Identification of gas-phase pyrolysis products in a prescribed fire: first detections using infrared spectroscopy for naphthalene, methyl nitrite, allene, acrolein and acetaldehyde
Abstract. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted from many sources, including
wildland fire. VOCs have received heightened emphasis due to such gases'
influential role in the atmosphere, as well as possible health effects. We
have used extractive infrared (IR) spectroscopy on recent prescribed burns
in longleaf pine stands and herein report the first detection of five
compounds using this technique. The newly reported IR detections include
naphthalene, methyl nitrite, allene, acrolein and acetaldehyde. We discuss
the approaches used for detection, particularly the software methods needed
to fit the analyte and multiple (interfering) spectral components within the
selected spectral micro-window(s). We also discuss the method's detection
limits and related parameters such as spectral resolution.