Emerging Concerns on Air Pollutants from Chemistry Laboratories: Emission Characteristics, Effects of Diffusion, and Ozone Formation Potential
摘要
To clarify the emission characteristics and environmental impacts of air pollutants from university chemical laboratories and address the gap in relevant pollution control standards, this study focused on 21 typical chemical laboratories across 3 universities in Beijing. A systematic investigation was conducted on pollutant emission characteristics, diffusion patterns, ozone formation potential (OFP), and regional emission inventory using methods including long-term periodic on-site monitoring, instrumental analysis (e.g., GC-MS-FTIR), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation, and the emission factor method. The results showed that a total of 47 pollutants were stably detected in the laboratory emissions, comprising 8 inorganic substances and 39 organic substances (such as alkanes, benzene series, and halogenated hydrocarbons). The pollutant emissions exhibited significant periodicity, which was highly correlated with the laboratory work schedule, and were characterized by intermittent low peaks and short-lived peak concentrations. The average pollutant emission intensity of the laboratories in the 3 universities was 27.3±28.6 g·m⁻²·d⁻¹, and their OFP was higher than that of industries such as plywood manufacturing and packaging printing. In 2021, the total emission of air pollutants from chemical laboratories of universities in Beijing reached 2630 tons, including 698 tons of inorganic gaseous pollutants and 1932 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with Haidian District being the primary emission area. This study identified that low-concentration and high-reactivity substances are the key targets for laboratory pollutant control, providing a scientific basis and technical support for the prevention and control of air pollution from chemical laboratories in academic institutions.