Development and characterization of an aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer with increased detection efficiency

This paper describes the development and characterization studies of a more efficient aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ATOFMS), showing results for the on-line detection and determination of the size and chemical composition of single fine (100-300 nm) and ultrafine (<100 nm) particles. An aerodynamic lens inlet was implemented, replacing the converging nozzle inlet used on conventional ATOFMS instruments. In addition, the light scattering region was modified to enhance the scattering signals for smaller particles. Polystyrene latex spheres (PSL) with aerodynamic diameters ranging from 95 to 290 nm were used to characterize the particle sizing efficiency (product of particle transmission efficiency and particle scattering efficiency), particle detection efficiency (product of particle sizing efficiency and particle hit rate), and particle beam profile and perform instrument calibration. At number concentrations of <20 particles/cm(3), the particle sizing efficiencies were determined to be approximately 0.5% for 95 nm and approximately 47% for 290-nm PSL particles, while the particle detection efficiencies were measured to be approximately 0.3% for 95 nm and 44% for 290-nm PSL particles. This represents a significant increase (i.e., at least 3 orders of magnitude) in detection efficiencies for smaller particles over the conventional ATOFMS. In addition, the beam profiles for PSL particles of various sizes were measured in the ion source of the mass spectrometer and follow a Gaussian distribution with a full width at half-maximum of approximately 0.35 mm. The resulting higher detection efficiencies allow ATOFMS to obtain higher temporal resolution measurements of the composition of fine and ultrafine individual particles as demonstrated in initial ambient measurements in La Jolla, CA. At typical ambient particle number concentrations of 10(2)-10(3) particles/cm(3), approximately 30 000 particles with aerodynamic diameters of <300 nm were detected with average 24-h hit rates of 30% for particles between 50 and 300 nm. This advancement, allowing for high temporal resolution measurements of the composition of smaller particles with higher efficiency, adds to a growing number of instruments that can chemically characterize individual fine and ultrafine particles, with the goal of providing new insights into a number of areas including environmental and material sciences, health effects studies, industrial hygiene, and national security.     

Coagulation and Collection of PM2.5 Based on a Stack Coagulator

China recently put forward stronger requirements for PM2.5 emission in 2012. Electrostatic precipitators have relatively low efficiency for the collection of submicron particle, especially for PM2.5. An alternate way to increase its efficiency is to enforce the coagulation and, thereby, form larger particles. In this work, we propose an efficient way to enhance the coagulation between oppositely charged particles by using a stack coagulator. Firstly, in order to explore the impact of the bipolar charging and coagulation to the separation efficient of PM2.5, we use system modeling and simulation to explore the whole charge-coagulation-collection process of PM2.5. The results show that the coagulation rate of bipolarly charged particles can be increased by a factor of 10² ～ 10⁴ compared to the neutral particles and the collection efficiency of dust particles increases as the particle size grows. Subsequently, via the dust particles coagulation experiments, the emission rate chart and emission reduction charts of PM2.5 are plotted, which indicate that the average emission reduction of PM2.5 is almost 85%.     

Electrostatic Evaluation of a Unipolar Diffusion and Field Charger of Aerosol Particles by a Corona Discharge

This article presents a unipolar diffusion and field charger by corona discharge is presented and electrostatically evaluated for charging aerosol particles. The electrostatic characteristics of the charger were investigated with an electrometer by measuring the ion number concentrations corresponding to the discharge and charging currents. The discharge and charging currents, and ion number concentration in the discharge and charging zones of the charger, increased with corona voltage. The magnitudes of the ion number concentration for positive and negative coronas in the discharge zone ranged from 1.34 × 10¹³ to 1.84 × 10¹⁵ ions/m³ and 7.34 × 10¹³ to 2.64 × 10¹⁵ ions/m³, respectively. For the charging zone, the ion number concentrations for positive and negative coronas ranged from 2.95 × 10¹³ to 1.52 × 10¹⁴ ions/m³ and 2.06 × 10¹³ to 1.47 × 10¹⁴ ions/m³, respectively. To predict the behavior of the electric field strength and lines in the discharge and charging zones of the charger, the electric field strength and distribution of the charger in the discharge and charging zones were calculated by a commercial computational fluid dynamics software package. Numerical calculation results of electric field distribution and lines through the inner electrode showed good agreement with experimental results. Also, the mean charge per particle for particle diameters were in the range of 0.01 to 50 µm for various operating conditions of the charger was theoretically evaluated. For both diffusion and field charging, lower aerosol flow rate and higher corona voltage resulted in an increase in the mean charge per particle within the charger. This simple charger proved to be particularly useful in diffusion and field charging of aerosol particles in particulate matter detector instruments for measuring PM10 and PM2.5 concentration.     

Enhancement of air purification by unique W-plate structure in two-stage electrostatic precipitator: A novel design for efficient capture of fine particles

In this paper, a novel W-plate two-stage ESP was developed and investigated systematically through the experimental and simulated process. Numerical models and available calculation procedure of solving coupling electrostatic field, fluid field, and particle dynamics were established, whose accuracy was validated by experiments. The relationship among collection efficiency, gas velocity, and particle diameter was studied, and the distribution of electrostatic field, the evolution of EHD flow and fluid field, and particle dynamics, including particle charging, particle trajectory, transverse velocity, and particle concentration, were also investigated thoroughly. Results showed that W-plate two-stage ESP exhibited excellent number-based collection efficiency for fine particles which benefited from the reasonable structure design and the exceeding weak influence of EHD flow. Besides, the particle charging process suggested that the diameter decided the dominant charging mechanism, and the trajectory also played an important role in controlling the charging action. Compared with the behavior of each particle injected at different inlet positions, fine particles injected near the discharge wire got more charging number and quicker capture. Importantly, W-plate structure could exert its crucial role in capturing particles with the help of fluid field and inertial effect when inlet gas velocity increased rapidly. W-plate two-stage ESP had more than 90% number-based collection efficiency for >3 μm diameter particles and more than 75% number-based collection efficiency for 0.3–1 μm diameter submicron particles at 2 m/s gas velocity in both experimental and simulated investigations.     

Instantaneous formation of SiOx nanocomposite for high capacity lithium ion batteries by enhanced disproportionation reaction during plasma spray physical vapor deposition

Nanocomposite SiO_x particles have been produced by a single step plasma spray physical vapor deposition (PS-PVD) through rapid condensation of SiO vapors and the subsequent disproportionation reaction. Core-shell nanoparticles, in which 15 nm crystalline Si is embedded within the amorphous SiO_x matrix, form under typical PS-PVD conditions, while 10 nm amorphous particles are formed when processed with an increased degree of non-equilibrium effect. Addition of CH₄ promotes reduction in the oxygen content x of SiO_x, and thereby increases the Si volume in a nanocomposite particle. As a result, core-shell nanoparticles with x = 0.46 as anode exhibit increased initial efficiency and the capacity of lithium ion batteries while maintaining cyclability. Furthermore, it is revealed that the disproportionation reaction of SiO is promoted in nanosized particles attaining increased Si diffusivity by two orders of magnitude compared to that in bulk, which facilitates instantaneous composite nanoparticle formation during PS-PVD.     

Removal of Nano-sized Particles Using Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Gas Cluster Cleaning without Pattern Damage

As pattern size of semiconductor device becomes less than 20 nm, the removal of particles smaller than 10 nm without pattern damages requires new physical dry cleaning technology. CO₂ gas cluster cleaning is an alternative dry cleaning process to meet these cleaning requirements. To demonstrate gas cluster cleaning performance, particle removal efficiency (PRE) and gate structure pattern damages were evaluated. When pressurized and low temperature CO₂ gas was passed through a convergence–divergence (C–D) nozzle, high energy CO₂ gas clusters were generated at high speed in a vacuum atmosphere. The cleaning force of the CO₂ gas cluster is related to the flow rate of the CO₂ gas. The optimum CO₂ gas flow rate for the particle removal without pattern damage was found to be 6 L/min (LPM). Removal efficiency for 50 nm silica particles was greater than 90%, and no pattern damage was observed on 60 nm poly-Si and a-Si gate line patterns. It was confirmed that the CO₂ gas cluster cleaning force could be controlled by the CO₂ gas flow rate supplied to nozzle.     

A simple route to large-scale production of tungsten trioxide nanoparticles

Tungsten trioxide particles in high yield were prepared via a simple solid evaporation route with ammonium paratungstate hydrate as precursor and Ar gas as carrier gas. Detailed characterization by scanning electron microscopy has shown that increasing carrier gas flow rate promotes morphological evolution from large and irregular semi-spherical particles to non-agglomerated quasi-spherical particles, and finally to single-crystalline nanoparticles with an average diameter of 60 nm. The adsorption activity of the tungsten trioxide particles is size-dependent and increased with decreasing particle size. The present method could readily produce large-scale tungsten trioxide nanoparticles with ideal adsorption performance, and can be utilized to fabrication of various semiconductor oxides with advanced properties.     

Preparation of nanometric titanium hydrous oxide particles by vapour phase hydrolysis of titanium tetrabutoxide

Spherical titanium nanoparticles in the range of 60 to 500 nm have been obtained by a vapour-phase hydrolysis procedure using titanium tetrabutoxide as raw material. In this work, different parameters such as alkoxide temperature, water temperature, carrier gas flow rate, inlet pressure, vacuum and dilution of the raw material were tested. The most important parameters in order to obtain nanoparticles of low mean size were the flow rate, the alkoxide temperature and the inlet pressure. When the temperature decreases the mean size decreases obtaining nanoparticles below 100 nm when the temperature is set up to 125°C. On the other hand, as the flow rate that pass through the alkoxide increases the particle size decreases. Same behaviour is observed when the pressure inlet is increased. In all cases, these results are attributed to a minor concentration of the alkoxide (low amount of alkoxide molecules) in the gas stream. The other parameters, vacuum, water temperature and dilution of the alkoxide did not show any important influence in the particle size as the other ones. Polydispersity (broad or narrow particle size distribution) has the same trend. The alkoxide temperature and carrier flow rate generate narrow distributions while the other parameters produces broad distributions. FT-IR analysis of these nanoparticles showed that for sizes below 100 nm the alkoxide is fully hydrolysed and as the particle size increases the nanoparticle has more alkoxide or alcohol retained inside. The heat treatment of these nanoparticles produces a decreasing in the particle size and in all cases, the spherical shape is retained and no blackening in the nanoparticles of higher size is observed.     

Synthesis of silver chromate nanoparticles: Parameter optimization using Taguchi design

The Taguchi method of experimental design is very well suited to improving the production process of synthetic nanoparticles. The current application of the Taguchi method was successful in optimizing the experimental parameters affect on synthesis procedure of silver chromate nanoparticles. Ultrafine silver chromate particles were synthesied by precipitation method using addition of silver ion solution to the chromate reagent. The effect of reaction conditions such as: silver and chromate concentrations, flow rate of reagent addition and temperature on the particle size of synthesized silver chromate particles were investigated. The effect of these factors on the diameter of silver chromate particles were quantitavely evaluated by the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that silver chromate particles can be synthesized by controlling silver concentration, flow rate and temperature. Finally, the optimum conditions for synthesis of silver chromate particles by this simple and fast method were proposed. The results of ANOVA showed that 0.001 mol/l silver ion concentration, 40 ml/min flow rate for addition of silver reagent to the chromate solution and 0°C temperature are optimum conditions for producing silver chromate particles with 100 ± 33 nm width. On the other hand, the Ag₂CrO₄ nano-superstructures were synthesized by electrosynthesis method. The results showed that Ag₂CrO₄ nanoparticles synthesized by this method have 75 nm average diameter.     

Sintering behavior of spherical aggregated nanoparticles prepared by spraying colloidal precursor in a heated flow

The sintering behavior of spherical aggregated nanoparticles prepared by spraying colloidal precursor into a heated flow was investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Spherical micrometer-sized particles consisting of compactly aggregated nanoparticles were formed, due to solvent evaporation and the drying process of the colloidal precursor. The degree of sintering of aggregated nanoparticles depended on the furnace temperature profile, residence time and primary particle size of the aggregated nanoparticles. Spherical monodispersed colloidal silica, in sizes ranging from 22 to 100 nm was selected as the primary particles. The sintering rate increased with temperature and residence time, and decreased with increasing primary particle size. The aggregated nanoparticles sintered completely, resulting in particles with smooth surfaces that were synthesized at 1400 °C, residence time 31.7 s that was obtained by using a carrier gas flow rate of 1.5 L/min and 0.1 M colloidal silica nanoparticles 100 nm in size. An appropriate model of sintering in the system was proposed to explain the shrinkage and the neck growth of the aggregated nanoparticles. The sintering analysis suggested that solid-state volume diffusion suitably described the sintering mechanism of spherical aggregated silica nanoparticles in a heated flow.     

Dependence of photovoltaic performance of solvothermally prepared CdS/CdTe solar cells on morphology and thickness of window and absorber layers

In the present work a new strategy for straightforward fabrication of CdS/CdTe solar cells, containing CdS nanowires and nanoparticles as a window layer and CdTe nanoparticles and microparticles as an absorber layer, are reported. CdS and CdTe nanostructures were synthesized by solvothermal method. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that highly pure and crystallized CdS nanowires and nanoparticles with hexagonal structure and CdTe nanoparticles with cubic structure were obtained. Atomic force microscope and field emission scanning electron microscope images showed that CdS nanowires with length of several μm and average diameter of 35 nm, CdS nanoparticles with average particle size of 32 nm and CdTe nanoparticles with average particle size of 43 nm, were uniformly coated on the substrate by the homemade formulated pastes. Based on ultraviolet–visible absorption spectra, the band gap energies of CdS nanowires, CdS nanoparticles and CdTe nanoparticles were calculated 2.80, 2.65 and 1.64 eV, respectively. It was found that, the photovoltaic performance of the solar cells depends on thickness of CdTe and CdS films, reaching a maximum at a specific value of 6 μm and 225 nm, respectively. For such cell made of CdS nanowires and CdTe nanoparticles the V_OC, J_SC, fill factor and power conversion efficiency were calculated 0.62 V, 6.82 mA/cm², 59.7 and 2.53 %, respectively. Moreover, photovoltaic characteristics of the solar cells were dependent on CdTe and CdS morphologies. CdS/CdTe solar cell made of CdTe and CdS nanoparticles had the highest cell efficiency (i.e., 2.73 %) amongst all fabricated solar cells. The presented strategy would open up new concept for fabrication of low-cost CdS/CdTe solar cells due to employment of a simple chemical route rather than the vapor phase methods.     

COLLECTION MECHANISMS OF ELECTRET FILTER

Collection efficiency of a single electret fiber, which carries permanent positive and negative charges, was studied. Theoretically, it was obtained by solving the equation of particle motion taking account of the induced and Coulombic forces simultaneously. When either induced or Coulombic forces dominates particle collection, the collection efficiency was found to be proportional to 2/5 power of induced force parameter K_In, and 3/4 power of Coulombic force parameter K_C, respectively. However, when both forces are effective simultaneously, the efficiency was not expressed by the simple superposition of both effects because of negative interaction between both forces. Experimentally, collection efficiency of a single electret fiber was measured by using monodisperse sodium chloride particles ranging from 0.01 to 0.4 μm in diameter for filtration velocities from 5 to 200 cm/s, under different charging state of particles, i.e., uncharged, singly or doubly charged and charged in Boltzmann equilibrium.

It was found that the experimental efficiency was markedly influenced by the small change in the charging state of particles, and that both Coulombic and induced forces affect the collection of charged particles simultaneously. The dependency of experimental collection efficiency on dimensionless parameters K_In and K_C coincided with the theoretical calculation. Based on the theoretical and experimental results, the following semi-empirical expression for the single fiber collection efficiency, which is applicable to particles in any charging state, was presented.

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Design and Evaluation of Four-Stage Low-Pressure Cascade Impactor Using Electrical Measurement System

The low-pressure cascade impactor has been used to collect ultrafine particles that cannot be measured by conventional cascade impactors. Low-pressure cascade impactors resemble ordinary impactors, but are operated at reduced pressures of 0.05 ～ 0.4 atm. Many kinds of low-pressure impactors have been developed by different researchers. However, it is still difficult to accurately design and evaluate the low-pressure cascade impactor.

In this study, a four-stage low-pressure cascade impactor for measuring the size distribution of submicron aerosol particles was designed and evaluated. To evaluate particle collection efficiency of each stage, an electrical measurement system was used. The cut-point diameters of Stages 1 through 4 were 0.238, 0.173, 0.111, and 0.063 μm in aerodynamic diameter. Stage 2 showed poor steepness of the collection efficiency curve and larger cut-point Stokes number than theory, which may be attributed to high nozzle velocity. The fluorometric method for particle collection efficiency measurement was shown to be unreliable for ultrafine particles.

The solid particle collection efficiency of the designed impactor was examined with different substrate conditioning methods. Porous metal substrate and silicon-coated substrate were tested with NaCl particles. It was shown that silicon coating did not effectively reduce the particle bounce because of high nozzle velocity, whereas the porous metal substrate considerably enhanced the particle collection efficiency.     

安德森六级撞击采样器采集效率评价方法研究

研究了适用于安德森六级撞击式空气微生物采样器的采集效率评价方法,并搭建了评价系统。将不同粒径的单分散聚苯乙烯微球雾化形成气溶胶,使用空气动力学粒径谱仪分别对采样器上、下游的颗粒物数量浓度进行测量,测量出采样器各级的采集效率,从而计算出采集效率为50%时的空气动力学直径Da50。通过对国产某品牌的6级安德森空气微生物采样器进行评价,测得1~6级的Da50分别为7.2,6.7,4.7,2.9,1.5,0.8μm。     

Novel alginate coated hydrophobically modified chitosan polyelectrolyte complex for the delivery of BSA

Polysaccharides based polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles (PCNs) intended for use in the delivery of macromolecules were prepared by the self-assembly of deoxycholic acid hydrophobically modified chitosan (CS-DCA) core and then coated with sodium alginate (ALG) shell. The CS-DCA capable of forming nano-sized self-aggregates in medium was prepared by the grafting of DCA to CS. In order to increase the stability of nanoparticles and prevent burst release of drug in bloodstream, polyanionic ALG was coated on the surface of positively charged CS-DCA nanoparticles to form PCNs. Dynamic light scattering results revealed that the mean diameter of the PCNs was about 330 nm, larger than that of uncoated nanoparticles (~150 nm). The zeta potential was big enough to keep the stability of PCNs (?28 mV); no size change was found even upon 1 month storage. Bovine serum albumin could be easily incorporated into the PCNs with encapsulation efficiency (>44 %) and keep a sustained manner without burst release when exposed to PBS (pH 7.4) at 37 °C. These results suggested that PCNs may be a promising drug carrier for a prolonged and sustained delivery in the bloodstream.     

气旋式生物气溶胶采样器采集物理效率评价方法研究

为了评价气旋式生物气溶胶采样器的采集效率,搭建了颗粒物浓度均匀、稳定的静态箱法评价装置,对国内2款气旋式生物气溶胶采样器的采集物理效率进行了测量,最终拟合得到采集效率曲线。测量结果表明：在品牌一采样器的固定采样流量下,其采集物理效率曲线的D_a50(采集效率为50%时的空气动力学直径)为0.91μm;品牌二采样器具有5种可调的采样流量,在不同流量下D_a50分别为1.60μm、1.36μm、1.19μm、1.06μm和1.05μm。对比了使用初始容量分别为15 mL和7.5 mL的采样液得到的品牌二采样器的采集物理效率,发现采样液初始容量较少时,采集物理效率偏低。为气旋式生物气溶胶采样器性能的评价方法提供了参考。     

ROOM-TYPE AIR CLEANER DESIGN CRITERIA AND PROTOTYPE PERFORMANCE

ABSTRACT

Two rules-of-thumb for minimum performance of a room-type air cleaner have been developed from consideration of a first order model for room air quality. By adopting a criterion that the use of an air cleaner should cause the particle concentration to be at least cut in half, the rule-of-thumb for a room with no smokers is that the product of filter efficiency and flow rate should be ≥.8 m³/min (≥30 cfm). If the particle concentration is dominated by smokers or other sources, the product of filter efficiency and filter flow rate should be = m³ /min (= 100 cfm)

Tests were conducted to determine the efficiencies of candidate filter media. The selected media, Filtrete G-0115, has a fractional efficiency for 1 μm particles of 97 percent when clean, and an efficiency of 78 percent when fully loaded. This drop in efficiency is due to the masking of the electrets on the surfaces of the filter fibers.

A fibrous filter room-type air cleaner was designed to perform in accordance with the rules-of-thumb. When operated with a clean filter, the maximum flow rate is 3.2 m³/min and, when operated with a fully loaded filter, the maximum flow rate is 1.8 m³/min. The system has a multispeed fan which will provide lower flow rates.     

Brownian diffusion of ultrafine particles to an air–water interface

Fluorescent core-plain shell silica particles of different sizes were synthesized in order to investigate the interaction of ultrafine particles with bubbles. The morphology, surface chemistry and rate of diffusion of these synthesized particles were characterized by various techniques. The collection efficiency of particles by bubbles was measured in single bubble flotation experiments. Results show that particle-bubble collection efficiency increased with decreasing particle size and increasing particle surface hydrophobicity. These results are interpreted by taking into account the influence of particle size and surface hydrophobicity on particle-bubble collision and attachment efficiencies.     

Analysis of triboelectric charging of particles due to aerodynamic dispersion by a pulse of pressurised air jet

Triboelectric charging of powders causes nuisance and electrostatic discharge hazards. It is highly desirable to develop a simple method for assessing the triboelectric charging tendency of powders using a very small quantity. We explore the use of aerodynamic dispersion by a pulse of pressurised air using the disperser of Morphologi G3 as a novel application. In this device particles are dispersed by injection of a pulse of pressurised air, the dispersed particles are then analysed for size and shape analysis. The high transient air velocity inside the disperser causes collisions of sample particles with the walls, resulting in dispersion, but at the same time it could cause triboelectric charging of the particles. In this study, we analyse this process by evaluating the influence of the transient turbulent pulsed-air flow on particle impact on the walls and the resulting charge transfer. Computational Fluid Dynamics is used to calculate particle trajectory and impact velocity as a function of the inlet air pressure and particle size. Particle tracking is done using the Lagrangian approach and transient conditions. The charge transfer to particles is predicted as a function of impact velocity and number of collisions based on a charge transfer model established previously for several model particle materials. Particles experience around ten collisions at different velocities as they are dispersed and thereby acquire charges, the value of which approaches the equilibrium charge level. The number of collisions is found to be rather insensitive to particle size and pressure pulse, except for fine particles, smaller than about 30 µm. As the particle size is increased, the impact velocity decreases, but the average charge transfer per particle increases, both very rapidly. Aerodynamic dispersion by a gas pressure pulse provides an easy and quick assessment of triboelectric charging tendency of powders.     

Influence of the reaction time and the Triton x-100/Cyclohexane/Methanol/H2O ratio on the morphology and size of silica nanoparticles synthesized via sol–gel assisted by reverse micelle microemulsion

The present paper describes the synthesis of silica nanoparticles via the sol–gel method assisted by reverse micelle microemulsion, using reagents as Triton x-100/Cyclohexane/Methanol/H₂O, and also the effect on particle size of some synthesis parameters such as the water-surfactant molar ratio (R), Co-surfactant-surfactant (ρ), and synthesis time (t). The structure, morphology, and size of the silica nanoparticles were characterized with transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. A variation of ρ = [Methanol]/[Triton X-100] affects the size, morphology, and dispersion of the particles. An increase in the concentration of methanol produces a decrease in particle size. The condition that resulted in smaller particle size, better spherical morphology, and monodispersity was when ρ = 7.6, which generated an approximate size of 83 ± 7 nm. The parameter R = [H₂O]/[Triton X-100] affects not only the size of the particles, but also their morphology. Higher values of R result in a decrease in the amount of catalyst present in the interior of the micelle, but in turn generate a greater amount of water, which results in a decrease in particle size and polydispersity. Time is a parameter that directly affects the size of the silica particles. The optimal time for the synthesis of nanoparticles was 2 h, resulting in silica nanoparticles of 25 ± 3 nm, monodisperse, with spherical morphology and without the presence of agglomerations.