A multiple-isotope approach to tracing natural gas processing emissions

This thesis explores whether emissions from natural gas processing facilities are isotopically distinct, and if so whether they can be used to identify and apportion emissions downwind. Samples were collected at source, receptor, and control sites in Alberta and British Columbia and analysed for both sulphur and boron isotopes during a series of field campaigns conducted from September 2001 to April 2003 using high-volume samplers. Sulphur dioxide (SO2) was determined to be the most representative of a given plant at the time of sampling, while sulphate (SO42-) appeared to be dominated by a single source, very likely a sour gas plant with SO 2 emissions on the order of 14,000 m3 day-1 . Isotopic fractionation as a result of SO2 oxidation was not observed. It was possible to distinguish between sweet and sour plants and between plants in Alberta and plants in B.C., rather than from all plants individually.; Results of the receptor site samples showed some correlation between both SO2 and SO42- which could indicate that they were mainly emitted from the same sources, although SO2 was much more variable than SO42-. Atmospheric SO42- removal may have occurred.; A method for extracting boron by allowing samples to equilibrate with ion-exchange resin was developed. The method was shown to permit the extraction of both boron and sulphate from the same particulate filter without compromising the analysis of either substance. Therefore it may be used for future sampling of boron in gaseous and particulate phases for isotope apportionment studies.