Comparison of Nano Particle Size Distributions by Different Measurement Techniques

Abstract

Understanding the Nano size particles is of great interest due to their chemical and physical behaviors such as compositions, size distributions, and number concentrations. Therefore, accurate measurements of size distributions and number concentrations in ultrafine particles are getting required because expected losses such as diffusion for the instrument system from ambient inlet to detector are a significant challenge. In this study, the data using the computed settling losses, impaction losses, diffusion losses for the sampling lines (explored different sampling line diameters, horizontal length, number of bending, line angles, flow rates with and without a bypass), and diffusion losses for the Scanning Mobility Particle Sizers are examined. As expected, the settling losses and impaction losses are very minor under 100 nm, however, diffusion loss corrections for the sampling lines and the size instrument make a large difference for any measurement conditions with high numbers of particles smaller mobility size. Both with and without the loss corrections, which can affect to size distributions and number concentrations are described. First, 80% or more of the smallest particles (less than 10 nm) can be lost in the condition of a flow rate of 0.3 liter per minute and the length of sampling line of 1.0 m, second, total number concentrations of measurements are quite significantly affected,and the mode structure of the size distribution changes dramatically after the loss corrections applied. With compared to the different measurements, statistically diffusion loss corrections yield a required process of the ambient particle concentrations. Based on the current study, as an implication, a possibility of establishing direct revelation mechanisms is suggested.