EMISSION FACTORS AND THERMAL EFFICIENCIES OF COOKING BIOFUELS FROM 5 COUNTRIES

The aim of the study was to compare the environmental and thermal perf ormance of cooking biofuels from five countries. The standard water bo iling test was used to determine thermal parameters. The fuels were bu rnt in a metal stove in a test chamber in accordance with standard pro tocol. Low-flow air samplers were used for particulate matter measurem ents, both TSP and RSP. Later, benzo(a)pyrene was determined using the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique after extract ion from particulate samples in benzene. CO was measured using an elec tronic datalogger and HCHO using a passive sampler. The ventilation co nditions during the experiments were manipulated by using different co mbinations of doors, windows and fans to ensure minimum stratification of pollutants in the chamber. The indirect method of deriving emissio n factors was used. Levels of most of the pollutants measured was foun d to be higher than that reported by previous studies, especially that of benzo(a)pyrene. The thermal efficiency was found to be in the rang e 10-15%. The emission per task of RSP was 0.27-0.77 g and that of B(a )P in RSP was 1.87-4.17 mg. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd . All rights reserved.