Abstract
The aim of this study was to apply the PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emission) and PDMS (Plasma Desorption Mass Spectrometry) techniques to characterize airborne dust particles containing metals. Aerosols generated at a mineral-sand processing plant were characterized in this study. The aerosol samples were collected at a plant that processes mineral sands to obtain rutile, ilmenite, zircon, and monazite concentrates. A cascade impactor with six stages was used to collect mineral dust particles with aerodynamic diameters in the range of 0.64 to 19.4 mum. The particles impacted on each stage of the cascade impactor were analyzed by PIXE, which permits the determination of the elemental mass air concentration and the MMAD (Mass Median Aerodynamic Diameter). The chemical compositions of the aerosol samples were identified by PDMS analysis. This study shows that, by using PIXE and PDMS techniques, it is possible to determine the chemical compounds in which the elements are associated in the aerosol particles. Based on the results of the PIXE analysis, the elemental mass concentrations and the MMADs were determined.
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