Environmental Studies and Forestry

New particle formation from agricultural recycling of organic waste products

R. Ciuraru, J. Kammer, et al.

This study reveals how the recycling of agricultural organic waste, particularly sewage sludge, plays a crucial role in forming secondary organic aerosols (SOA). Researchers R. Ciuraru and colleagues have demonstrated that skatole from sewage sludge reacts with ozone and SO2, resulting in significant new particle formation that could impact air quality in France. Discover the intricate mechanisms behind this phenomenon!

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Abstract

Secondary organic aerosols (SOA) are a major source of uncertainty in climate models. This study investigates the contribution of agricultural recycling of organic waste products, specifically sewage sludge, to SOA formation. Laboratory experiments show that skatole, a compound emitted from sewage sludge, reacts with ozone and SO2, leading to intensive new particle formation (NPF) with nucleation rates up to 1.1 × 10⁶ cm⁻³ s⁻¹. A proposed ozonolysis mechanism is discussed, and an estimate suggests that this agricultural activity contributes approximately one ton of particles annually in France, potentially impacting local air quality during the spreading period.

Publisher

npj Climate and Atmospheric Science

Published On

Jan 28, 2021

Authors

R. Ciuraru, J. Kammer, C. Decuq, M. Vojkovic, K. Haider, Y. Carpentier, F. Lafouge, C. Berger, M. Bourdat-Deschamps, I. K. Ortega, F. Levavasseur, S. Houot, B. Loubet, D. Petitprez, C. Focsa

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