Identification of refractory zirconia from catalytic converters in dust: An emerging pollutant in urban environments

Diana Meza-Figueroa; Martín Pedroza-Montero; Marcelino Barboza-Flores; Sofía Navarro-Espinoza; Rodolfo Ruiz-Torres; Agustín Robles-Morúa; Francisco Romero; Benedetto Schiavo; Belem González-Grijalva; Mónica Acosta-Elias; Abraham Mendoza-Córdova

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143384

Identification of refractory zirconia from catalytic converters in dust: An emerging pollutant in urban environments

Diana Meza-Figueroa, Martín Pedroza-Montero^*, Marcelino Barboza-Flores, Sofía Navarro-Espinoza, Rodolfo Ruiz-Torres, Agustín Robles-Morúa, Francisco Romero, Benedetto Schiavo, Belem González-Grijalva, Mónica Acosta-Elias, Abraham Mendoza-Córdova

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using catalytic converters is one of the most effective methods to control vehicle emissions. A washcoat of cerium oxide-zirconia (CeO₂–ZrO₂) has been used to enhance the performance of the catalytic converter device. To date, the prevalence of this material in the environment has not been assessed. In this study, we present evidence of the existence of inhalable zirconia in urban dust. Samples of the washcoat, exhaust pipe, topsoil, and road dust were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL). The results showed a CeO₂–ZrO₂ phase separation after sintering. This causes the emission of ZrO₂, CeO₂, and CeZrO_x particles smaller than 1 μm, which can likely reach the alveolar macrophages in the lungs. The Ce-Zr content in road dust exceeds geogenic levels, and a significant correlation of 0.87 (p < 0.05) reflects a common anthropic source. Chronic exposure to such refractory particles may result in the development of non-occupational respiratory diseases. The inhalable crystalline compounds emitted by vehicles are a significant environmental health hazard, revealing the need for further investigation and assessment of zirconia levels generated by automobiles in urban areas worldwide.

Original language	English
Article number	143384
Journal	Science of the Total Environment
Volume	760
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143384
State	Accepted/In press - 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
National Council for Science and Technology in Mexico ( CONACyT ) Grant A1-S-29697 to Diana Meza-Figueroa. Results of this paper are part of a PhD dissertation by S. Navarro-Espinoza with D. Meza-Figueroa and M. Pedroza-Montero as advisors. Benedetto Schiavo was funded by a post-doctoral (supervised by Prof. Meza-Figueroa) and Sofía Navarro-Espinoza by a doctoral scholarship (Advisors Prof. Meza-Figueroa and Prof. Pedroza-Montero) from CONACyT .

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier B.V.

Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

Catalytic converters
CeO–ZrO washcoat
Inhalable particles
Refractory microcrystals
Vehicle emissions

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10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143384

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Meza-Figueroa, D., Pedroza-Montero, M., Barboza-Flores, M., Navarro-Espinoza, S., Ruiz-Torres, R., Robles-Morúa, A., Romero, F., Schiavo, B., González-Grijalva, B., Acosta-Elias, M., & Mendoza-Córdova, A. (Accepted/In press). Identification of refractory zirconia from catalytic converters in dust: An emerging pollutant in urban environments. Science of the Total Environment, 760, Article 143384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143384

@article{db3e74e4e85d49af839ba90791e951b3,

title = "Identification of refractory zirconia from catalytic converters in dust: An emerging pollutant in urban environments",

abstract = "Using catalytic converters is one of the most effective methods to control vehicle emissions. A washcoat of cerium oxide-zirconia (CeO2–ZrO2) has been used to enhance the performance of the catalytic converter device. To date, the prevalence of this material in the environment has not been assessed. In this study, we present evidence of the existence of inhalable zirconia in urban dust. Samples of the washcoat, exhaust pipe, topsoil, and road dust were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL). The results showed a CeO2–ZrO2 phase separation after sintering. This causes the emission of ZrO2, CeO2, and CeZrOx particles smaller than 1 μm, which can likely reach the alveolar macrophages in the lungs. The Ce-Zr content in road dust exceeds geogenic levels, and a significant correlation of 0.87 (p < 0.05) reflects a common anthropic source. Chronic exposure to such refractory particles may result in the development of non-occupational respiratory diseases. The inhalable crystalline compounds emitted by vehicles are a significant environmental health hazard, revealing the need for further investigation and assessment of zirconia levels generated by automobiles in urban areas worldwide.",

keywords = "Catalytic converters, CeO–ZrO washcoat, Inhalable particles, Refractory microcrystals, Vehicle emissions",

author = "Diana Meza-Figueroa and Mart{\'i}n Pedroza-Montero and Marcelino Barboza-Flores and Sof{\'i}a Navarro-Espinoza and Rodolfo Ruiz-Torres and Agust{\'i}n Robles-Mor{\'u}a and Francisco Romero and Benedetto Schiavo and Belem Gonz{\'a}lez-Grijalva and M{\'o}nica Acosta-Elias and Abraham Mendoza-C{\'o}rdova",

note = "Funding Information: National Council for Science and Technology in Mexico ( CONACyT ) Grant A1-S-29697 to Diana Meza-Figueroa. Results of this paper are part of a PhD dissertation by S. Navarro-Espinoza with D. Meza-Figueroa and M. Pedroza-Montero as advisors. Benedetto Schiavo was funded by a post-doctoral (supervised by Prof. Meza-Figueroa) and Sof{\'i}a Navarro-Espinoza by a doctoral scholarship (Advisors Prof. Meza-Figueroa and Prof. Pedroza-Montero) from CONACyT . Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 Elsevier B.V. Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

year = "2020",

doi = "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143384",

language = "Ingl{\'e}s",

volume = "760",

journal = "Science of the Total Environment",

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Meza-Figueroa, D , Pedroza-Montero, M , Barboza-Flores, M, Navarro-Espinoza, S, Ruiz-Torres, R, Robles-Morúa, A, Romero, F, Schiavo, B, González-Grijalva, B, Acosta-Elias, M & Mendoza-Córdova, A 2020, 'Identification of refractory zirconia from catalytic converters in dust: An emerging pollutant in urban environments', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 760, 143384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143384

TY - JOUR

T1 - Identification of refractory zirconia from catalytic converters in dust

T2 - An emerging pollutant in urban environments

AU - Meza-Figueroa, Diana

AU - Pedroza-Montero, Martín

AU - Barboza-Flores, Marcelino

AU - Navarro-Espinoza, Sofía

AU - Ruiz-Torres, Rodolfo

AU - Robles-Morúa, Agustín

AU - Romero, Francisco

AU - Schiavo, Benedetto

AU - González-Grijalva, Belem

AU - Acosta-Elias, Mónica

AU - Mendoza-Córdova, Abraham

N1 - Funding Information: National Council for Science and Technology in Mexico ( CONACyT ) Grant A1-S-29697 to Diana Meza-Figueroa. Results of this paper are part of a PhD dissertation by S. Navarro-Espinoza with D. Meza-Figueroa and M. Pedroza-Montero as advisors. Benedetto Schiavo was funded by a post-doctoral (supervised by Prof. Meza-Figueroa) and Sofía Navarro-Espinoza by a doctoral scholarship (Advisors Prof. Meza-Figueroa and Prof. Pedroza-Montero) from CONACyT . Publisher Copyright: © 2020 Elsevier B.V. Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Using catalytic converters is one of the most effective methods to control vehicle emissions. A washcoat of cerium oxide-zirconia (CeO2–ZrO2) has been used to enhance the performance of the catalytic converter device. To date, the prevalence of this material in the environment has not been assessed. In this study, we present evidence of the existence of inhalable zirconia in urban dust. Samples of the washcoat, exhaust pipe, topsoil, and road dust were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL). The results showed a CeO2–ZrO2 phase separation after sintering. This causes the emission of ZrO2, CeO2, and CeZrOx particles smaller than 1 μm, which can likely reach the alveolar macrophages in the lungs. The Ce-Zr content in road dust exceeds geogenic levels, and a significant correlation of 0.87 (p < 0.05) reflects a common anthropic source. Chronic exposure to such refractory particles may result in the development of non-occupational respiratory diseases. The inhalable crystalline compounds emitted by vehicles are a significant environmental health hazard, revealing the need for further investigation and assessment of zirconia levels generated by automobiles in urban areas worldwide.

AB - Using catalytic converters is one of the most effective methods to control vehicle emissions. A washcoat of cerium oxide-zirconia (CeO2–ZrO2) has been used to enhance the performance of the catalytic converter device. To date, the prevalence of this material in the environment has not been assessed. In this study, we present evidence of the existence of inhalable zirconia in urban dust. Samples of the washcoat, exhaust pipe, topsoil, and road dust were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL). The results showed a CeO2–ZrO2 phase separation after sintering. This causes the emission of ZrO2, CeO2, and CeZrOx particles smaller than 1 μm, which can likely reach the alveolar macrophages in the lungs. The Ce-Zr content in road dust exceeds geogenic levels, and a significant correlation of 0.87 (p < 0.05) reflects a common anthropic source. Chronic exposure to such refractory particles may result in the development of non-occupational respiratory diseases. The inhalable crystalline compounds emitted by vehicles are a significant environmental health hazard, revealing the need for further investigation and assessment of zirconia levels generated by automobiles in urban areas worldwide.

KW - Catalytic converters

KW - CeO–ZrO washcoat

KW - Inhalable particles

KW - Refractory microcrystals

KW - Vehicle emissions

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U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143384

DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143384

M3 - Artículo

C2 - 33190889

AN - SCOPUS:85096085082

SN - 0048-9697

VL - 760

JO - Science of the Total Environment

JF - Science of the Total Environment

M1 - 143384

ER -

Identification of refractory zirconia from catalytic converters in dust: An emerging pollutant in urban environments

Abstract

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Keywords

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