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Molybdenum as a tracer to anthropogenic activity
Citation
Tennant, A and Lane, S and Proemse, B and Wieser, M, Molybdenum as a tracer to anthropogenic activity, 15th Annual Meeting of the Northwest Section of the American Physical Society, 1-3 May 2014, Seattle, USA (2014) [Conference Extract]
Abstract
The trace metal molybdenum (Mo) is not very abundant in the environment,
but has numerous applications in anthropogenic activities. For instance,
Mo sulphide (MoS2) is a component of diesel fuel. Mo is used as a catalyst in many
engines and is believed to be the most efficient catalyst for the hydro-cracking of bitumen,
and has even been found in the emissions of coal-fired power plants. Hence,
anthropogenic activities may release Mo in larger amounts to the environment that
may affect terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (e.g. via its coupling with the N cycle).
We have therefore investigated the potential of Mo concentration and isotopic
abundances as a tracer of androgenic emissions. Using a method of elemental double
spiking, we measured Mo concentrations and isotopic composition of aerosols
throughout the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Airborne Mo was collected at several
locations, ranging from an isolated weather station to a busy bus garage where
buses were left to idle for extended periods of time. Mo concentrations ranged from
0.07 ng/m3 in the laboratory 19.0 ng/m3 in the bus garage. The isotopic compositions
were variable from throughout the sampling sites. These results suggest that
Mo has the potential to be used as a tracer of anthropogenic activity.
Item Details
Item Type: | Conference Extract |
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Keywords: | molybdenum, trace metal, aerosol |
Research Division: | Earth Sciences |
Research Group: | Geochemistry |
Research Field: | Isotope geochemistry |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Air quality, atmosphere and weather |
Objective Field: | Air quality |
UTAS Author: | Proemse, B (Dr Bernadette Proemse) |
ID Code: | 101685 |
Year Published: | 2014 |
Deposited By: | Zoology |
Deposited On: | 2015-06-30 |
Last Modified: | 2017-05-08 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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