Investigation of Airborne Particulate Matter from a Holiday Celebration in Central Oklahoma Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
Herein, a recently developed UAV/Drone approach as a new vector for the collection of airborne particulate matter is reported. In this study, airborne particle emissions from plumes generated in a holiday fireworks display were collected. A platform fabricated using a 3D printer was mounted on the d...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/6/3151 |
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| author | John-Thomas Murray Mark Lohatepanont Fernando Sisniega Serrano Diego Perez Avendano Wilson Merchan-Merchan |
| author_facet | John-Thomas Murray Mark Lohatepanont Fernando Sisniega Serrano Diego Perez Avendano Wilson Merchan-Merchan |
| author_sort | John-Thomas Murray |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Herein, a recently developed UAV/Drone approach as a new vector for the collection of airborne particulate matter is reported. In this study, airborne particle emissions from plumes generated in a holiday fireworks display were collected. A platform fabricated using a 3D printer was mounted on the drone, which allowed for particulate capture using double-sided carbon tape attached to aluminum disks. The drone platform was used to trap airborne samples from two types of plumes: high-altitude sampling (HAS), which relates to professional fireworks, and low-altitude sampling (LAS), associated with personal fireworks. Collected samples were studied using a Scanning Electron Microscope alongside Electron Dispersal X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) for elemental composition analysis. The overall findings regarding the physical morphology reveal several key observations. Firstly, particles from professional fireworks are significantly larger and more spheroidal than those from personal fireworks. Secondly, both types of fireworks show a consistent trend in which some of the larger particles have finer particulates deposited on their surfaces. Lastly, the plumes produced by both types contain spheres that are either solid, hollow or exhibit a core–shell structure. EDX analysis revealed the presence of various types of metals within the samples. EDX analysis shows that the samples collected from the HAS and LAS contain particulates with common elements. However, the samples from the plume of professional fireworks appear to have Ba, Mg, and Fe compared to the samples from personal fireworks. These elements are known to be used in powerful fireworks to create colored displays. A proposed mechanism for particulate growth in fireworks is proposed and discussed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-975e3258f0cd44aba350089e5b1109cf |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-975e3258f0cd44aba350089e5b1109cf2025-08-20T02:42:38ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-03-01156315110.3390/app15063151Investigation of Airborne Particulate Matter from a Holiday Celebration in Central Oklahoma Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)John-Thomas Murray0Mark Lohatepanont1Fernando Sisniega Serrano2Diego Perez Avendano3Wilson Merchan-Merchan4School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USAMechanical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USADepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USASchool of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USASchool of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USAHerein, a recently developed UAV/Drone approach as a new vector for the collection of airborne particulate matter is reported. In this study, airborne particle emissions from plumes generated in a holiday fireworks display were collected. A platform fabricated using a 3D printer was mounted on the drone, which allowed for particulate capture using double-sided carbon tape attached to aluminum disks. The drone platform was used to trap airborne samples from two types of plumes: high-altitude sampling (HAS), which relates to professional fireworks, and low-altitude sampling (LAS), associated with personal fireworks. Collected samples were studied using a Scanning Electron Microscope alongside Electron Dispersal X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) for elemental composition analysis. The overall findings regarding the physical morphology reveal several key observations. Firstly, particles from professional fireworks are significantly larger and more spheroidal than those from personal fireworks. Secondly, both types of fireworks show a consistent trend in which some of the larger particles have finer particulates deposited on their surfaces. Lastly, the plumes produced by both types contain spheres that are either solid, hollow or exhibit a core–shell structure. EDX analysis revealed the presence of various types of metals within the samples. EDX analysis shows that the samples collected from the HAS and LAS contain particulates with common elements. However, the samples from the plume of professional fireworks appear to have Ba, Mg, and Fe compared to the samples from personal fireworks. These elements are known to be used in powerful fireworks to create colored displays. A proposed mechanism for particulate growth in fireworks is proposed and discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/6/3151air pollutionairborne particulatesfireworksSEMelectron dispersal X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) |
| spellingShingle | John-Thomas Murray Mark Lohatepanont Fernando Sisniega Serrano Diego Perez Avendano Wilson Merchan-Merchan Investigation of Airborne Particulate Matter from a Holiday Celebration in Central Oklahoma Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Applied Sciences air pollution airborne particulates fireworks SEM electron dispersal X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) |
| title | Investigation of Airborne Particulate Matter from a Holiday Celebration in Central Oklahoma Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) |
| title_full | Investigation of Airborne Particulate Matter from a Holiday Celebration in Central Oklahoma Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) |
| title_fullStr | Investigation of Airborne Particulate Matter from a Holiday Celebration in Central Oklahoma Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation of Airborne Particulate Matter from a Holiday Celebration in Central Oklahoma Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) |
| title_short | Investigation of Airborne Particulate Matter from a Holiday Celebration in Central Oklahoma Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) |
| title_sort | investigation of airborne particulate matter from a holiday celebration in central oklahoma using an unmanned aerial vehicle uav |
| topic | air pollution airborne particulates fireworks SEM electron dispersal X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/6/3151 |
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