Receptor Modeling Approach to VOC Emission Inventory Validation

The chemical-mass-balance (CMB) receptor model is used to determine and measure specific-source contributions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and concentrations of nonmethane organic compounds (NMOCs) in the ambient air. Because the method is based on air measurements, it provides an independent check on emission inventories developed by more conventional permit, survey, emission factor, and source-test procedures. This paper discusses the application of the CMB model to speciated NMOC air-measurement data sets collected during the summers of 1984-88 in five American cities: Detroit, Chicago, Beaumont (Texas), Atlanta, and Washington (DC). Sources modeled were vehicle tailpipe emissions, fugitive gasoline-vapor emissions, architectural coating solvents, emissions from graphic arts, petroleum refineries, coke ovens, and polyethylene production. Comparisons of the CMB allocation of NMOC to emission inventory allocation of VOC for each city is addressed. Agreement with Environmental Protection Agency inventories for the five cities was very good for vehicles; however, refinery inventory estimates are lower than CMB estimates by more than a factor of 10 in Chicago and Detroit. Trajectory analysis was employed to validate coefficients for coke ovens.

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