Deposition of aerosols on a charged polystyrene surface.

Abstract

A study was made of the decrease in the concentration of coal and fluorescent pigment aerosols in a polystyrene chamber. Losses to the walls of the plastic chamber were as high as 85% for coal (75% for fluorescent pigment) in a 20-minute period. Wall loss rates decreased with increasing humidity. These losses were shown to be due to the electrostatic attraction between the charged aerosol and the natural charge on the plastic surface. Difference in the wall loss rate constant, βe, was attributed to the variation of mobility distribution between the coal and fluorescent pigment aerosols. Areas of positive and negative charges on the plastic surface were mapped. Preliminary investigation of the electrostatic charge on coal particles has indicated that the median charge is about 40 to 200 elementary electronic charges.