Objective
Soot is made of tiny particles of carbon and is a common pollutant because it is emitted by automobiles, especially diesel engines, as well as aircraft and other combustion systems. Soot only appears when there is insufficient oxygen to burn all the carbon present in a particular fuel. The chemistry of the production of soot is not at all well understood. One possibility is that the original fuel, which is usually made of molecules shaped like long straight chains, is at some early stage converted to rings or hexagons of carbon atoms. It is difficult to make the first ring, but afterwards it is relatively easy for further rings to form onto the first. These chemical compounds with several hexagons of carbon atoms are called polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). They are important because some of them are very carcinogenic and probably are a cause of cancer near large roads and airports.
Soot is electrically charged so that the motion of a soot particle can be easily changed by electric fields. Also some of the PAHs (i.e. species intermediate between fuel and soot) are electrically charged too. One possible route whereby fuel ends up as soot is via ions, which are electrically charged molecules.
The main purpose of this study is to make careful observations of all the ions (using a mass spectrometer) in a wide variety of pre-selected flames (either sooting or having slightly too much oxygen to do so) and to correlate these observations with whether or not soot is observed. It must be mentioned that occasionally soot is desirable (e.g. in the production of ink), so that it should be useful to dope a flame with additives which will either suppress soot or promote it. Thus this project is intended to extend our basic knowledge of the chemistry and physics of the production of soot, as well as to perform original research which might have some impact on everyday lives.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
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Coordinator
CB2 3RA Cambridge
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.