 18 of the most abundant trace gases emitted by wood and charcoal cooking fires and an earthen charcoal-making kiln in Zambia. These are the first in situ measurements of an extensive suite of trace gases emitted by tropical biofuel burning. We report emission ratios (ER) and emission factors (EF) for (in order of abundance) carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH4), acetic acid (CH3COOH), methanol (CH3OH), formaldehyde (HCHO), ethene (C2H4), ammonia (NH3), acetylene (C2H2), nitric oxide (NO), ethane (C2H6), phenol (C6H5OH), propene (C3H6), formic acid (HCOOH), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), hydroxyacetaldehyde (HOCH2CHO), and furan (C4H4O). Compared to previous work, our emissions of organic acids and NH3 are 3–6.5 times larger. Another significant finding is that reactive oxygenated organic compounds account for 70–80% of the total nonmethane organic compounds (NMOC). For most compounds, the combined emissions from charcoal production and charcoal burning are larger than the emissions from wood fires by factors of 3–10 per unit mass of fuel burned and ∼2 per unit energy released. We estimate that Zambian savanna fires produce more annual CO2, HCOOH, and NOx than Zambian biofuel use by factors of 2.5, 1.7, and 5, respectively. However, biofuels contribute larger annual emissions of CH4, CH3OH, C2H2, CH3COOH, HCHO, and NH3 by factors of 5.1, 3.9, 2.7, 2.4, 2.2, and 2.0, respectively. Annual CO and C2H4 emissions are approximately equal from both sources. Coupling our data with recent estimates of global biofuel consumption implies that global biomass burning emissions for several compounds are significantly larger than previously reported. Biofuel emissions are produced year-round, disperse differently than savanna fire emissions, and could strongly impact the tropical troposphere.

Published 13 February 2003.

Index Terms: 0345 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Pollution—urban and regional (0305); 0365 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Troposphere—composition and chemistry; 0368 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Troposphere—constituent transport and chemistry; 0394 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Instruments and techniques.

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Citation: Bertschi, I. T., R. J. Yokelson, D. E. Ward, T. J. Christian, and W. M. Hao (2003), Trace gas emissions from the production and use of domestic biofuels in Zambia measured by open-path Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, J. Geophys. Res., 108(D13), 8469, doi:10.1029/2002JD002158.