View All Items
(1 - 3 of 3)
- Title
- QUANTIFICATION OF EMISSIONS FROM LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.
- Creator
-
Crum, Megan, Cooper, C. David, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The objective of this study was to evaluate the practical limits of EPA s NONROAD 2005 to accurately simulate Central Florida conditions, especially with regard to lawn and garden equipment. In particular we investigated a NONROAD emission inventory using default inputs and then created a locally specific emission inventory. These emission inventories were prepared for Orange, Osceola, and Seminole county and focused only on the VOC and NOx emissions caused by lawn and garden equipment....
Show moreThe objective of this study was to evaluate the practical limits of EPA s NONROAD 2005 to accurately simulate Central Florida conditions, especially with regard to lawn and garden equipment. In particular we investigated a NONROAD emission inventory using default inputs and then created a locally specific emission inventory. These emission inventories were prepared for Orange, Osceola, and Seminole county and focused only on the VOC and NOx emissions caused by lawn and garden equipment. The model was manipulated to assess its ability to represent this specific category of nonroad equipment for a given airshed first by running a base case scenario using default data and then by developing a locally-specific scenario through administration of a survey. The primary purpose of the survey was to evaluate local values for equipment population, equipment characteristics, activity estimates, and other relevant information. To develop these local input estimates, data were collected concerning population and usage statistics in the Central Florida area and were combined with emission factors, load factors, allocation factors, and other needed values that have been previously established by the U.S. EPA. The results of the NONROAD model were compared with the resulting emission estimates calculated from locally derived inputs, and as a result of the analysis an accurate emission estimate was calculated. In addition, several possible air quality action steps were further assessed according to feasibility, cost, and predicted emission benefit. These potential management projects were further investigated by assessing the success of other similar projects in other cities in an effort to establish specific costs and emission benefits as they relate to the tri-county area.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007
- Identifier
- CFE0001834, ucf:47357
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001834
- Title
- A STUDY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA NONROAD VOC AND NOX EMISSIONS AND POTENTIAL ACTIONS TO REDUCE EMISSIONS.
- Creator
-
Radford, Michael, Cooper, C. David, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Ground-level ozone is harmful to the human respiratory system, as well as the environment. The national EPA 8-hour ozone standard for ground-level ozone was reduced from 85 parts per billion (ppb) to 75 ppb in 2008, and trends from previous years show that some of the counties in Central Florida could be in danger of violation. Violation means "non attainment" status; in which the county is ordered by EPA to develop specific implementation plans to reduce its emissions. The objective of this...
Show moreGround-level ozone is harmful to the human respiratory system, as well as the environment. The national EPA 8-hour ozone standard for ground-level ozone was reduced from 85 parts per billion (ppb) to 75 ppb in 2008, and trends from previous years show that some of the counties in Central Florida could be in danger of violation. Violation means "non attainment" status; in which the county is ordered by EPA to develop specific implementation plans to reduce its emissions. The objective of this study was to compile an emissions inventory of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from nonroad equipment in Osceola, Seminole, and Orange Counties (OSO) in Central Florida, and to develop possible action steps to reduce those emissions. This is important because VOC and NOx emissions are precursors to ground-level ozone. Thus, compiling emissions inventories is important to identify high VOC and NOx emitters. Mobile and point sources have long been the highest emitters of VOC and NOx and have therefore been targeted and monitored since the Clean Air Act of 1970, but the nonroad sources (such as construction and lawn equipment) have only been regulated since the 1990s. Using the NONROAD and NMIM modeling programs, the highest nonroad emitters of VOC for Central Florida were found to be lawn/garden equipment, and boating equipment, emitting a combined percentage of 77% of the total nonroad mobile source VOC. Construction equipment contributed 67% of the total nonroad mobile source emissions of NOx in Central Florida. The components of these categories were also analyzed to find the largest individual sources of VOC and NOx. Of the individual sources, lawn mowers and outboard boat engines were found to be the largest sources of VOCs. Of the NOx sources, all the construction equipment components had a relatively similar level of NOx emissions. Next, action steps were developed to reduce emissions, focusing on the high emitters, along with an estimated cost and feasibility for each measure. Of these steps, implementing a ban on leafblowers, and reducing use of lawn mowers, edgers, trimmers, etc. seemed to be the most effective for reducing VOCs. Although these are effective measures, the cost and feasibility of both pose challenges. The best action step for reducing NOx emissions in construction equipment seemed to be by simply reducing idling of equipment on job sites. This also poses challenges in feasibility and enforcement by management. Further, constant on/off cycles could result in decreasing the useful life of the older construction equipment. Finally, a survey was conducted with various construction managers and companies to find out the typical equipment and quantity needed for land clearing/grubbing, as well as the typical use, idling time, and total project time for each piece of equipment on a 10-acre site, under various conditions. The purpose of the study was to develop a rough estimate for the average amount of VOC and NOx emissions that will be produced per acre of land clearing activities, and to estimate the emissions reductions and cost savings if idling of the equipment was reduced.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- Identifier
- CFE0002850, ucf:48064
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002850
- Title
- Novel Fuel-producing Fungi and Methodologies for Increasing Fuel Production.
- Creator
-
Wang, Yuemin, Harper, James, Bridge, Candice, Frazer, Andrew, Beazley, Melanie, Blair, Richard, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
An endophytic fungus Hypoxylon sp. (BS15) has recently been isolated and found to produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that have potential relevance as hydrocarbon fuels. In the work described here, the traditional refined carbohydrate (e.g., sucrose) diet source was replaced by simple sugars produced using a solvent free green chemistry mechanocatalytic method involving ball milling in the solid. BS15 is able to grow on this degraded cellulose as well as the more traditional potato...
Show moreAn endophytic fungus Hypoxylon sp. (BS15) has recently been isolated and found to produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that have potential relevance as hydrocarbon fuels. In the work described here, the traditional refined carbohydrate (e.g., sucrose) diet source was replaced by simple sugars produced using a solvent free green chemistry mechanocatalytic method involving ball milling in the solid. BS15 is able to grow on this degraded cellulose as well as the more traditional potato dextrose broth. The volatile compounds produced from both media were largely the same. Unfortunately, it is observed that long term in vitro growth of BS15 results in diminished VOC production. The VOC production was partially restored by cultivating BS15 in growth media containing finely ground woody tissue from the original host plant (Taxodium distichum). Extracts from this woody tissue were made by sequentially extracting with dichloromethane, methanol, and water with a goal of isolating VOC production modulators. Both the dichloromethane and water extracts place on bio-mimicking filter paper were found to modulate VOC production, while the methanol extract had no significant impact. Surprisingly, the woody tissue remaining after exhaustive extraction also acted as a VOC production modulator when combined with the growth media, with noticeable changes in the production of four compounds. This woody tissue also induced production of two compounds not observed in the original BS15 extract, and their changes are inheritable. Remarkably filter paper had the same modulating effect as exhaustively extracted woody tissue, suggesting the modulation was partially due to cellulose degradation products. Extraction of the maximum amounts of VOCs is desirable and here a comparison of solid phase extraction (SPE) and solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) techniques is made. This comparison involves two endophytes, BS15C and Streptomyces ambofaciens (SA 40053). The SPE technique is more effective in retaining compounds having lower vapor pressures and higher boiling points with nearly three to five times more VOC mass obtained versus SPME.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- CFE0007552, ucf:52598
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007552
