Determination of Sulfur Dioxide Removal Efficiency and Particulate Matter, Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Oxide Emissions Rate – USEPA Method 19

USEPA Method 19 is used to determine, where specified by an applicable subpart of the regulations:

• particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission rates;
• sulfur removal efficiencies of fuel pretreatment and SO₂ control devices;
• overall reduction of potential SO₂ emissions.

Oxygen (O₂) or carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations and appropriate F factors (ratios of combustion gas volumes to heat inputs) are used to calculate pollutant emission rates from pollutant concentrations.
 
An overall SO₂ emission reduction efficiency is computed from the efficiency of fuel pretreatment systems, where applicable, and the efficiency of SO₂ control devices.  The sulfur removal efficiency of a fuel pretreatment system is determined by fuel sampling and analysis of the sulfur and heat contents of the fuel before and after the pretreatment system. 
 
The SO₂ removal efficiency of a control device is determined by measuring the SO₂ rates before and after the control device.  The inlet rates to SO₂ control systems (or, when SO₂ control systems are not used, SO₂ emission rates to the atmosphere) are determined by fuel sampling and analysis.