Experimental study of limestone and sandstone sulphation in polluted realistic conditions : The Lausanne Atmospheric Simulation Chamber (LASC)

Abstract The Lausanne Atmospheric Simulation Chamber (LASC) has been constructed with the aim of studying the SO 2 effects on different materials. It allows the carrying out of numerous measurements on large stone samples simultaneously and on line. The behaviour of two carbonatic stone types (limestone and sandstone), either naked or covered with fly ash or soot particles, exposed at the following conditions, SO 2 = 125 ppb (340 μg m −3 ), NO 2 = 50 ppb (98 μg m −3 ), relative humidity = 79%, temperature = 13°C, has been studied. This experiment has been carried out over a 1 yr period. It has been observed that SO 2 deposition velocity decreases with time and in different ways for each of the two stone types, naked or covered with fly ash or soot particles. During the first four months, the deposition velocity is higher on naked stones; later on, it is higher on the stone samples covered with fly ash. Throughout the experiment the SO 2 deposition velocity on stone samples covered with soot particles is lower than on naked samples and those covered by fly ash. Finally, the values of SO 2 deposition velocity are confirmed by the chemical analysis of sulphur in the samples. Sulphur is present from the stone surface down to about 0.8 mm depth.