Single-particle characterization of biodiesel emissions

This poster is the result of an undergraduate summer research program. Biofuel mixtures are being substituted for regular fuels across the world, which are then emitting new particulate combustion products into the environment. These particles, which have received relatively little study, have the potential to affect the environment. In order to better understand the possible environmental impact of biodiesel emissions, single-particle mass spectrometry was used to analyze the size and chemical composition of particles emitted from the combustion of diesel fuel with varying proportions of soy biodiesel in a 1997 Volkswagen TDI diesel engine on a dynamometer. Through the combination of querying databases of spectra for particular peak values, and clustering similar particles by spectral characteristics, we were able to discern the chemical components of these aerosol particles. Additional analysis to be done includes studying the particle composition in relation to particle size and mass emissions.