Mineralogical composition of the total suspended particles as a tool for emissions sources identification

Abstract

The total dust deposition was analyzed by X-ray diffraction in the Moravian-Silesian Region (the Czech Republic) three times during years 2013-2014. The results of mineralogical composition of the total dust deposition were used to distinguish the sources of air pollution in selected localities in the Moravian-Silesian Region. Sampling sites were selected according an estimate for the prevailing influence of the pollution source (metallurgical industry, local house heating, transport and background localities in mountains). Mineral phases in the total dust deposition can be divided into three groups. The first group contains common clastic components which are transported from soils or from the dust on roads by resuspension (quartz, feldspars - albite, orthoclase and microcline, phyllosilicates - muscovite, chlorite and kaolinite, carbonates - calcite, siderite and magnesite). The second group is formed by minerals from raw materials used in metallurgical industry (hematite, magnetite, graphite and calcite) and minerals originated during technological processes (akermanite, mayenite and spinel). The third group contains salts which are present in secondary aerosols (sulphates - boussingaultit and lecontite, chlorides - sal-ammoniac, halite). Proportion of secondary minerals was in the nine out of ten sampling sites higher during the winter season than during summer season. The percentage of resuspended particles is from 1.2 to 7.5 times higher in the summer season, compared with the winter period. The influence of metallurgical industry was proved by the presence of hematite and magnetite at 9 out of 10 sampling sites. At the localities Ostrava Radvanice and Trinec, iron oxides form up to 50% of crystalline phases in the total dust deposition.