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Isotopic composition of CO2 in gasoline, diesel and natural gas combustion exhaust in Vancouver, BC, Canada Semmens, Caitlin; Ketler, Rick; Schwendenmann, Luitgard; Nesic, Zoran; Christen, Andreas

Abstract

The isotopic composition (δ¹³ and δ¹⁸) in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) originating from gasoline and diesel vehicle exhaust and from natural gas combustion was determined. Gasoline and diesel samples were taken in the exhaust of representative vehicles of the fleet in Vancouver, BC, Canada between November 2013 and May 2014. The fleet average gasoline exhaust (which contained a fraction bioethanol) was determined with a δ¹³C of -27.27 (±0.93)‰ and a δ¹⁸O of -12.46 (±3.45)‰ (w.r.t. VPD-CO₂). The fleet average for diesel vehicles exhibited a slightly lower δ¹³C of -28.81 (±0.40)‰ and a δ¹⁸O of -18.63 (±0.72)‰ close to unfractionated combustion. For natural gas, samples were taken from a open torch using the city’s natural gas supply network at different dates over the year. The mean δ¹³C for natural gas samples was -41.64 (±0.82)‰, while the mean δ¹⁸O was lower than for internal combustion engines at -22.74 (±0.56)‰. In conclusion, δ¹³C depends on the fuel type and origin and there is evidence that δ¹⁸O is fractionated in the combustion process and presence and state of catalytic converters causes different δ¹⁸O.

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Title
Isotopic composition of CO2 in gasoline, diesel and natural gas combustion exhaust in Vancouver, BC, Canada
Creator
Semmens, Caitlin; Ketler, Rick; Schwendenmann, Luitgard; Nesic, Zoran; Christen, Andreas
Date Issued
2014
Description
The isotopic composition (δ¹³ and δ¹⁸) in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) originating from gasoline and diesel vehicle exhaust and from natural gas combustion was determined. Gasoline and diesel samples were taken in the exhaust of representative vehicles of the fleet in Vancouver, BC, Canada between November 2013 and May 2014. The fleet average gasoline exhaust (which contained a fraction bioethanol) was determined with a δ¹³C of -27.27 (±0.93)‰ and a δ¹⁸O of -12.46 (±3.45)‰ (w.r.t. VPD-CO₂). The fleet average for diesel vehicles exhibited a slightly lower δ¹³C of -28.81 (±0.40)‰ and a δ¹⁸O of -18.63 (±0.72)‰ close to unfractionated combustion. For natural gas, samples were taken from a open torch using the city’s natural gas supply network at different dates over the year. The mean δ¹³C for natural gas samples was -41.64 (±0.82)‰, while the mean δ¹⁸O was lower than for internal combustion engines at -22.74 (±0.56)‰. In conclusion, δ¹³C depends on the fuel type and origin and there is evidence that δ¹⁸O is fractionated in the combustion process and presence and state of catalytic converters causes different δ¹⁸O.
Subject
Carbon dioxide; Isotopes; Atmosphere; Urban; Gasoline; Diesel; Natural Gas; Exhaust
Geographic Location
Vancouver (B.C.)
Genre
Report
Type
Text
Language
eng
Date Available
2014-09-09
Provider
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada
DOI
10.14288/1.0103591
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/2429/50324
Affiliation
Arts, Faculty of; Geography, Department of; Land and Food Systems, Faculty of; Non UBC
Peer Review Status
Unreviewed
Scholarly Level
Faculty
Rights URI
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ca/
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada