Figure the characteristics and sources of roadside VOCs in Hong Kong: Effect of the LPG catalytic converter replacement programme

In order to improve local air quality of Hong Kong, more than 99% taxies and public light buses were changed from diesel to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel type in the early 2000s. In addition to the catalytic converters wear and tear, it is necessary to control air pollutants emitted from LPG vehicles. Therefore, an LPG catalytic converter replacement programme (CCRP) was fulfilled from October 2013 to April 2014 by the Hong Kong government. Roadside volatile compounds (VOCs) were measured by on-line measurement techniques before and after the programme to evaluate the effectiveness of the LPG CCRP. The mixing ratios of total measured VOCs were found decreased from 69.3 ± 12.6 ppbv to 43.9 ± 6.5 ppbv after the LPG CCRP with the decreasing percentage of 36.7%. In addition, the total mixing ratio of LPG tracers, namely propane, i-butane, and n-butane, accounted for 49% of total measured VOCs before the LPG CCRP and the weighting percentage decreased to 34% after the programme. Moreover, the source apportionment of roadside VOCs also reflects the large decreasing trend of LPG vehicular emissions after the air pollution control measure. Due to the application of PTR-MS on measuring real-time VOCs and oxygenated volatile compounds (OVOCs) in this study, the emission ratios of individual OVOCs were investigated and being utilized to differentiate primary and secondary/biogenic sources of roadside OVOCs in Hong Kong. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the intervention programme, and are helpful to further implementation of air pollution control strategies in Hong Kong.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143811
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720373423
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00489697
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Cui, Long
  • Li, Hai Wei
  • Huang, Yu
  • Zhang, Zhou
  • Lee, Shu Cheng
  • Blake, Donald Ray
  • Wang, Xin Ming
  • Ho, Kin Fai
  • Cao, Jun Ji
• Publication Date: 2021-2-25

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 143811
• Serial:
  • Science of the Total Environment
  • Volume: 757
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0048-9697
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00489697

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Before and after studies; Catalytic converters; Equipment replacement; Exhaust gases; Internal combustion engines; Liquefied petroleum gas; Organic compounds; Roadside; Taxicabs; Transit buses
• Geographic Terms: Hong Kong (China)
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Highways; Passenger Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01760339
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 17 2020 9:55AM