Release potential of single-wall carbon nanotubes produced by super-growth method during manufacturing and handling |
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Authors: | Isamu Ogura Hiromu Sakurai Kohei Mizuno Masashi Gamo |
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Institution: | (1) Research Institute of Science for Safety and Sustainability, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 16-1 Onogawa, Tsukuba Ibaraki, 305-8569, Japan;(2) National Metrology Institute of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba Ibaraki, 305-8563, Japan |
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Abstract: | We investigated the release potential of single-wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) produced by the super-growth method during their
manufacturing and handling processes at a research facility. We generally sampled air at points both outside and inside of
protective enclosures such as a glove box and fume hood. Sampling the air outside of the enclosures was intended to evaluate
the actual exposure of workers to CNTs, while sampling the air inside the enclosures was performed to quantify the release
of CNTs to the air in order to estimate the potential exposure of workers without protection. The results revealed that airborne
CNTs were generated when (1) CNTs were separated from the substrates using a spatula and placed in a container in a glove
box; (2) an air gun was used to clean the air filters (containing dust that included CNTs) of a vacuum cleaner; (3) a vacuum
cleaner was used to collect CNTs (emission with exhaust air from the cleaner); (4) the container of CNTs was opened; and (5)
CNTs in the bin of the cleaner were transferred to a container. In these processes, airborne CNTs were only found inside the
enclosures, except for a small amount of CNTs released from the glove box when it was opened. Electron microscopic observations
of aerosol particles found CNT clusters, which were fragments of CNT forests, with sizes ranging from submicrometers to tens
of micrometers. |
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Keywords: | |
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