Analysis of size-classified fine and ultrafine particulate matter on substrates with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Airborne particulate matter in the fine (0.1 µm–2.5 µm) and ultrafine (≤ 0.1 µm) size range is supposed to affect human health significantly. Smaller particles intrude more deeply into the lungs, so that an organism directly absorbs toxic compounds. Therefore, knowledge of the size-dependent composition of airborne particles is required to determine their health hazard. In this paper, we demonstrate the application of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy to directly analyze size-classified particulate matter samples without any sample preparation. Samples analyzed are collected on filter substrates using a cascade impactor. Greased aluminum foils are used as filter substrate. To reduce ablation of the substrate material, low pulse energies of 0.6 mJ are used for plasma excitation. The plasma light is observed using an Echelle spectrometer. The effect of ambient gas and pressure on the line intensities is studied. Calibration samples for 14 elements relevant for human health were produced, and the system was calibrated for concentration ranges up to four orders of magnitude. Finally, the collected samples of particulate originating from steel-making processes were analyzed. The measurements show that the composition of these particles depends strongly on their size. For example, the elements lead, cadmium and copper are enriched within particles of about 200 nm diameter.     

用ELPI测量颗粒物的分级荷电量

提出了一种利用静电低压撞击器(ELPI)测量颗粒物分级荷电量的新方法,利用此方法可以将每种颗粒在 0．03-10μm范围内按其动力学粒径分为12级,然后可以获得每一级粒径的单个颗粒的平均荷电量。应用此方法首次实际测量了3种飞灰在自然荷电与强制荷电两种工况下的分级荷电量,获得了比较合理的结果,结果显示飞灰主要荷负电,且小于1 μm的飞灰颗粒的荷电量随粒径变化不大,而大于1 μm的颗粒的荷电量随粒径增加迅速增加。