The Establishment of the Environmental Implication of Automobile Exhaust Soot Using an Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry Analytical Technique

Abstract

Automobile exhaust soots were analyzed for elemental composition using an energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence analytical technique to establish their environmental implications. Eleven elements—Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, Zr, and Pb—were detected; their concentrations, enrichment factors, and correlations among the elements were determined using a combination of cross plot and cluster analyses. The results indicated that Fe had, comparably, the highest concentration, while Br had the least value. Chromium, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, and Pb had very high enrichment factor values, indicating that their elevated concentrations were caused by anthropogenic activities and were sufficient to pose environmental problem. Clustering analysis results showed four major groups and both groups were also moderately correlated with one another indicating chemical affinity and/or similar genetic origin. The results of the cross-plot analysis and Pb/Br ratio (13.6) suggested other sources apart from vehicle emission for Pb. The {Σ_(Element)}, 11.6% of the soots, indicated that the exhaust soots were very loaded with elements, including potential toxic elements, while the total carbon of the soot was 88.3%, indicating that it can serve as a source of carbon if purified. Energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence was established to be a good method for the analysis of elemental contents of the vehicle exhaust soots.

Keywords:

• automobile
• element
• energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence
• environmental implication
• exhaust soot