Characterization of Halogen (Cl, Br, I) Emissions from Cooking Fuels in Nigerian Households Using Energy-Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry

Abstract

Studies have shown that most of the fuels used in developing countries were generally from wood biomass. Residential emission from traditional biomass cookstoves is a major source of indoor and outdoor air pollution. However, the exact quantification of the contribution of biomass cookstove emissions to outdoor air is still lacking. To address this gap, we designed a study to estimate the halogens present indoors, from cookstove smoke using biomass fuel. A non-destructive analysis method for total bromine (Br), chlorine (Cl), and iodine (I) contents in PM_2.5 were established using an energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry. The results (ng m^-3) were Not detectable (ND) to 0.39, 1.94 - 181, and ND - 233.40 for Br, Cl, and I respectively. Results depicted that fuels from Bamboo, palm, maize shafts, and Spondias mombin produced the highest emissions of halogens.