Raman Tweezers for Tire and Road Wear Micro- and Nanoparticles Analysis

Tire and Road Wear Particles (TRWP) are non-exhaust particulate matter generated by road transport means during the mechanical abrasion of tires, brakes and roads. TRWP accumulate on the roadsides and are transported into the aquatic ecosystem during stormwater runoffs. Due to their size (sub-millimetric) and rubber content (elastomers), TRWP are considered microplastics (MPs). While the amount of the MPs polluting the water ecosystem with sizes from ~ 5 μm to more than 100 μm is known, the fraction of smaller particles is unknown due to the technological gap in the detection and analysis of < 5 μm MPs. Here we show that Raman Tweezers, a combination of optical tweezers and Raman spectroscopy, can be used to trap and chemically analyze individual TWRPs in a liquid environment, down to the sub-micrometric scale. Using tire particles mechanically grinded from aged car tires in water solutions, we show that it is possible to optically trap individual sub-micron particles, in a so-called 2D trapping configuration, and acquire their Raman spectrum in few tens of seconds. The analysis is then extended to samples collected from a brake test platform, where we highlight the presence of sub-micrometric agglomerates of rubber and brake debris, thanks to the presence of additional spectral features other than carbon. Our results show the potential of Raman Tweezers in environmental pollution analysis and highlight the formation of nanosized TRWP during wear.

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Quantification of Non-Exhaust Particulate Matter Emissions from Road Transport

Energy and Environment ◽

10.1002/9781119307761.ch25 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 385-399

Author(s):

Ilias Vouitsis ◽

Leonidas Ntziachristos ◽

Christos Samaras ◽

Zissis Samaras

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

Road Transport ◽

Particulate Matter Emissions ◽

Exhaust Particulate

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Assessment of Environmental Risks of Particulate Matter Emissions from Road Transport Based on the Emission Inventory

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11136123 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (13) ◽

pp. 6123

Author(s):

Katarzyna Bebkiewicz ◽

Zdzisław Chłopek ◽

Hubert Sar ◽

Krystian Szczepański ◽

Magdalena Zimakowska-Laskowska

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

Legal Status ◽

Monitoring And Evaluation ◽

Road Transport ◽

Solid Particles ◽

Pollutant Emissions ◽

European Economic Area ◽

Engine Exhaust ◽

Exhaust Gases ◽

Particulate Matter Emissions

The aim of this study is to investigate the environmental hazards posed by solid particles resulting from road transport. To achieve this, a methodology used to inventory pollutant emissions was used in accordance with the recommendations of the EMEP/EEA (European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme/European Economic Area). This paper classifies particulates derived from road transport with reference to their properties and sources of origin. The legal status of environmental protection against particulate matter is presented. The emissions of particulate matter with different properties from different road transport sources is examined based on the results of Poland’s inventory of pollutant emissions in the year 2018. This study was performed using areas with characteristic traffic conditions: inside and outside cities, as well as on highways and expressways. The effects of vehicles were classified according to Euro emissions standards into the categories relating to the emissions of different particulate matter types. The results obtained showed that technological progress in the automobile sector has largely contributed to a reduction in particulate matter emissions associated with engine exhaust gases, and that this has had slight effect on particulate matter emissions associated with the tribological processes of vehicles. The conclusion formed is that it is advisable to undertake work towards the control and reduction of road transport particulate matter emissions associated with the sources other than engine exhaust gases.

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Quantification of Non-Exhaust Particulate Matter Traffic Emissions and the Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown at London Marylebone Road

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos12020190 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 190

Author(s):

William Hicks ◽

Sean Beevers ◽

Anja H. Tremper ◽

Gregor Stewart ◽

Max Priestman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

Measurement Data ◽

Emission Factors ◽

Meteorological Conditions ◽

Traffic Emissions ◽

Atmospheric Particulate Matter ◽

Exhaust Emission ◽

Brake Wear ◽

The Impact ◽

Exhaust Particulate

This research quantifies current sources of non-exhaust particulate matter traffic emissions in London using simultaneous, highly time-resolved, atmospheric particulate matter mass and chemical composition measurements. The measurement campaign ran at Marylebone Road (roadside) and Honor Oak Park (background) urban monitoring sites over a 12-month period between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020. The measurement data were used to determine the traffic increment (roadside–background) and covered a range of meteorological conditions, seasons, and driving styles, as well as the influence of the COVID-19 “lockdown” on non-exhaust concentrations. Non-exhaust particulate matter (PM)10 concentrations were calculated using chemical tracer scaling factors for brake wear (barium), tyre wear (zinc), and resuspension (silicon) and as average vehicle fleet non-exhaust emission factors, using a CO2 “dilution approach”. The effect of lockdown, which saw a 32% reduction in traffic volume and a 15% increase in average speed on Marylebone Road, resulted in lower PM10 and PM2.5 traffic increments and brake wear concentrations but similar tyre and resuspension concentrations, confirming that factors that determine non-exhaust emissions are complex. Brake wear was found to be the highest average non-exhaust emission source. In addition, results indicate that non-exhaust emission factors were dependent upon speed and road surface wetness conditions. Further statistical analysis incorporating a wider variability in vehicle mix, speeds, and meteorological conditions, as well as advanced source apportionment of the PM measurement data, were undertaken to enhance our understanding of these important vehicle sources.

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