Abstract
Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) spectrometers are subject to several restrictions when a radioactive source is employed to bring the aerosol to a steady-state charge distribution. An alternative solution, commercially available, is represented by the soft X-ray neutralizer. The present study investigates the outcome of a combination of a Grimm SMPS, which employs a 241Am radioactive source, with the soft X-ray advanced aerosol neutralizer (TSI model 3087). To date, the latter device has been interfaced only with TSI’s Electrostatic Classifiers. Particle size distribution of sodium chloride aerosol was measured with both neutralizers and it was found that the particle number concentration agreed to be within 9% for the 10 - 700 nm range. This difference mainly corresponds to the bias reported by TSI, when the X-ray device is mounted on a TSI spectrometer. It was concluded that the X-ray neutralizer could be usefully employed, as a standalone device, in combination with Grimm Electrostatic Classifiers.
Highlights
Scanning Mobility Particle Sizers (SMPS) are widely used to classify submicron particulate matter according to their electrical mobility
It was found that there is a slight decrease in the measured particle number concentration obtained with X-ray when compared to 241Am
= paired absolute difference percentage (PADP) 100 * abs xi where xi and yi refer to the particle concentration of the i-th bin for the Grimm SMPS with 241Am neutralizer and with X-ray neutralizer, respectively
Summary
Scanning Mobility Particle Sizers (SMPS) are widely used to classify submicron particulate matter according to their electrical mobility. They employ radioactive sources such as 85Kr, 210Po or 241Am to apply a well-known charge distribution to aerosols. (2014) Application of the Soft X-Ray TSI Advanced Aerosol Neutralizer to Aerosol Measurements Made by a Grimm SMPS. Such devices can be turned on and off, thereby increasing both safety and overall operating lifetime, and the respective regulations are more flexible. It is important to compare instruments working with radioactive and soft X-ray aerosol neutralizers. The aptness of this X-ray device assembled on a SMPS spectrometer other than TSI has not been reported in literature yet
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