Application of single particle analysis performed by SEM-EDX to air quality studies

Abstract

Single-particle analysis of short-term aerosol samplings can provide information on the rapid evolution of size distribution and chemical composition of pollution aerosols, notably in source areas where reactive compounds are present. The aim of this work is to evaluate the capability of automated particle analysis performed by SEM-EDX to describe such rapid evolutions. Two sampling campaigns were performed at a highly urbanised and industrialised coastal site. The first one corresponded to low atmospheric particle loads and low temporal variation of particle mass concentrations. In these conditions, the lower analysed particle number to yield representative results was 1 000 particles per impaction stage. During the second one, a pollution event with a significant increase in particle mass concentrations was recorded. The ability of automated SEM-EDX to describe short temporal variation in particle chemical composition was demonstrated here.