OP-FTIR was deployed at Air Monitoring Station 1 (AMS1) in Fort McKay in the oil sands region for about two months to monitor odour compounds, volatile organic compounds and other gaseous compounds. Methane, alkanes, ammonia, formaldehyde and methanol were detected and quantified. High methane concentrations (>= 2.4 ppm) were recorded mainly under south-south-westerly wind. Non- Methane Hydrocarbon (NMHC) episodes were detected mainly under northerly wind. Hourly results of methane agreed well with those from AMS1 of WBEA. 5-min results of NMHC were calculated using alkane concentrations determined by OP-FTIR and then compared to NMHC results from AMS1. Consistent trends were observed for major NMHC episodes between OP-FTIR (calculated) and AMS1 (directly measured) results on 7 select days when both OP-FTIR and AMS1 detected NMHC. OP-FTIR was a compliment to AMS1 with speciation information and demonstrated its capability in monitoring multi-compounds simultaneously and continuously. More field campaigns for longer time periods in the oil sands region are necessary to have a better understanding of odour complaints and air emissions from oil sands operations.
biography
Mr. Longdong Zhang is a Research Engineer at University of Alberta. He has more than 3 years’ practical experience in air quality monitoring, more specifically in characterization and quantification of fugitive emissions, using advanced environmental sensing technologies in conjunction with eddy covariance and/or inverse dispersion techniques, in the oil sands region and other areas. In addition, he also worked on air pollution control research projects using activated carbons to capture volatile organic compounds or gaseous mercury. He graduated from University of Alberta with a Master’s degree in 2014.
