Method to Quantify Emissions from Open Area Sources

Other Test Method 48 (OTM-48): Emission Factor Determination by the Carbon Balance
Method

Note: Please submit a copy, either electronic or paper, of any test report from application of
this OTM to EPA's Measurement Technology Group.

•	Electronic copies should be submitted via email with the subject line "OTM-048" to:
EMC@epa.gov

•	Paper copies should be mailed to:

Measurement Technology Group

Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Mail Code E143-02)

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

Background on OTM-48

This method is a novel approach to emission factor determination, particularly from open are
combustion sources. Whereas OTM-32, "Determination of Emissions from Open Sources by
Plume Profiling", exists, it is strictly a stationary measurement of time integrated pollutant mass
flux, while OTM-48 is not necessarily stationary and uses carbon concentration measurements as
opposed to wind speed. Additionally, OTM-48 determines flux at a stationary point,
differentiating it from OTM-33 and its sub-methods, which instead determine a flux plane.

The posting of a test method on the Other Test Methods portion of the EMC website is neither
an endorsement by EPA regarding the validity of the test method nor a regulatory approval of the
test method. The purpose of the Other Test Methods portion of the EMC website is to promote
discussion of developing emission measurement methodologies and to provide regulatory
agencies, the regulated community, and the public at large with potentially helpful tools.

Other Test Methods are test methods which have not yet been subject to the Federal rulemaking
process. Each of these methods, as well as the available technical documentation supporting
them, have been reviewed by the EMC staff and have been found to be potentially useful to the
emission measurement community. The types of technical information reviewed include field
and laboratory validation studies; results of collaborative testing; articles from peer-reviewed
journals; peer review comments; and quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) procedures
in the method itself. The EPA strongly encourages the submission of additional supporting field
and laboratory data as well as comments regarding these methods.

These methods may be considered for use in federally enforceable State and local programs (e.g.,
Title V permits, State Implementation Plans (SIP)) provided they are subject to an EPA Regional
SIP approval process or permit veto opportunity and public notice with the opportunity for
comment. The methods may also be considered to be candidates to be alternative methods to meet
Federal requirements under 40 CFR Parts 60, 61, and 63. However, they must be approved as
alternatives under 60.8, 61.13, or 63.7(f) before a source may use them for this purpose.
Consideration of a method's applicability for a particular purpose should be based on the stated
applicability as well as the supporting technical information outlined in the table. The methods
are available for application without EPA oversight for other non-EPA program uses including
state permitting programs and scientific and engineering applications. As many of these methods
are submitted by parties outside the Agency, the EPA staff may not necessarily be the technical
experts on these methods. Therefore, technical support from EPA for these methods is limited,
but the table contains contact information for the developers so that you may contact them

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Method to Quantify Emissions from Open Area Sources

directly. Also, be aware that these methods are subject to change based on the review of
additional validation studies or on public comment as a part of adoption as a Federal test method,
the Title V permitting process, or inclusion in a SIP.

Method History

Final - TBD

EPA advises all potential users to review the method and all appendices carefully before
application of this method

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Method to Quantify Emissions from Open Area Sources

Other Test Method 48 (OTM-48): Emission Factor Determination by the Carbon Balance
Method


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Method to Quantify Emissions from Open Area Sources

1 Scope and Application

1.1	Introduction. This method described herein is applicable to the determination of air
emission factors for pollutants from combustion sources using the carbon balance method.
Emission factors are defined as the ratio of a pollutant's mass to some quantifiable measure of the
process such as mass of particulate matter per mass of fuel burned or mass of particulate matter
per acre of forest burned. This method applies to all pollutants, gaseous and particle-related. It is
particularly applicable to open area combustion sources where the pollutant flux is difficult to
measure in contrast to sampling in stacks or ducts where the gas flowrate can be measured.

1.2	Scope. The carbon balance method measures the mass of the target pollutant while
measuring the mass of some conserved element, in this case carbon. With knowledge of the
carbon concentration of the fuel, the measured ratio of pollutant mass per carbon mass can be
multiplied by the carbon concentration in the fuel to obtain the emission factor. Carbon is
considered a conserved element and all forms of carbon species in the pollutants must be
measured in order to provide the most accurate emission factor. This OTM covers measurement
of major carbon sources from combustion sources; companion measurements of target analytes
such as nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2) are not included in the scope of this OTM. Related OTMs
include OTM 32 "Determination of Emissions from Open Sources by Plume Profiling". OTM 32
is a stationary measurement of a time-integrated pollutant mass flux which is the product of
pollutant concentration and wind speed. It is distinct from this OTM because it relies on a
stationary measurement of concentration and wind speed. This current OTM is not necessarily
stationary and relies on carbon concentration measurements rather than wind speed. Other OTMs
under development include OTM 33 and its sub-methods C, E, and F, which, like OTM 32, rely
on a flux calculation but instead determine a flux plane rather than a stationary point flux. OTM
38 is a method for determination of oxygen, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides from
stationary sources using portable gas analyzers equipped with electrochemical sensors. It contains
Quality Assurance and Quality Control sections that are applicable to carbon monoxide (CO)
measurements and, depending on the user's target analytes, NO and NO2.

1.3	Application. The typical application for this method is for determination of emission
factors from open area combustion sources where the total flows from the source cannot be
determined because the emissions are not contained in a stack and concentrations are often quite
variable due to random dilution. The measured media is air including gases and particles.

1.3.1 Sources. This method is applicable to all sources which have a known release of
carbon, such as fuel combustion. These may include open combustion sources of obsolete
military ordnance, prescribed forest burns, agricultural burns, in situ oil burns, waste burns,
biomass pile burns and firing of small arms.

1.3.2	Pollutant/Measured Parameters. The method is applicable to criteria pollutants
including PM, NOx, SO2, CO, volatile organic compounds, lead, and hazardous air pollutants
(HAPs), including metals, HC1, Cr VI, semivolatile organic compounds, and carbonyls as well as
black carbon, elemental carbon, and energetics.

1.3.3	Method sensitivity (concentration or mass per unit). The method sensitivity is a
function of the target pollutant. Differently sampling and analytical methods will have different
sensitivities.

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Method to Quantify Emissions from Open Area Sources

1.3.4 Data Quality Objectives. The principal data quality objective is a function of the
end-use intent of the data, whether for general information on a source strength or as a prelude to
more rigorous source methods. To meet these objectives, the use of National Institute of
Standards and Testing (NIST) traceability protocol calibration gases for CO and CO2 and
measurement system performance tests are recommended in accordance with "EPA Traceability
Protocol for Assay and Certification of Gaseous Calibration Standards," September 1997, as
amended August 25, 1999, EPA-600/R-97/121 or more recent updates.

2 Summary of the Method

2.1	This OTM describes the carbon balance method for measuring pollutants to determine
emission factors. It is particularly applicable to determination of emission factors from open area
sources in which a conserved element, in this case, carbon, is co-measured with the target
pollutant. The ratio of the measured pollutant and carbon, with knowledge of the carbon content
of the fuel, enables determination of an emission factor with units of mass of target analyte/mass
of source (fuel) consumed.

2.2	Sample collection procedures. Samples are collected from the source plume, either by
ground-based (stationary or mobile) or aerial-based collection, such as unmanned aircraft systems
(UAS) or "drones". This method is particularly applicable to open area source measurements such
as fires.

2.3	The method is not pollutant-specific and can be used for multiple target analyte
pollutants. Analytical procedures for collected target analytes are pollutant-specific and not
covered herein.

2.4	The method assumes that the target pollutant species is homogeneously mixed with the
carbon species being measured such that the target pollutant and carbon species are always in the
same mass ratio, at least over the period of the measurements. Likewise, the method assumes that
the target pollutant and carbon species are preserved or unreactive over the course of the
measurements, again assuming that the ratio is preserved. The method also assumes that the
carbon species are all released to the air at a constant ratio with the target pollutant.

There are compelling reasons to support these assumptions. Open combustion events are
dominated by turbulent, mixing flow and convective transport forces which render partitioning of
the target pollutant and carbon species due to dissimilar diffusivities inconsequential. The
reactivity of the target species in the combustion plume will be a function of the source type. The
rapid cooling of the plume to ambient temperatures due to air entrainment will slow any reactions
to a negligible rate at the point of sampling. Further, fuel carbon is homogeneously associated
with other target atoms/molecules so is unlikely to be released from the fuel matrix and times
distinct from those of target pollutant.

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Method to Quantify Emissions from Open Area Sources

2.5	This OTM method determines a target pollutant to carbon ratio. If the user desires to
relate this value back to the source to determine a pollutant mass per unit measure, such as
particle matter mass per kg of fuel burned, then the fuel's carbon content must be known a priori.
This method then also requires either an assumption regarding completeness of carbon release
from the fuel or knowledge of the unreleased carbon in the fuel.

2.6	For example, measurements of PM record 5 mg on a filter; concurrent measurements of
carbon amass 100 mg of carbon. The fuel source, containing 60% carbon by mass, is completely
burned or consumed. The emission factors is (5 mg PM/100 mg C)x(60 mg C/100 mg fuel) = 3
mg PM/100 mg fuel, or 3% of the fuel mass ends up as PM.

2.7	The method also relies on an ability to sufficiently quantify the carbon released to the
degree of accuracy needed for the emission factor. That is, an inability to account for trace carbon
in the emissions, such as in PAHs, may not significantly affect the data quality. For example, if
the variation in replicate measurements is 5%, an inability to account for 0.1% of the total carbon
being in PAH emissions may not have a significant effect

3 Definitions

Air flow calibrator: Instrument measuring the flow of sampling pumps to ensure flow accuracy.

Background-correction: The ambient background concentration of a pollutant is subtracted from
the collected plume concentration of the pollutant.

Calibration gas: Gas mixture containing CO2 or CO at a known concentration mixed in either N2
or Air.

Calibration span: Calibration span means the upper limit of the sensor's calibration. The
calibration span must be within the range of the sensor and at least half of the expected highest
concentration to be measured. To the extent practicable, the majority of measured concentrations
should be within the selected span.

Elemental Carbon (EC): Graphitic carbon, ultraviolet absorbing as determined by NIOSH
Method 5040 as in Kahn et al. (2012).

Linearity Check: Initial and periodic maintenance linearity check of the sensor's entire
measurement range. For sensors with voltage ouput the initial check includes determining the
relationship that converts voltage to ppm values (engineering units).

Organic Carbon fOC): Non-inorganic carbon, as determined by NIOSH Method 5040 as in Kahn
et al. (2012).

Particle size separator or Impactor: A particle sampler with a specific PM size cut.
PM25: Particulate matter with an aerodynamic size of 2.5 micrometers and smaller.

PMtot: A total measurement of particles of all aerodynamic sizes.

PM System: Equipment used to determine the PM concentration.

ppm: parts per million. Units for measuring CO2 and CO concentrations, a volumetric ratio.

Response time: The time it takes the sensor signal to change after the concentration is altered
determined by the time between the first observable measurement response and the measurement
response equal to 90% of the final reading.

Sensor: A sensor is defined as the instrument/equipment being measured which produce an
output equivalent to the gas concentrations.

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Method to Quantify Emissions from Open Area Sources

Sensor system: A sensor system means all equipment used to determine CO2/CO concentration
which may include filter, micro-pump, tubing, sensor, and data recorder.

Sensor stability. The relative stability (lack of variability or change) of the sensor's signal when
injected with calibration gas when the sensor's response exceeds 95% of the final reading.

Total carbon (TO: The sum of EC and OC from a PMtot sample.

Upscale calibration checks: Calibration gas at the mid-point or span concentrations.

4	Interferences to the Method

4.1	Potential interferences to this method are background concentrations and handling of
sampling media.

4.2	This method background corrects the measurement by subtracting the background
concentrations from the measured plume concentration. The most significant correction should
be for background carbon concentrations, primarily or exclusively, CO2 concentrations. For
example, measurements upwind of the source record an ambient CO2 concentration of 405 ppm.
Measurements of the source plume record an average CO 2 concentration of 550 ppm. The carbon
as CO2 attributed to the source is 550 ppm - 405 ppm =145 ppm. Other background corrections
for carbonaceous species, for example, methane (CH4), can be ignored on a case-specific basis,
when ambient levels of these species are so low that they would not affect the data quality
objectives.

4.3	Collection of filter field blanks will account for the potential interference from sampling
media handling. A filter field blank is handled as a routine sample, but no air is pulled through the
impactor.

5	Safety

5.1	This method may involve hazardous operations and it is the responsibility of the user to
ensure compliance with site entry, health, and safety requirements.

5.2	This method may be used with aerial- or crane-based sampling systems and as such the
sampling equipment may be positioned of a height of more than 2 meter (6.6 feet) above ground
level. The user (sampling crew) should establish safety procedures before using this method in
order to take appropriate precautions with respect to power lines, trees, falling objects and other
obstacles.

5.3	This method includes use of compressed gases for calibration of sensors. The user
should follow user established safety procedures before using this method as mentioned in section
5.0 of Method 7E. CO is a poisonous, odorless and colorless gas so calibration should take place
using proper ventilation. OSHA's permissible exposure limit (PEL) for CO is 50 ppm during an
8-hour time period. Initial symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, fatigue, dizziness,
drowsiness or nausea.

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Method to Quantify Emissions from Open Area Sources

6 Equipment and Supplies

6.1	Note. As noted in Section 2, this method has the capability to measure and determine
emission factors for many pollutants. Details on equipment, supplies, and procedures for
measuring the many pollutants not addressed are not part of this OTM; the user is referred to
pollutant-specific methods elsewhere for equipment, supplies, and procecedures. The subsequent
method sections address determination of a PM2 5 emission factor as an example to the OTM user.
The same approach can be used for other pollutant measurements.This method includes details
for measuring gas- and particle-phase carbon such as, respectively, CO/CO2 and TC. PMtot
samplers are used in this example to capture particles for carbon determination. For sources in
which particulate matter is known to be smaller than 2.5 micrometers, a PM2 5 impactor may be
used for determining both the PM2 5 mass and TC.

6.2	Gas Collection

6.2.1	Sensors for measuring CO2 and CO capable of meeting performance requirements
in Section 8 which are based on Methods 3A and Method 10 .

6.2.2	Micro pump for pushing ambient gas through the sensors. The pump should be
sized according to required flow as specified in the sensor manual.

6.2.3	Pre-filters for screening particles prior to sensors as specified in the sensor manual.

6.3	PM collection

6.3.1	Particle size seperator (impactor). Use a PM impactor with a particle size cut as
specified in the user's operating procedure.

6.3.2	Sample filter for PM mass. Use a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filter with
support ring as described in 40 CFR Part 50, Appendix L sections 6.2-6.4. Use diameter size as
specified in the impactor manual.

6.3.3	Sample filter for TC. Use a quartz filters for collection of total carbon as described
in NIOSH Method 5040 pages 1 and 2. Use diameter size as specified in the impactor manual.

6.3.4	Pump and flow measurement. Pumps should be sized according to the
requirements of the specific particle size seperator samplers. Use a flow-compensating pump to
ensure the correct cut size is collected during the entirety of the collection time as described in 40
CFR Part 50, Appendix J sections 7.1.3 and 8.1.2.

6.4	Sample Recovery - See caveat, section 6.1.

6.4.1	Protective containers (petri dishes) for holding PM and TC samples pre- and post-
sampling.

6.4.2	Portable insulated cooled storage container for samples that are susceptible to
thermal volatilization or degradation.

6.5	Sample preparation and sample analysis - See caveate, section 6.1.

6.5.1	Analytical balance for weighing PTFE filters as described in 40 CFR Part 50,
Appendix L, section 7.5.

6.5.2	Pre-cleaning of quartz filters as described in NIOSH Method 5040, page 2.

6.6	Reagents and Standards - See caveat, section 6.1.

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Method to Quantify Emissions from Open Area Sources

6.7	Calibration gases should be traceable to National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) through use of the EPA Traceability Protocol for Assay and Certification of
Gaseous Calibration Standards. The quality level of the CO2 and CO gases shall be ±2%. The
concentration of the calibration gases depends on the users anticipated plume concentration, the
range of the sensors, and the selected calibration span. At least three calibration gas
concentrations are needed, high-level gas, mid-level gas and a low-level gas, as specified in
Section 8 of this method.

6.8	Flow rate calibration standard. Certified air flow calibrator traceable to a NIST
standard flow rate.

6.9	Mass working standards for check of microbalance. Standards verified against NIST
traceable primary standards.

6.10	Reagents and standards used to analyze filters for total carbon analysis as specified by
NIOSH Method 5040, page 2.

7 Sample Collection, Preservation, Storage, and Transport (PM2.5 example)

7.1 Pre -Te st Preparation

7.1.1	PM2 5 mass sampling filters. Weigh the PTFE sampling filters in a conditioned
environment as described in 40 CFR Part 50, Appendix L, section 8.2. Place the pre-weighed
sampling filters in labeled protective containers and store them at room temperature. Transport
the filters in an insulated container to the sampling site. Load the particle size separators or
impactors with filters as described in user's standard operating procedures or the manufacturer's
instruction manual.

7.1.2	TC sampling filters. Condition the quartz filters according to NIOSH Method
5040, page 2.

7.1.3	TC sampling filters. Place the cleaned TC quartz filters in protective containers
and store them at <0°C. Transport the filters in a cooled insulated container below 25°C. Load
the particle size separators with filters as described in sampler's standard operation procedures or
the impactor's instruction manual.

7.1.4	Perform linearity checks of the CO and CO2 sensors initially and at least semi-
annually thereafter by conducting a 3-point calibration error check of each gas sensor. Introduce
low-, mid-, and high-level calibration gases sequentially. Record each sensor's response to each
of the three calibration gases. For each calibration gas, calculate the sensor calibration error as a
percent of the calibration span (see span definition in section 3 of this method). The calibration
error specification in section 8 must be met for the low-, mid-, and high-level gases. If the
calibration error specification is not met, take corrective action and repeat the linearity check until
an acceptable 3-point calibration is achieved.

7.1.5 Immediately before sampling, conduct a 2-point calibration check (zero and upscale) on
the CO and CO2 sensors (see Table 1 and section 8.4.3). For the zero checks, the sensors must
show a stable null value. For the upscale calibration checks using a high-level gas, calculate the
calibration error for each sensor as a percent of the calibration span; the calibration error
specification in section 8 must be met for the upscale gases for each sensor.

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Method to Quantify Emissions from Open Area Sources

7.2	Site Selection Criteria. The site selected should have ease of observation of the source
and the sampling instrumentation without obstruction and without jeopardizing safety of
personnel and equipment.

7.3	Deployment of Air Sampling Equipment

7.3.1 Samplers, whether ground-based or aerial-based, must be placed in the path of the
source plume.

7.4	Operation of aerial or ground samplers. Start all CO and CO2 pumps. When the
sampling platform is in the plume as indicated by the CO2 concentration rising to levels above
ambient background concentrations (e.g., for a fire, this means the sensor is picking up carbon
oxidation products), start all PM pumps, and pumps for any other analyte of interest. Sampling
should continue until the user assesses that sufficient sample is collected to exceed the analytical
detection limits or until the PM pumps can no longer maintain the flow rate specified by the
manufacturer of the impactor. In initial sampling cases for an analyte, the user will have to use
best judgement as to whether sufficient sample has been collected to exceed analytical limits.
Additional trials and analytical results will provide the user with more experience with which to
assess sample collection sufficiency. Turn all pumps off when the sampler is no longer in the
plume, as indicated by return of the CO2 concentration to ambient levels. Immediately after each
sampling run, conduct 2-point drift checks (zero and upscale) on the CO and CO2 sensors (see
Table 1 and section 8.4.4).

7.5	Data Recording

7.5.1 During sampling, continuously record time-stamped CO and CO2 concentrations as
well as the starting and stopping times for sampling pumps.

7.6	Sample Recovery and Transport.

7.6.1	When the sampling is completed and the sampler is accessible, remove the PM2 5
mass filters (PTFE) from the particle size impactors following user's standard operating
procedures or manual and place them into labeled protective containers. The filters should be
stored in a temperature below the average sampling temperature or at 4°C as described in 40
CFR, Appendix L, section 8.3.6.

7.6.2	Remove the PMtot TC filters (quartz) from the particle size impactors following
user's standard operating procedures or the PM impactor user manual and place them into labeled
protective containers and store them as specified in users standard operating procedures.

8 Quality Assurance and Quality Control

8.1	The quality control checks and associated performance criteria are summarized in
Table 1 below.

8.2	Performance Audits. Any audits should be conducted by a independent auditor/analyst
to demonstrate that sensor and pump calibrations, data processing and sampling are conducted
within the acceptance criteria of the methods. Findings that would invalidate a sample include
pump stoppage and breaks in the sensor data recording.

8.3	Sample Identification and Traceability. Each sample must be given an identifying code
number. Proper application of the code will simplify sample tracking throughout the collection,
handling, analysis, and reporting processes.

8.4	Method Accuracy

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Method to Quantify Emissions from Open Area Sources

8.4.1	Response time. Determine the rise time by calculating the time between the first
observable measurement response and the response equal to 90% of reading when injecting the
span calibration gas. The response time should be less than 2 minute.

8.4.2	Stability check. Determine the stability of the sensor's signal response two minutes
after the sensor reaches 95% of reading (when injecting calibration gas) by measuring the change
in concentration during one minute. The measured concentration should change less than 1% per
minute.

8.4.3	Determine how well the sensor's measured response fits with the injected
calibration gases by calculating the calibration error between the sensor's response and the
calibration gas concentration; the calibration error must be <5% of span for linearity checks and
< 5% of span for upscale calibration checks performed in the field.

8.4.4	To assess drift, repeat the zero and upscale checks at the conclusion of a sampling
run. Determine the sensor drift as described in Method 3A for CO2 and Method 10 for CO. The
zero gas shall yield a stable null value and the upscale calibration error shall be < 5% of the initial
calibration values for each point.

8.4.5	Pump calibration. The sample flow rate should be within ±2% of the specified
flow rate as stated in section 7.3 in 40 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, section 8.2.2.

8.5 Filter blanks

8.5.1	Laboratory PTFE blank. Follow instructions in 40 CFR Part 50, Appendix L,
section 8.3.7.2.

8.5.2	PTFE field blank. Handle the field blank filter as a routine sample, but do not pull
air through the impactor. Follow instructions in 40 CFR Part 50, Appendix L, section 8.37.1.

8.5.3	Quartz filter laboratory blank. Analyze a pre-cleaned filter for OC contaminants
according to NIOSH Method 5040, page 2.

Table 1. Quality control checks and criteria

Target	QA/QC Check

Compound Frequency

QA/QC Check DQI/Acceptance Corrective	Reference

Procedure	Criteria	Action	Standard

CO, CO2

CO, CO2

CO, CO2

CO, CO2

Initially and

semiannually

thereafter

Daily

CO, CO2 Daily

Daily

3 level calibration
error test

2-point calibration
check (zero and
upscale

Stability check

Response time

After each test run Drift check

<5% of calibration Check for leaks See Section 7.1
span	Re-calibrate

<5% of

calibration span

<1% of calibration
value within 1 min

>90% of
calibration value
within 2 min

±5% of initial
calibration value

Check for leaks
Recalibrate

Check for
leaks, replace
sensor
Check for
leaks, replace
sensor

Run is invalid

See Section 7.1

See Section 7.1

See Section 7.1

See Section 7.1

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Method to Quantify Emissions from Open Area Sources

PM Flow

PM Mass

PM Mass

PM Mass

PM TC

Daily

Once per
weighing session

12-24 h between
weighing sessions

Once per
weighing session

One per cleaned
filter batch

Flow calibration

Field blank

Weighing of same
filter

Laboratory blank

Analyze for OC
contaminants

±2% of flow rate
L/min

±20 |ig of initial
weight

±15 |ig of initial
weight

±15 (j.g between
weighings

<0.1 |ig/cm2

Check for leaks,
Re-calibrate gas
pump

Check balance
Re-weigh filter
Check balance

Certified Flow

calibration

device

Certified
weights

Certified
weights

Blank filter,

Certified

weights

Re-clean filters Analytical

9	Calibration and Standardization

9.1	Sensor Calibration. Warm up the sensors according to the user's standard operating
procedures or as described in the sensor's manuals prior to calibration. The sensors should be
calibrated against calibration gases (see section 7.1) prior to sampling and checked for drift after
after each run as described in Method 3A, section 8.5 for CO2 and Method 10, section 8.5 for CO.

9.2	Pump Calibration. Set the flow rate on the pump to the desired impactor flow as stated
in the impactor manufacturer's manual. Calibrate the PM pump flow against a flow calibration
instrument (see section 7.2) as described in the pump manufacturer's manual or users standard
operating procedures using the same filter type as used during testing. The PM pump system
should be calibrated before use as established in the users standard operating procedures.

9.3	Microbalance Calibration. The microbalance used for weighing of filters should be
calibrated as specified by the manufacturer and checked before each weighing session as
described in 40 CFR Part 50, Appendix L, section 8.1.

10	Analytical Procedure

10.1	Filter analysis for gravimetric analyses. Follow the steps as described in 40 CFR Part
50, Appendix L, section 8.3.

10.2	Filter analysis for carbon content. Follow steps in analytical methods which are suited
for the open combustion source being sampled such as NIOSH Method 5040, pages 3 and 4.

11 Calculations and Data Analysis

11.1	Carbon Fraction (Fc). The carbon fraction in the fuel has to be known in order to
calculate the emission factor in mass per mass fuel burned. The carbon fraction in the fuel can be
obtained by either analyzing the fuel for carbon content or by looking up the fuel's carbon content
in the literature. The carbon in the fuel will be labeled as mass carbon per total mass of the fuel.

11.2	Matching PM filters time with CO and CO2 collection. Calculate the carbon mass from
the same time interval as the PM filters were collected.

11.3	Nomenclature.

R = 0.082 L atm
T	= Sampling temperature in °C

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Method to Quantify Emissions from Open Area Sources

CTCps
CTCbs

aco2

ACO
ATC
Mc

Mco2

Mco
PMEF

TC concentration in the plume sample
TC concentration in the background sample
CO2 concentration sampled in mg/m3
CO concentration sampled in mg/m3
TC concentration sampled in mg/m3
Molar mass of carbon, 12.0107 g/mol
Molar mass of CO2, 44.01 g/mol

Molar mass of CO, 28.01 g/mol
PM Emission factor in g PM/g fuel burned
Carbon fraction in the fuel
PM concentration in mg/m3
Carbon concentration sampled in mg/m3

11.4	Background corrected concentration of CO 2 and CO, ACO2 and ACO, respectively.
Subtract the measured ambient background concentration from the periodic measured
concentration in the plume in ppm.

AC02 = C02 in the plume — C02 in the background

ACO = CO in the plume — CO in the background

11.5	The concentration measured is calculated from the calibration relationship in ppm. The
ACO2 and ACO concentration in ppm is converted to mg/m3 by using:

AC02 and ACO Concentration in mg/m3=

11.6 Concentration of ATC. The concentrations of TC in the plume and in an upwind
background sample are calculated from the TC mass on each filter divided by the volume of gas
sampled (e.g. mg/m3). Then the upwind background concentration is subtracted from the plume
sample concentration to yield the TC concentration, ATC:

11.7 Carbon concentration collected. The carbon concentration collected, in mg/m3, is
calculated using the following equation:

AC02 and ACO Concentration in ppm x MCOz or co

R X (273.15 K + T °C)

ATC = CTCpS - CTCbs

Cc = AC02 X

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Method to Quantify Emissions from Open Area Sources

11.8	Concentration of PMPollutant. The PM concentration, Cpm, is calculated from the
mass particulate on the filter divided by the volume sampled (e.g., mg/m3).

11.9	Emission Factor. The PM emission factor (mass PM per mass fuel) is calculated using
the following formula:

PMEF = Fcx —

c Q

11.10	Example. The CO2, CO, and TC background concentrations were measured at 420 ppm,
0 ppm, and 0.015 mg/m3, respectively. The CO2 and CO average concentrations in the plume
during the sampling period was 2,020 ppm and 60 ppm respectively. The TC and PM2 5
concentrations in the plume were 50 mg/m3 and 190 mg/m3, respectively. Temperature in the
plume was 28°C and the carbon fraction in the fuel 0.5.

Background corrected CO2 and CO concentrations
AC02 = 2,020 — 420 = 1,600 ppm
A CO = 60 — 0 = 60 ppm

Concentration of CO 2 and CO

,	1,600 ppmx44.01	r-*	/ 3

AC02 = —	—	= 2851.51 ma m3

z 0.082X(273.15 )	a '

ACQ = 60 ppmx28.01 =	3

0.082X(273.15+28)

Concentration of ATC

A TC = 50 - 0.015 = 49.985 mg/m3

Carbon concentration collected

Cr = 2851.51 x 12 0107 + 68.06 x B2121 + 49.985 = 857.37 mg/m3

L	44.01	28.01

Emission Factor (given: Cpm is 190 mg/m3)

PM2 5 EF = 0.5 x x 1000 g = 110.80 g/kg Fuel

857.37

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Method to Quantify Emissions from Open Area Sources

12	Method Performance

12.1	Carbon mass balance assumptions. This method assumes that all carbon from the
material burned is emitted to the atmosphere and that the pollutants and carbon emitted are
proportionally distributed in the plume (Nelson et al., 1982). It also assumes that the rate of the
carbon emitted is proportional to the mass loss rate of the fuel (Nelson et al., 1982).

12.1.1	A waste gasifier/combustor was sampled to determine PM emission factors (PM
mass/waste mass) by both the carbon balance method and the waste input method (Aurell et al.,
2019). The latter was determined with use of the waste mass input and the volumetric ratio of the
sampled duct flow and the total duct flow. The carbon balance method resulted in a PM emission
factor of 0.39 (±0.22) g/kg waste and the waste input method resulted in a value of 0.37 (±0.19)
g/kg waste, a difference of 5%.

12.1.2	Dhammapala et al. (2006) compared PM emission factors determined by direct
sampling and by the carbon balance method for biomass burns. Direct sampling used a flow
through chamber with measurements of exit concentration, flowrate, time, and mass loss burned
to calculate an emission factor for PM mass/fuel mass burned. When the carbon balance method
was reported as a percentage of the direct method, three campaigns resulted in values of 94.4 %,
91.1 %, and 110.7%.

12.2	Due to instrumentation size, and power and weight constraints in sampling emissions
from open combustion sources, measurements of methane and total hydrocarbons (THC) which
are relatively insignificant have not been addressed in this approach. Depending on the
combustion source, the user could also consider ignoring the TC contribution. As such only CO2
and CO would be used as the carbon source in determining emission factors.

12.2.1	Nelson et al. (1982) found a 5% difference in emission factors when only CO2 and
CO were used as the carbon source and THC and total suspended particles were ignored.

12.2.2	VOC emission factors derived from prescribed forest fires were 2.3% lower using
CO2, CO and CH4 as a carbon source than using CO2 alone (Aurell et al., 2015).

12.2.3	A study by Aurell et al. (2017) showed when a plume from jet fuel contained
approximately 10% TC the PM2 5 emission factor was reduced by 13% when TC was included as
a carbon source. The same study also found that a TC fraction of 0.05% in a propane plume
reduced the PM2 5 emission factor by 0.1% when included in the carbon source.

13	Pollution Prevention

NA

14	Waste Management

NA

15	References

15.1 References that use the carbon balance method

Aurell, J., Barnes M., Gullett, B.K., Holder, A., Eninger, R., Methodology for Characterizing

Emissions from Small (0.5-2 MTD) Batch-Fed Gasification Systems Using Multiple Waste
Compositions. Waste Management 2019, Volume 87, 398-406.

Dhammapala, R.; Claiborn, C.; Corkill, J.; Gullett, B., Particulate emissions from wheat and
Kentucky bluegrass stubble burning in eastern Washington and northern Idaho. Atmos Environ
2006, 40 (6), 1007-1015.

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Method to Quantify Emissions from Open Area Sources

Nelson, R. M., Jr., An Evaluation of the Carbon Balance Technique for Estimating Emission
Factors and Fuel Consumption in Forest Fires. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,
Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, NC, USA 1982, Research Paper SE-231.

15.2	References used to show the method

Aurell, J.; Hubble, D.; Gullett, B. K.; Holder, A.; Washburn, E., Characterization of emissions
from liquid fuel and propane open burns. Fire Technology 2017, 53, 2023-2038.

Aurell, J., Gullett, B.K., Tabor, D., Emissions from southeastern U.S. Grasslands and pine
savannas: Comparison of aerial and ground field measurements with laboratory burns. Atmos
Environ 2015, 111, 170-178.

15.3	Other references

40 CRF Part 50, Appendix J. Reference method for determination ofparticulate matter as PM10
in the Atmopshere. 1987. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2014-title40-vol2/pdf/CFR-2014-
title40-vol2-part50-appJ.pdf Accessed August 7, 2019.

40 CFR Part 50, Appendix L. Reference method for the determination ofparticulate matter as
PM2.5 in the Atmosphere. 1987. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2014-title40-
vol2/pdf/CFR-2014-title40-vol2-part50-appL.pdf Accessed August 7, 2019.

Khan, B.; Hays, M. D.; Geron, C.; Jetter, J., Differences in the OC/EC Ratios that Characterize
Ambient and Source Aerosols due to Thermal-Optical Analysis. Aerosol Science and Technology
2012, 46(2), 127-137.

NIOSH Method 5040. Elemental Carbon (Diesel Particulate). Issue 3. NIOSH Manual of
Analytical Methods, 4th Ed., 30 September: 1999. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2003-
154/pdfs/5040.pdf Accessed August 7, 2019

CO: https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/carbonmonoxide-factsheet.pdf Accessed
August 7, 2019

U.S. EPA Method 3A. Determination of oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations in emissions
from stationary sources (instrumental analyzer procedure). 2017.

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-08/documents/method_3a.pdf Accessed August
7, 2019.

U.S. EPA Method 7E. Determination of Nitrogen Oxides Emissions from Stationary Sources
(Instrumental Analyzer Procedure). 2014. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-
06/documents/method7e.pdf Accessed August 7, 2019

U.S. EPA Method 10. Determination of carbon monoxide emissions from stationary souces
(Instrumental analyzer procedure). 2017. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-
08/documents/method_10.pdf Accessed August 7, 2019

U.S. EPA Other Test Method 32. Determination of emissions from open sources by plume
profiling. 2013. https://www3.epa.gov/ttnemc01/prelim/otm32.pdf Accessed August 7, 2019

U.S. EPA Other Test Method 33. Geospatial measurement of air pollution, remote emissions
quantification. 2014. https://www3.epa.gov/ttn/emc/prelim/otm33.pdfAccessed August 7, 2019

U.S. EPA Other Test Method 38. Periodic monitoring Method for Determination of Oxygen,
Carbon Monoxide and Nitrogen Oxides from Stationary Sources using Portable Gas Analyzers
Equipped with Electrochemical Sensors. 2020. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-
08/documcnts/otm_38_pcriodic_monitoring_mcthod_using_portablc_gas_analyzcrs.pdf
Accessed March 30, 2022

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Method to Quantify Emissions from Open Area Sources

Wright, B. EPA Traceability Protocol for Assay and Certification of Gaseous Calibration
Standards. US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, EPA/600/R/12/531, 2012.
https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_report.cftn ?Lab=NRMRL&dirEntryId=245292
Accessed March 30, 2022

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