Highly-resolved spatial-temporal variations of air pollutants from Chinese industrial boilers. (15th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tong, Yali; Gao, Jiajia; Wang, Kun; Jing, Hong; Wang, Chenlong; Zhang, Xiaoxi; Liu, Jieyu; Yue, Tao; Wang, Xin; Xing, Yi
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 289(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-11-15
• Subjects: Industrial boilers -- Air pollutants -- County-based emission inventory -- Monthly fraction coefficients -- Scenario projection; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117931
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Industrial boilers are a significant anthropogenic source of air pollutant emissions. In this study, a county-based atmospheric emission inventory of particulate matter (PM), PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NOx, organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) from industrial boilers over mainland China in 2017 was developed for the first time, based on county-level activity data from ~61, 000 coal-fired industrial boilers (CFIBs), ~44, 000 biomass-fired industrial boilers (BFIBs), ~71, 000 gas-fired industrial boilers (GFIBs) and ~9300 oil-fired industrial boilers (OFIBs), updated emission factors (EFs) and air pollution control device (APCD) efficiencies. The total national PM, PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NOx, OC and EC emissions from industrial boilers in 2017 were estimated to be 1, 240, 347, 761, 1, 648, 1, 340, 13.1 and 15.8 kilotons (kt), respectively. Intensive air pollutant emissions from industrial boilers of more than 1000 kg/km 2 were predominantly in north-eastern, northern and eastern China. CFIBs contributed the most (77.6–94.0 %) to air pollutant emissions because of their high air pollutant EFs and the large amounts of coal consumed. BFIBs were the second-highest contributor to national air pollutant emissions, with the contribution of BFIBs to PM2.5, OC and EC emissions in central and southern China reaching up to 42.1 %, 61.7 % and 45.5 %, respectively. There were seasonal peaks in monthly air pollutant emissions in heating regions. The overall uncertainty realting to the new emission inventory was estimated as −25.9 %–22.7 %. Significant air pollutant emission reductions were obtained from 2017 to 2030, and by 2030 the PM, PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NOx emissions were forecast to decrease by 40.1–84.0 %, 41.6–84.3 %, 44.5–75.2 %, 44.5–75.2 % and 19.5–46.8 % compared to 2017, respectively, under four proposed scenarios. The results of this study showed that differentiated industrial boiler management measures should be developed according to the actual emission characteristics. This work developed a county-based atmospheric emission inventory of PM, PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NOx, OC and EC from Chinese industrial boilers in 2017 for the first time. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: A county-based emission inventory of PM, PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NOx, OC and EC in mainland China is developed. Intensive emissions are predominantly distributed in the northeastern, northern and eastern China. CFIBs contribute the most to the air pollutants emissions followed by BFIBs. The monthly emission characteristics in heating regions presents season peaks. Emission reductions of air pollutants reach to 19.5–84.3 % under four scenarios in 2030.