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Levoglucosan Emission from Different Indigenous and Exotic Plant Species in Bangladesh

K Jahan
Department of Chemistry, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

F Jeba
Department of Chemistry, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

MS Islam
Department of Chemistry, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

A Salam
Department of Chemistry, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Levoglucosan is a biomarker for biomass burning with high emission efficiency. Both indigenous and exotic plant species (biomass) are common in Bangladesh and used as a fuel source in rural areas for cooking purposes. Three indigenous plants, Mango (Mangifera indica), Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), Coconut (Cocos nucifera), and three exotic plants, Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni), Koroi (Albizia lebbeck), Guava (Psidium guajava), were selected for this experiment. The study was carried out to determine and compare the levoglucosan emission for these selected indigenous and exotic plants upon burning at the typical rural cooking stove on the laboratory scale. PM₁₀ samples were collected on top of the cooking stove using a low volume air sampler (LVAS). The concentration was determined quantitatively by UV-visible spectrophotometer using anthrone-sulfuric acid reagent. The exotic plant samples (7.47 mg/m³) emitted a higher concentration of levoglucosan than the indigenous plant samples (6.49 mg/m³). Among the six different leaf samples, S. mahagoni leaves showed the highest emission of levoglucosan (6.31 mg/m³) and C. nucifera leaves showed the lowest levoglucosan (5.74 mg/m³) due to their individual cellulose content and combustion efficiency. Among the six wood samples, S. mahagoni woods showed the maximum concentration (9.63 mg/m³) and C. nucifera coir showed the minimum concentration (6.631 mg/m³) of levoglucosan emission. The soft leaf samples (6.02 mg/m³) showed lower emission than the hardwood (7.97 mg/m³) samples because of their diverse structural pattern and combustion efficiency. Comparing the emission factors, the exotic wood and leaf samples (EF=2.89*10^– ³g/kg) showed higher emission than the indigenous wood and leaf samples (EF=2.55*10^–3g/kg).

Keywords: Levoglucosan; Biomarker; Exotic and indigenous plant species; Biomass burning; Emission factor.

Location: Environmental and Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratory, Mukarram Hussain Khundaker Science Building, Department of Chemistry, University of Dhaka

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Knowledge Management

Commodity: Bio-gas

Objectives:

To determine levoglucosan concentration during the burning of several indigenous and exotic plant species commonly used for cooking and for other purposes in Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The indigenous and exotic plant samples, including both leaves and woods of Mango, Jackfruit, Coconut, Mahogany, Koroi, and Guava, were obtained from Bhangura Upazila (Latitude: 24.13°N, Longitude: 89.24°E), Pabna district, Bangladesh. The samples were collected manually, kept inside individual plastic carry bags, and transported to the Environmental and Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratory, Mukarram Hussain Khundaker Science Building, Department of Chemistry, University of Dhaka (DU) for carrying out the experiment. Quartz filter papers (Gelman, membrane filters, type tissue quartz 2500 quarts-up, 47mm diameter) were used for collecting particulate matter (PM10) emissions from the burning of the plant samples. Before sampling, the Quartz filter papers were heated for 4 hours at 800°C to remove all the organic impurities, then kept in a desiccator to attain room temperature. The plant samples (both woods and leaves) were cut into small pieces, dried and about 250.0 g of each sample was burned in a typical cooking stove. Approximately 31cm above the stove, a sample holder of a low volume air sampler filled with pretreated Quartz filter paper was held to collect particulate matter (PM₁₀) emissions for 2.5 minutes. The process was repeated two times. The loaded filter papers were kept in the petri-dish and rapped with aluminum foil. All the loaded filter papers were preserved below 4°C in the refrigerator until the extraction process. Individually all the filter papers were incised one-fourth with clean scissors and forceps. The incised filter papers were placed in 50.0ml volumetric flasks and filled up to the mark by deionized water. The mixtures were sonicated for 1hour at room temperature and settled down for 30.0 minutes. The mixed solutions were then filtered with Whatman-40 filter paper, and the filtrates were used as a stock solution for UV analysis. For preparing anthrone reagent 0.02 mL of anthrone (9,10-dihydro-9-oxoanthracene) was dissolved in 100.0 mL concentrated sulfuric acid (97%). After 45.0 minutes, the reagent was clear. Every day this reagent was prepared freshly and used within 12 hours (Yemm and Wills 1954). Different standard levoglucosan solutions (0.05, 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 1.00 and 1.50 ppm) were prepared in 50.0 mL volumetric flask by deionized water. 10.0 mL of anthrone reagent was mixed with 5.0 mL levoglucosan standard solution in a thick-walled Pyrex tube (150×25 mm). The tube was then transferred to a 100°C shaking water bath for 10.0 minutes to produce a green dye. It was kept at 4°C for 5.0 minutes to prevent condensation of moisture during reading and 5.0 minutes in water at 20°C. Then the UV visible spectrum of the solution was obtained. From the absorbance peak, a maximum wavelength of 340 nm was obtained. Finally, each solution’s absorbance was taken at 340 nm by UV Visible spectrometer. 0.02 mL of anthrone (9,10-dihydro-9-oxoanthracene) was dissolved in 100.0 mL concentrated sulfuric acid (97%). 10.0 mL of the prepared anthrone solution was transferred to a series of test tubes immersed in an ice water bath. It was carefully overlayered with 5.0 mL of stock solution of different plant samples. After these additions had been made, the tubes were shaken rapidly. The tubes were then transferred to a 100°C boiling water bath (shaking water bath: JSSB-30T) for 10.0 minutes. It was followed by a 4°C ice bath for 5.0 minutes to prevent moisture condensation during reading, finally 5.0 minutes in 20°C water. The solution was kept at room temperature, and the absorbance of these solutions was measured within 1-hour by UV-visible spectrometer (UV-1800, Shimadzu, Japan) at 340 nm against deionized water. This process was performed three times for all the samples. The conversion factor can be used to express concentrations as parts per million (ppm) or as parts per billion (ppb). The conversion factor is dependent on the molecular weight of the chemical and is different for every chemical. Atmospheric temperature and pressure impact the measurement as well. Conversions for chemical compounds in the air typically require 1 air pressure and a 25°C temperature. The equation to be translated from concentration in parts per million to concentration in milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m³) is as follows for these conditions.

Source of Information: J. biodivers. conserv. bioresour. manag. 6(2), 2020

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/jbcbm.v6i2.55241

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The results of this study suggest that, among both indigenous and exotic plant species, exotic plant samples showed the highest amount of levoglucosan emissions after burning. The average concentration of levoglucosan emission for the exotic plant samples upon burning is 7.48 mg/m³, and indigenous plant samples are 6.49mg/m³. The exotic samples showed 1.15 times greater emissions than the indigenous samples. S. mahagoni woods (exotic) released the largest concentrations of levoglucosan (9.63 mg/m³) and C. nucifera leaves (indigenous) released the lowest volume of levoglucosan (5.74 mg/m³) in all samples. The average concentration of the dry leaf samples (6.02 mg/m³) is lower than the wood samples (7.98 mg/m³). The average emission factor for exotic plant samples (2.89*10^– ³g/kg) provides a higher rate than the indigenous plant samples (2.55*10^–3g/kg).

Knowledge Management: Journal