Study the amount of particulate matter up to 2.5 microns from the burning of corn stubble

Abstract

About 54% of air pollution in Thailand is caused by open burning. Most of which are incineration to remove agricultural waste such as corn stubble, sugarcane, rice straw, etc. Corn is very important to the animal feed industry. In Thailand, more than 6 million rai have been used for maize cultivation.  Eliminating the stubble of corn by burning is It won't take long and has a low cost. The objective of this research is to study the amount of particulate matter with a size up to 2.5 microns that caused by corn stubble burning. In the experiment, corn stubble was burned in a closed area to avoid interference from external factors. The laboratory size had an air volume of 60 cubic meters and dust was measured with the DustTrak II Aerosol Monitor Model 8532 by weight of the corn stubble used in the calcination experiment, the average weight ranged from 214.463 - 388. 143 grams and the moisture content of corn stubble from 4 to 77 percent. The experiment showed that the amount of dust depends on the moisture content. The moisture content of 4-10%, 26-49%, 65-77% generated dust in the laboratory 14.46-40.08, 15.04-56.64, 21.92-64.24 mg / m3 respectively, and found that the emission coefficient ( Emission factor) of PM2.5 dust in the range of 3.02 ± 1.6 g / kg. It was found that releasing the stubble of corn stalks to dry after harvesting for more than 5 weeks reduced the moisture content of the stubble by 10 times, resulting in a 36% reduction in dust volume. 6 grams per kilogram It was found that releasing the stubble of corn stalks to dry after harvesting for more than 5 weeks reduced the moisture content of the stubble by 10 times, resulting in a 36% reduction in dust volume. 6 grams per kilogram It was found that releasing the stubble of corn stalks to dry after harvesting for more than 5 weeks reduced the moisture content of the stubble by 10X , Resulting in a 36% reduction in the volume of dust generated.

Keywords: particulate matter, corn stubble, air pollution