Publication Date

8-2022

Date of Final Oral Examination (Defense)

5-26-2022

Type of Culminating Activity

Thesis

Degree Title

Master of Science in Chemistry

Department

Chemistry

Supervisory Committee Chair

Matthew King, Ph.D.

Supervisory Committee Member

Eric Brown, Ph.D.

Supervisory Committee Member

Michael Callahan, Ph.D.

Abstract

The severity of wildfires in the United States are increasing and in the amount of acreage burned due to climate change and a sustained drought in the western part of the country. As a greater number of wildfires burn in the west, the amount of smoke produced becomes a health concern to the public. Wildfires release airborne toxins and hazardous air pollutants that cause adverse health effects to the public in high concentrations but are of principle concern to health officials as they have differential impacts on infants and children. Some of the airborne toxins released are carbonyl compounds such as: formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, acrolein, and methacrolein. An air quality index (AQI) is the primary method of reporting air quality and the attributed health effects to the public. However, an AQI cannot quantify select pollutants or reliably quantify the airborne toxins in situ. The development of a mid-IR and nonlinear Raman detection instrumentation would allow for more dependable collection of wildfire smoke data and the quantification of select carbonyl compounds. Wildfire smoke was collected over the summer of 2021 around southwestern Idaho using EPA method TO-11A to determine the reliability of the method against optical detection methods. The initial development of a compact LED-based mid-IR instrument was constructed and limits of detection and quantitation were determined. Nonlinear Raman methods were explored using the optical output from photonic crystal fibers, for which output characterization and the sensitivity, selectivity, and limits of detection will be evaluated for the potential development of a compact all fiber spectrometer with real time in situ capabilities in Idaho.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18122/td.1981.boisestate

Download

Included in

Chemistry Commons

Share

COinS