Chemical characterisation of fine particle emissions from wood stove combustion of common woods growing in mid-European Alpine regions

Woodsmoke samples derived from the combustion of beech, oak, spruce, larch and softwood briquettes in a closed stove have been collected and analysed so as to derive chemical profiles for ambient particulate matter (PM) source apportionment studies, for example, by CMB modelling. Trace metals, soluble ions, carbon species total carbon (TC), elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC), anhydrosugars, polar and non-polar trace organics, cellulose and humic-like substances (HULIS) have been measured. The inorganic and most organic components were not significantly different for the different woods, so that one profile could be derived for CMB modelling. The anhydrosugar levoglucosan was present in high concentrations, 4–15% w/w, and for the mix of woods important for Austria, one conversion factor can be used to derive the mass of woodsmoke from the levoglucosan concentration in ambient air. Mannosan is also a major component, 0.3–4% w/w, which, taken together with the levoglucosan content, permits estimates to be made of the proportion of hard- and softwood smoke to ambient PM.