Black carbon emissions from an aircraft using alternative fuels

Abstract

The Alternative Aviation Fuel Experiment (AAFEX) was performed during January 2009 in order to study the effects of fuel characteristics on the aerosols emitted by aircraft. During this experiment, the exhaust of a DC-8 aircraft burning both JP-8 and alternative fuels (made via the Fischer-Tropsch process) was analyzed. In addition to in situ aerosol analysis, filter samples were collected at varying aircraft powers. These filters were then analyzed to determine the organic and black carbon fractionation of the carbonaceous aerosols. A marked decrease was seen in aerosol emission with the Fischer-Tropsch fuels in comparison to the JP-8 fuel. A detailed examination of the organic and black carbon fraction of these aerosols will be presented.