On-road emissions of light-duty vehicles: detailed analysis of particulate and gaseous pollutants
Abstract
This study characterizes real-driving emissions from five light-duty vehicles—spanning urban, rural, and highway conditions—using complementary online and offline measurements. While diesel vehicles (Euro 6b van and Euro 6 passenger car) emitted the highest levels of NOx (0.050–0.379 g km -1 ), their particulate emissions were dominated by low- and extremely low-volatility organics enriched in sulfur and nitrogen. UHPLC-Orbitrap mass spectrometry supported molecular formula assignment for complex organic mixtures, revealing that CHOS compounds accounted for 12–57% and CHONS for 6–19% of particulate emissions. Positive ionization further enhanced the detection of nitrogen-rich species such as CHON (26–52%), showing the complementary molecular coverage of the two ionization modes. In contrast, modern gasoline vehicles (Euro 6d and Euro 6) exhibited lower NOx but higher total hydrocarbons (0.124–0.898 g km -1 ), with particulate emissions dominated by intermediate- and semi-volatile nitrogen-containing species (CHON 26–52%). The older gasoline vehicle (Euro 4) displayed elevated CHOS fractions (∼58%), observed for this individual vehicle. Orbitrap mass spectrometry provided chemical fingerprinting of these emissions. Given the small, heterogeneous vehicle set, differences among vehicles are interpreted descriptively rather than attributed to individual effects of fuel type, vehicle age, or after-treatment. Among the molecular formulas detected and assigned by ESI-Orbitrap MS, the diesel-vehicle samples exhibited relatively high number fractions of sulfur- and nitrogen-containing formulas and of formulas classified as LVOCs and ELVOCs. Combining real-time gas-phase and particle monitoring (FTIR spectroscopy and SPN23 particle counters and) with Orbitrap-based analysis provided molecular-composition and volatility information alongside measurements of regulated pollutants.
Related
- Particulate Matter Emissions from an Ammonia Spark-Ignition Engine
- Short-Rotation Coppice Pellets as Biofuels in a Modern Boiler with an Electrostatic Precipitator: Particulate Matter and Carbon Monoxide Emissions
- 多孔框架材料用于食品中新污染物的样品前处理研究进展 Recent progress on sample pretreatment methods of emerging pollutants in food based on porous framework materials
- Regio- and Enantioselective Functionalization of Gaseous Alkanes via Nickel-Catalyzed Alkene Dicarbofunctionalization.
- Redox Properties of the Copper Centers in Particulate Methane Monooxygenase
BibTeX
@article{jabbarihichri2026onroad,
title = {{On-road emissions of light-duty vehicles: detailed analysis of particulate and gaseous pollutants}},
author = {A. Jabbari-Hichri and Y. Azizi and B. Guiot and A. Boréave and C. George},
journal = {Atmospheric Pollution Research},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1016/j.apr.2026.103252},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05851346v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - On-road emissions of light-duty vehicles: detailed analysis of particulate and gaseous pollutants
AU - A. Jabbari-Hichri
AU - Y. Azizi
AU - B. Guiot
AU - A. Boréave
AU - C. George
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - Atmospheric Pollution Research
DO - 10.1016/j.apr.2026.103252
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05851346v1
AB - This study characterizes real-driving emissions from five light-duty vehicles—spanning urban, rural, and highway conditions—using complementary online and offline measurements. While diesel vehicles (Euro 6b van and Euro 6 passenger car) emitted the highest levels of NOx (0.050–0.379 g km -1 ), their particulate emissions were dominated by low- and extremely low-volatility organics enriched in sulfur and nitrogen. UHPLC-Orbitrap mass spectrometry supported molecular formula assignment for complex organic mixtures, revealing that CHOS compounds accounted for 12–57% and CHONS for 6–19% of particulate emissions. Positive ionization further enhanced the detection of nitrogen-rich species such as CHON (26–52%), showing the complementary molecular coverage of the two ionization modes. In contrast, modern gasoline vehicles (Euro 6d and Euro 6) exhibited lower NOx but higher total hydrocarbons (0.124–0.898 g km -1 ), with particulate emissions dominated by intermediate- and semi-volatile nitrogen-containing species (CHON 26–52%). The older gasoline vehicle (Euro 4) displayed elevated CHOS fractions (∼58%), observed for this individual vehicle. Orbitrap mass spectrometry provided chemical fingerprinting of these emissions. Given the small, heterogeneous vehicle set, differences among vehicles are interpreted descriptively rather than attributed to individual effects of fuel type, vehicle age, or after-treatment. Among the molecular formulas detected and assigned by ESI-Orbitrap MS, the diesel-vehicle samples exhibited relatively high number fractions of sulfur- and nitrogen-containing formulas and of formulas classified as LVOCs and ELVOCs. Combining real-time gas-phase and particle monitoring (FTIR spectroscopy and SPN23 particle counters and) with Orbitrap-based analysis provided molecular-composition and volatility information alongside measurements of regulated pollutants.
SN - 1309-1042
ER -