Establishment of indicatory metals for filterable and condensable PM2.5 emitted from important stationary emission sources

This study investigated indicatory metals in the filterable (FPM2.5) and condensable (CPM) particulate matter emitted from six different types of stationary stacks (based on fuels and raw materials, n = 33), namely, coal boiler (COL), heavy oil boiler (HOL), wood boiler (WOD), diesel boiler (DSL), natural gas boiler (NGS), and incinerator (INR). FPM2.5 and CPM samples were collected following U.S. EPA Method 201A and Method 202, respectively. The samples were analyzed for mass concentrations and metal compositions. Results showed that the concentration of CPM was higher than that of the FPM2.5 for all types of stacks except WOD. Comparability analysis of FPM2.5, CPM, and TPM2.5 (FPM2.5 + CPM) metal profiles assessed by using the coefficient of divergence (COD) showed a heterogeneous (COD = 0.32–0.99) relationship among six groups of emission stacks. However, FPM2.5, CPM, and TPM2.5 metal profiles within a group of stack revealed homogeneous (COD = 0.19) to heterogeneous (COD = 0.79) relations. Indicatory ...