Carbon Nanotube and Fullerene Emissions from Spark-Ignited Engines

Particles were collected from the exhaust of Indian autorickshaws with natural gas and gasoline-fueled spark-ignited engines. Transmission electron microscopy was used to determine the size and shape of 2121 systematically selected particles. Particles were largely soot agglomerates and other types documented in the literature, but approximately 10% of the nonvolatile particles were multiwalled carbon nanotubes and fullerenes, forms of crystalline carbon distinct from soot. Autorickshaw fullerenic particle number emissions can be above 1011 per kg of fuel consumed. The nanotubes identified from the exhaust of autorickshaws average 168 nm in length. This is shorter than those nanotubes of greatest health concern, but given the paucity of toxicological data on carbon nanotubes and fullerenes, the potential environmental abundance from engine sources warrants closer attention. In particular, a broader range of engine types should be considered. [Supplemental materials are available for this article. Please go to the publisher's online edition of Aerosol Science & Technology to view the online files.]