THE MORPHOLOGY OF CHROMIUM AND LIF MEASUREMENT OF ATOMIC ARSENIC IN LAMINAR DIFFUSION FLAMES

The morphology and size distribution of chromium oxides and the concentration measurement of atomic arsenic have been studied in laminar diffusion flames. Nitrogen was added to vary flame temperatures in hydrogen flames. Ethene flames were used in order to investigate the potential for interaction between the soot aerosol that is formed in these flames and the chromium aerosol. Two sources of chromium compounds were introduced: chromium nitrate and chromium hexacarbonyl. A detailed investigation of the morphology was carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The amounts of Cr(VI) and total Cr were determined by a spectrophotometric method and by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, respectively. Also, LIF was used for the measurement of atomic arsenic, which was excited at 197.2 nm and was detected at 249.6 nm. Results showed that the morphology of the particles varied with the flame temperature and with the chromium source. The particles were characterized by porous structures, cenospheres and agglomerated dense particles when chromium nitrate solution was added to the flames. At low to moderate temperatures, porous sintered cenospheric structures were formed, in some cases with a blow hole. At higher temperatures, an agglomerated cluster which was composed of loosely sintered submicron particles was observed. It was also found that the emission of Cr(VI) from the undiluted $H_2$ flame was more than 10 times larger than in the 50% $H_2$ / 50% $N_2$ flame on a mass basis. Single point LIF measurement of atomic arsenic indicated that arsenic exist only in the low temperature, fuel rich region.