Aerosol Particle Size Research Articles

Experimental study of electrostatic hazard inside scrubber column using response surface methodology

Electrostatic ignition has triggered significant fire/explosion incidents in liquid processing industries including chemical, oil/gas, food, pharmaceutical and transportation. In this work, the impact of gas-velocity and temperature on the electrostatic energy accumulation in a scrubber column was studied. An in-situ charge measurement apparatus combined with a particle scattering laser function was installed inside a pilot-scale column filled with water through which nitrogen was sparged; the formed aerosol particle size distribution, concentration, mass and charge were measured simultaneously. Response surface methodology was employed to construct a quadratic model correlating the electrostatic energy response with the gas velocity and column temperature. Four scenarios were considered and their capacity to provoke ignition was evaluated. Temperature was found affect the charged aerosol droplet size but also to facilitate the charge relaxation in the liquid phase. The faster the gas velocity the higher the electrostatic energy accumulation and the probability of ignition. In the presence of non-grounded conductors, the maximum electrostatic energy from spark discharge was found above the minimum ignition energy of some flammable chemicals and poses as significant fires or explosion risk. In contrast, if there is no ungrounded conductor, the corona discharge was found not sufficient for electrostatic ignition in the range of temperature and gas velocity in this study. To reduce the electrostatic hazards, it is recommended to remove ungrounded conductors within the column. And the gas flow should be maintained at minimum if ungrounded conductors are present.

Wrinkled silica doped electrospun nano-fiber membranes with engineered roughness for advanced aerosol air filtration

The engineering of the next generation of fibrous air membranes that exhibit high air filtration and quality factor performances are a critical challenge. Microfibrous air membranes typically exhibit high quality factors and low air filtration efficiency due to the large pore size structure. The development of nanofiber membranes with high surface area and textured surface is thus required to enhance the capturing properties. Herein, novel wrinkled, electrospun nanofiber nanocomposite membranes were successfully engineered by doping tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) into poly (acrylonitrile) (PAN) for the sub-micron aerosol particle size filtration. The dopant silica in the PAN matrix increased the nonslip zones for particles across the surface of the fibers and generated larger stagnation zones for the particles capture. This strategy combined with the pore engineering design allowed by nanofibers, offered lower pressure drop across the membranes while maintaining separation efficiency. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface of TEOS based membranes were found to be up two times higher than the bare PAN membranes. The wrinkled surface texturation and nano- porosity structure helped to enhance the air filtration performance compared to smooth bare PAN membranes and to commercial air filtration membranes. The quality factor of electrospun TEOS/PAN based membranes was also higher than the benchmarked commercial air membrane. This multifunctional membrane fabrication strategy opens new avenues for removing air pollutants including particulate matters, bacteria, viruses, and toxic gases, from air in a more cost-effective manner.

Effects of flow pattern, device and formulation on particle size distribution of nebulized aerosol

The evaluation of particle size recommended in the pharmacopeias requires a constant flow rate, and the method for pediatric inhaled drugs is the same as for adult drugs. In this study, the aerosol concentration and particle size distribution (PSD) were measured under a realistic breathing pattern and constant flow. Two types of nebulizer (i.e., breath-enhanced nebulizer and vibrating-mesh nebulizer) and two formulations (i.e., budesonide suspension and albuterol solution) were chosen for comparison. The aerosol concentration under the realistic pattern was not constant, which was different from the result at constant flow. The changing trend of aerosol concentration varied with the operation process of each device. The aerosol concentration profile was similar between budesonide suspension and albuterol solution. As to the PSD, as inspiratory flow increased, the X50 (50% undersize) increased with all nebulizers but Omron microAir NE-U22 nebulizer. There was good agreement between X50 obtained under the realistic inhalation patterns and their equivalent average flow rates by Bland-Altman analysis, although the X50 obtained under the realistic inhalation pattern was greater than value at constant flow. The agreement of the two breath-enhanced jet nebulizers was better than that of the vibrating-mesh nebulizers. The X50 of budesonide was not equal to that of albuterol when using the same nebulizer. Interestingly, a significant difference was observed in the X50 and Span when comparing the results of PSD under adult and child breathing patterns. Furthermore, all vibrating-mesh nebulizers produced aerosol droplets having larger mean diameter and narrower size distribution than those of the air-jet nebulizers. We conclude that it will be more conducive to the evaluation of particle size to use a laser diffractometer under a realistic pattern and make up for the shortcomings of cascade impactors. The effects of flow pattern, nebulizer and formulation should be taken into account in the evaluation of the qualities of nebulizer products in pharmaceutical practice.

On‐site three‐dimensional printer aerosol hazard assessment: Pilot study of a portable in vitro exposure cassette

Workplace exposures to concentrated aerosols are associated with a number of diseases. When assessing air quality, instruments are available for measuring aerosol concentrations and particle sizes in real time. By contrast, air contaminants are collected and brought to the laboratory for biological testing. To our knowledge, no instrument is designed for testing the toxicity of aerosols in real time at the site of exposure. This study involves a pilot study using a portable exposure cassette for conducting on‐site, in vitro toxicity testing of workplace air. The compact design also enables targeted personal breathing zone measurements. Data collected on aerosols generated by a metal binder jetting 3D printer are presented. The portable in vitro exposure cassette offers a new approach to monitoring workplace air quality. © 2019 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 38: e12030, 2019

14-Years Aerosol Fingerprint Impact and Implications Over Daloa in Western Ivory Coast

This study reports the trend and impact of aerosol loading over Duola from 2000 – 2013 using aerosol optical depth (AOD) data obtained for particulate matter in the region. The dataset was obtained from the Multi-angle Imaging Spectro-Radiometer (MISR). The secondary datasets that were generated from the primary data were aerosol loading, particles sizes, Angstrom parameter and the statistics of the primary dataset. We observed from the primary dataset that the aerosol loading values for the years under consideration varied but higher values were recorded in the years 2000 and 2007-2013. These high aerosol depths informed high aerosol concentrations over Duola from October through May. Years of high aerosol concentrations in the atmosphere were potential threats to human health; with high concentration of aerosol particles, the government should adopt and implement stricter environmental policies to reduce the industrial and human contributions to these air pollution. The Angstrom values calculations over the years were less than 1, thus, the aerosol particle size indicates size distributions dominated by coarse mode aerosols.

Determination of aerosol particle size distribution by a novel artificial bee colony-differential evolution hybrid algorithm

Determination of aerosol particle size distribution by a novel artificial bee colony-differential evolution hybrid algorithm

The Effectiveness of Air Ionization in Reducing Bioaerosols and Airborne PRRS Virus in a Ventilated Space

Abstract. The presence of bioaerosols in swine production facilities affects the respiratory health of swine workers and pigs. Air ionization (AI) is an affordable technology for removing bioaerosols in the air. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of AI on aerosols in a ventilated space in terms of reduction in aerosol concentration, changes in particle size distribution, and reduction of airborne Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSV). Experiments were performed in a two-chamber system in which aerosols containing PRRSV were introduced. Tests were conducted for two ventilation rates of 34 and 136 m3 h-1 and two aerosol generation rates of 14.8 and 33.0 mL h-1. The aerosol concentration and size distribution were measured with an aerosol particle size spectrometer. The average reduction in geometric mean diameter of aerosols by AI treatment ranged from 8% to 53%, and reduction in aerosol concentration ranged from 68% to 96%. Ventilation rate was found to affect the efficiency of AI in reducing aerosol concentration; the removal efficiency decreased with increased ventilation rate. The removal efficiency of AI varied with particle size. Specifically, at the low airflow rate, the removal efficiency of AI increased sharply with particle size from 70% at 0.25 µm to 95% at 0.6 µm and reached 100% for particles larger than 6 µm. At the high airflow rate, the removal efficiency varied between 50% to 80% before reaching 100% removal for particles sizes of 7 to 9 µm. The average reduction in PRRSV concentration ranged from 68% to 96%, and the residual PRRSV remaining in the air after treatment ranged from 154 to 4593 viral genome copy number (VGCN) m-3. Ozone generation by the AI system was not measured in this study, and it may be a concern due to the health risk to pigs and workers when using AI systems for removing bioaerosols. Keywords: Air ionization, Air quality, Bioaerosols, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus, Swine.

Computational study of drug delivery in tumorous human airways

There is increasing interest in the research of direct drug delivery in respiratory tract because of its attractiveness to produce greater therapeutic benefits for the treatment of pulmonary diseases and systemic diseases. In the present study, airway respiratory model was constructed from CT scan images. A tumour was artificially created in the trachea of the respiratory model for the CFD simulation of the aerosol-particles transport and its deposition on the tumour. The CFD simulation was carried out for three air inhalation flow rates: 20, 40 and 60 L/min, and three particle sizes of 1, 5 and 10 µm to determine the effect of these parameters on the deposition efficiency of the particles on the tumour. The results show that the maximum aerosol deposition on the tumour occurs at 60 L/min inhalation rate for 5-10 µm aerosol-particles size. The findings will be useful to maximise therapeutic benefits of respiratory drug delivery.

Electronic cigarette power affects count concentration and particle size distribution of vaping aerosol.

IntroductionElectronic cigarettes (EC) have evolved rapidly toward higher powered devices that produce more vaping aerosol and a more satisfying vaping experience. This research characterized the particle size distribution and estimated the mass concentration of vaping aerosols produced at power outputs spanning the operating range typical of second generation variable voltage EC devices.MethodsEC aerosol was characterized from a single coil atomizer powered by a variable voltage EC battery at the minimum and maximum dial settings (3.3, 11.2 Watts, W), and a lab controlled power supply (3–11.9 W). Aerosol particle size distribution was measured by a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer and Aerodynamic Particle Sizer, spanning 16 nm to 19.8 μm. A mouth puff was simulated using a 100 mL glass syringe.ResultsConsistent with prior studies, sub-micron EC aerosol size distributions were bimodal, with peaks at 40 and 200 nm, however a previously unreported third mode was observed at approximately 1000 nm. The ~1000 nm mode accounted for 7-20x the aerosol mass of the smaller modes. Increasing atomizer power decreased count concentration of particles <600 nm but increased particle count >600 nm. Particle mass distribution shifted toward micron sized particles with increasing power and increased the respirable fraction of aerosol, likely due to increased coagulation and condensation around nano-sized particles.ConclusionsVaping power greatly affects EC aerosol count and mass distribution. Mouth puffed EC aerosol spans a much wider particle size range than previously reported, although the major portion of the mass is still well within the alveolar size range the larger particles will deposit within the oro-pharyngeal cavity at 2-3x greater efficiency than in alveoli. These observations have major clinical implications, as aerosol particle size distribution determines deposition sites along the respiratory tract. The results of this experiment stress the need for further research to inform the design, regulation and use of e-cigarette products.

Effectiveness of engineering interventions in decreasing worker exposure to metalworking fluid aerosols

Machine industry accounts for the highest proportion of primary industry in Taiwan. Long-term exposure to metalworking fluid aerosols may pose significant threats to the health of workers. The aims of this study were to verify the efficacy of intervention methods in reducing airborne bacterial concentrations as well as effects on aerosol particle size distribution. This study evaluated airborne bacterial concentrations in a large precision machinery factory in Taichung, Taiwan, before and after the implementation of intervention methods. The installation of local exhaust systems and improvement of the operation mode were used as intervention methods. Concentration and size distribution of bacteria in the metal working environment were assessed using Andersen one-stage and six-stage viable impactors, respectively. The analytical results indicate that most bacterial concentrations were less than the recommended concentrations in the indoor air quality standards (500 CFU/m3) proposed by the United States Association of Advancing Occupational and Environmental Health (US ACGIH) before the installation of local exhaust systems. There was no significant difference in bacterial concentrations before and after the installation of the local exhaust and the intervention effect on reducing bacterial exposure was not as expected. The bacterial concentrations were significantly lowered in the Z region after improving the operation mode. The particle size of bioaerosols <7.0 μm was also substantially reduced. Improper operation modes are likely to expose employees to higher concentrations of bacteria within a short time period. It recommends adjusting the metal processing methods and proper use of air spray guns for decreasing high airborne bacterial concentrations exposure.

Aerosol optical properties derived from POLDER-3/PARASOL (2005–2013) over the western Mediterranean Sea – Part 1: Quality assessment with AERONET and in situ airborne observations

Abstract. The western Mediterranean atmosphere is impacted by a variety of aerosol sources, producing a complex and variable mixture of natural and anthropogenic particles, with different chemical and physical properties. Satellite sensors provide a useful global coverage of aerosol parameters but through indirect measurements that require careful validation. Here we present the results of a long-term regional scale analysis of the full dataset (March 2005 and October 2013) of POLDER-3/PARASOL ocean operational retrievals of the total, fine, and coarse aerosol optical depth (AOD, AODF, and AODC), Ångström exponent (AE), and the spherical or non-spherical partition of coarse-mode AOD (AODCS and AODCNS), respectively. The evaluation is performed using data from 17 coastal and insular ground-based AERONET sites on one side, and airborne vertical profiles of aerosol extinction and number size distribution obtained by the SAFIRE ATR-42 aircraft operated in the area during summer 2012 and 2013 on the other side. This study provides the first regional evaluation of uncertainties of the POLDER-3 products, and highlights their quality. The POLDER-3 Ångström exponent, representing AOD spectral dependence in link with the aerosol particle size distribution, is biased towards small values. This bias, however, does not prevent using AE for classifying the regional aerosol laden air masses. AODF corresponds to particles smaller than 0.6–0.8 µm in diameter and appears suitable to monitor the aerosol submicron fraction from space. We also provide an original validation of POLDER-3 AODC and its spherical or non-spherical partition, which shows agreement within 25 % with AERONET shape retrievals when the aerosol coarse fraction dominates.

Measurements of natural ice nucleating particles in Beijing in the spring of 2017

The ice nucleating particles (INPs) in the ambient air in Beijing during the spring of 2017 were observed using an improved 5-L version of Bigg's mixing cloud chamber. The characteristics of the diurnal INPs concentrations are analyzed and compared with measurements made in 1963, 1995 and 1996. The particle number size distribution was also measured simultaneously. The correlation between the concentration of INPs and the aerosol number concentration in different size ranges is discussed. Moreover, the relationship between the concentration of INPs and different meteorological factors, such as wind speed, air pressure, temperature, humidity and weather conditions, are analyzed.From the results of observation, in general, the concentrations of INPs at −20 °C, −25 °C and −30 °C temperatures trend with each other on a day to day basis, although there are slight differences in some cases at −20 °C. As the activation temperatures decrease by 5 °C, the concentration of INPs increases by about one order of magnitude. The concentration of INPs increases significantly when air pollution is severe, but the specific relationship between INPs and pollution needed to be verified in the follow-up work, which is related to the source of pollution and the aerosol components. Compared with historical experimental data, interpreting trends using short sampling periods in individual years over decadal time frames, the average concentrations of INPs in Beijing increased by approximately 15 times from 1963 to 1996, but in the past 20 years, the concentration of INPs has decreased significantly. For aerosols with particle size that exceeds 0.5 μm, the correlation coefficient between aerosol number concentration and INPs increases significantly with increasing aerosol particle size; however, it tends to stabilize at approximately 0.6 for aerosol particles larger than approximately 2 μm. A comparison with meteorological parameters shows that the concentration of INPs is inversely correlated with wind speed, and displays a positive correlation with relative humidity. These results indicate that conditions that favor dispersion lead to reduced concentrations of INPs.

Analysis of spatial and temporal variability of aerosol optical depth over China using MODIS combined Dark Target and Deep Blue product

This study reviews spatial and temporal variability of aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 550 nm, obtained with Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) (Terra) Collection 6.1 aerosol products with use of combined Dark Target and Deep Blue algorithm. Data was analyzed for 18-year period from 2000 to 2017 over the territory of the whole continental China, covering the largest cities as well as various ecological and geographical regions. Spatial distribution of AOD has distinct geographical differences with gradual decrease from the east to the west of the country. The lowest values (up to 0.25) of annual mean AOD at 550 nm occur in sparsely populated areas on the Tibetan Plateau and in the north forest ecosystems in the north-eastern part of China. Areas of desert and semidesert landscapes of Northwest China are characterized by high concentrations of naturally occurring aerosols with moderate values of AOD (0.4–0.7). The most populous regions (Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta, North China Plain, and Sichuan Basin) with the highest density of agricultural and industrial activity are characterized with maximum values of AOD (over 0.7). Seasonal variation of aerosols in the most regions of China has maximum AODs in spring or summer and minimum in autumn or winter. Angstrom exponent (AE), being 0.31–1.7 for the most part of China, was used to detect the size of aerosol particles, with the lowest values (0.31–0.84) in desert north and north-west regions of the country, and the higher values in the south (1.3–1.7). Comparison of results, obtained with MODIS Terra and AERONET (Aerosol Robotic Network) at 550 nm, demonstrate a high interrelation (r = 0.8949), where 68.3% fall within the range of expected errors, set by MODIS over the land (± 0.05 ± 0.15 × AOD). The conducted Pearson’s correlation analysis between various cities of the country showed that cities in one region with shortest distances from one another demonstrated higher correlations, suggesting distinct regional dependence in aerosols distribution.

Characterizing the size and absorption of single nonspherical aerosol particles from angularly-resolved elastic light scattering

Measuring the absorption of a single aerosol particle is a challenging endeavor. Of the few techniques available, none are suitable for measuring the single-particle absorption of coarse-mode nonspherical aerosols. Analysis of two-dimensional angular optical scattering (TAOS) patterns provide a possible pathway to perform this measurement. Using a Multiple-Sphere T-Matrix (MSTM) code, we simulate the captured TAOS patterns with geometries similar to a previously designed instrument. By analyzing the size of the speckle and the integrated irradiance of these simulated TAOS patterns, we are able to distinguish between high-absorbing, weak-absorbing, and non-absorbing particles over the size range of 2 µm to 10 µm. In particular, the speckle present in the scattering patterns provides a means to estimate the size of the particle. Once the size of the particle is known, the integrated irradiance provides insight into the absorption of the particle.

Novel instrument to generate representative e-cigarette vapors for physicochemical particle characterization and in-vitro toxicity

The use of “electronic cigarettes” (e-cigs) has exponentially increased during the last decade. This drastic growth has been observed in smokers and never smokers, women and teenagers, with indicators for adverse effects related to nicotine, but also to e-liquid and vapor components. The aerosol characteristics depend on the e-cig features. Therefore, the introduction of many different e-cig types on the market leads to concerns regarding their potential health effects. Our study aims to develop an instrument to generate representative vapors from e-cigarette devices, characterize the physicochemical properties of the aerosols and elucidate the adverse effects of inhaled vapors on normal human airway epithelia. E-cig vapors were produced using a specially developed aerosol generation instrument mimicking user puffing behavior. Aerosol particle size distribution and concentration were characterized with a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer. Air-liquid interface cultures of differentiated human bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to 1 puff topography, i.e. to 21 puffs of 3 s with 22-second puff intervals using the Nano-Aerosol Chamber for In-Vitro Toxicity, which simulates particle deposition in the respiratory tract. Cell morphology was evaluated by light microcopy and induction of cell death by release of lactate dehydrogenase at 4 and 24 h after aerosol exposure. Particle size in e-cig generated aerosols ranged from 20 to 430 nm and concentrations exceeded 1 × 106 particles/cm3. Deposited particle doses were 0.9–3 μg/cm2, depending on e-device type and number of puffs. A single exposure to e-cig vapors caused changes in epithelial cell shape but no massive cell death. We successfully developed an aerosol generation system to produce and deposit realistic vapors from e-cigs. The results obtained indicate that a single exposure to e-cig aerosols affects epithelial morphology and slightly increases cell death. Our interdisciplinary approach combining aerosol technology and biology allows identifying adverse effects of e-cigs to the respiratory tract in vitro.

On-line measurement of fluorescent aerosols near an industrial zone in the Yangtze River Delta region using a wideband integrated bioaerosol spectrometer

In this work, we present on-line fluorescent aerosol measurements by the wideband integrated bioaerosol spectrometer (WIBS-4A) near an industrial zone in Nanjing, a megacity in the Yangtze-River-Delta (YRD) region. The fieldwork was conducted from April 1 to May 8, 2014. A TSI. 3321 aerosol-particle-sizer (APS) was simultaneously deployed to measure the total number size distribution of aerosol with diameter from 0.8–20 μm. Both WIBS-4A and APS reported similar number concentration and temporal profiles (R2 = 0.72). However, the daily average number of potential bioaerosols was only 0.5 ± 0.2% of the total particles detected by the WIBS-4A and displayed a completely different diurnal profile from that of APS. In addition, WIBS-4A can only provide integrated fluorescent signals, which strongly limited the potential to specifically identify the bioaerosols. Accordingly, hierarchical-agglomerative-cluster-analysis (HACA) was utilized to identify and speciate the potential bioaerosols from the WIBS-4A dataset. By maximizing the total distances among all potential cluster centers, a 12-cluster solution was accepted as the optimum result. These clusters were further identified according to their fluorescent signatures, size, and morphology, i.e., non-bioaerosols, bacteria, and fungal spores and/or pollen fragments. Bacteria were the dominant bioaerosol species detected in this work. The diurnal profiles of bioaerosols correlated very well with relatively humidity (RH), reaching daily maxima around 3 AM~6 AM, indicating the presence of humidity controlled bioaerosol emission mechanism, i.e., bacteria may flourish under moderate ambient temperature, RH, and the absence of UV radiation. The size- and AF-distributions of bioaerosols indicated that bioaerosols normally varied substantially in size and assumed a rather irregular shape. Although the number concentration of bioaerosols was relatively small, most bioaerosols can efficiently serve as ice nuclei by providing rough and irregular surfaces, verified by the observation results. Therefore, WIBS-4A measurements can still be informative for investigations of bioaerosols in the atmosphere, especially when HACA method was incorporated into the data processing.

Particle Size Distribution Analysis of OTC Aerosol or Powder Drug Products With Potential for Inadvertent Inhalation Exposure to Consumers

The potential for inadvertent inhalation of over-the-counter (OTC) aerosol/powder drug products for topical application requires understanding of the characteristic size distributions of the airborne particles or droplets generated when these products are used as per the directions on the product label. Particle/droplet size is an important factor in determining the depth of particle penetration into the respiratory system after inhalation. Because particles penetrating beyond the larynx into the lung may lead to adverse respiratory effects, OTC aerosol or powder drug product particle size distribution is important to characterize. In this study, laser diffraction was used to analyze the particle size distribution of 32 currently marketed OTC drug products as emitted after actuation or air dispersion from their final package. Among the products surveyed were sunscreens, antiperspirants, topical analgesics, skin protectants, and acne products. The results may be useful to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in its mission to protect as well as promote public health.

The size-resolved cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity and its prediction based on aerosol hygroscopicity and composition in the Pearl Delta River (PRD) region during wintertime 2014

Abstract. A hygroscopic tandem differential mobility analyzer (HTDMA), a scanning mobility cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) analyzer (SMCA), and an Aerodyne high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) were used to, respectively, measure the hygroscopicity, condensation nuclei activation, and chemical composition of aerosol particles at the Panyu site in the Pearl River Delta region during wintertime 2014. The distribution of the size-resolved CCN at four supersaturations (SSs of 0.1 %, 0.2 %, 0.4 %, and 0.7 %) and the aerosol particle size distribution were obtained by the SMCA. The hygroscopicity parameter κ (κCCN, κHTDMA, and κAMS) was, respectively, calculated based upon the SMCA, HTDMA, and AMS measurements. The results showed that the κHTDMA value was slightly smaller than the κCCN one at all diameters and for particles larger than 100 nm, and the κAMS value was significantly smaller than the others (κCCN and κHTDMA), which could be attributed to the underestimated hygroscopicity of the organics (κorg). The activation ratio (AR) calculated from the growth factor – probability density function (Gf-PDF) without surface tension correction was found to be lower than that from the CCN measurements, due most likely to the uncorrected surface tension (σs∕a) that did not consider the surfactant effects of the organic compounds. We demonstrated that better agreement between the calculated and measured ARs could be obtained by adjusting σs∕a. Various schemes were proposed to predict the CCN number concentration (NCCN) based on the HTDMA and AMS measurements. In general, the predicted NCCN agreed reasonably well with the corresponding measured ones using different schemes. For the HTDMA measurements, the NCCN value predicted from the real-time AR measurements was slightly smaller (∼6.8 %) than that from the activation diameter (D50) method due to the assumed internal mixing in the D50 prediction. The NCCN values predicted from bulk chemical composition of PM1 were higher (∼11.5 %) than those from size-resolved composition measured by the AMS because a significant fraction of PM1 was composed of inorganic matter. The NCCN values calculated from AMS measurement were underpredicted at 0.1 % and 0.2 % supersaturations, which could be due to underestimation of κorg and overestimation of σs∕a. For SS values of 0.4 % and 0.7 %, slight overpredicted NCCN values were found because of the internal mixing assumption. Our results highlight the need for accurately evaluating the effects of organics on both the hygroscopic parameter κ and the surface tension σ in order to accurately predict CCN activity.

Activation of the Fuels with Low Reactivity Using the High-Power Laser Pulses

In this paper we have proposed the simple and effective approach to activation of the low reactivity industrial fuel which can be used immediately inside the furnace. The high-power laser pulses initiates partial gasification of the fuel together with its ultra-fine atomization. The gas-aerosol cloud surrounding the initial coal-water slurry droplet can consist of approximately 10% (after absorption of hundred pulses) of the initial droplet weight. The ratio of the syngas and aerosol weights is like 1:2 when pulse intensity is higher than 8 J/cm 2 . The size and velocity distributions of the ultra-fine aerosol particles were analysed using the original realization of the particle tracking velocimetry technique.

Satellite Observations of Cloud-Related Variations in Aerosol Properties

This paper presents an overview of our efforts to characterize and better understand cloud-related changes in aerosol properties. These efforts primarily involved the statistical analysis of global or regional datasets of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) aerosol and cloud observations. The results show that in oceanic regions, more than half of all aerosol measurements by passive satellite instruments come from near-cloud areas, where clouds and cloud-related processes may significantly modify aerosol optical depth and particle size. Aerosol optical depth is also shown to increase systematically with regional cloud amount throughout the Earth. In contrast, it is shown that effective particle size can either increase or decrease with increasing cloud cover. In bimodal aerosol populations, the sign of changes depends on whether coarse mode or small mode aerosols are most affected by clouds. The results also indicate that over large parts of Earth, undetected cloud particles are not the dominant reason for the satellite-observed changes with cloud amount, and that 3D radiative processes contribute about 30% of the observed near-cloud changes. The findings underline the need for improving our ability to accurately measure aerosols near clouds.