Air Pollution Measurments Lecture 8

Lecture (8): Air pollution Measurement
Asst. prof. Dr. Basim I. Wahab Al-Temimi
Lecture topics:
• Atmospheric processes - role of aerosols
• Characterization of aerosol particles
• Forces and interactions
• In nation and measurements
• Health effects of particles
• Applications
• Standards and guidelines
• Aerosols in indoor and outdoor environment
• Motor vehicle emissions
• Other
Aims of the lecture series:
•To provide students with a broad understanding of all aspects related to environmental
aerosol science, with a focus on physics.
• To show the scientific depth and complexity.
• To present applications and current directions.
Why study environmental aerosols?
Reason 1: Because particles constitute one of the most important pollutants affecting
human health. (Evans. Et. al 1984): "We are of the opinion that the cross-sectional studies
reflect a causal relationship between exposure to airborne particles and premature
mortality... However, we are in the minority in taking this view." (Dockery et al 1993).
Reason 2: Approaches taken in environmental aerosol studies could be used in any other
area of environmental studies or in any other type of interdisciplinary studies.
Reason 3: Understanding of aerosol processes and interactions, can be used in the most
advanced areas of industry and technology such as material synthesis, microelectronics,
and pharmacy.
Reason 4: For the challenge of it - if you do not do it, the others might do it, or nobody
will do it!
Definitions of:
Aerosol: an assembly of liquid or solid particles suspended in a gaseous medium long
enough to enable observation or measurement. Generally, the sizes of aerosols are
in the range from 0.001 to 100μm.
Dust: solid particles formed by crushing or other mechanical breakage of a parent material.
These particles generally have irregular shapes and are typically around 0.5m.
Fog & mist: liquid aerosol particle of 10μm – 100μm ion diameter. *
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Fume: particles that are usually the result of vapor condensation with subsequent
agglomeration usually <0.05mm.
Particle: small discrete objects.
Particulate: a particle.
Smog: an aerosol consisting of solid and liquid particles, created at least in part, by the
action of sunlight or vapor; thus <2μm.
Smoke: a solid or liquid aerosol, the result of incomplete combustion or condensation of
supersaturated vapor; typically, <1μm.
Nature of Aerosols:
Natural sources: soil and rock debris, forest fires, sea salt, volcanic debris, biogenic
(pollen, viruses, bacteria, etc.)
Anthropogenic sources: Fuel combustion and industrial processes, industrial processes
fugitive emissions, nonindustrial fugitive emissions, transportation, etc. The investigation
of airborne pollutants is basically entered within Environmental sciences.
Its main aspects are:
• Interdisciplinary by nature;
• Science of the interactions;
• crosses the boundary between science and non-science;
INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENTS
1. Measurement techniques
What to measure?
• Particle mass;
• Particle number;
• Mass or number size distribution;
• Chemical composition;
• Biological composition;
• Radioactivity;
• Combination of these;
How to measure? In general, each aerosol measurement technique covers a unique range
of particle characteristics such as:
• Concentration;
• Size;
• Shape;
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• Chemical or biological composition;

Choosing the proper instrument for a particular application is of critical importance.
A thorough understanding of the principles and limitations of each measurement method is
essential.
Type of aerosol measurements

• sample collection and real time measurements (on site);
• active (e.g., pump) and passive sampling (exposure of collecting device);
• personal and area sampling (in either case should be representative);
• continuous measurements or grab sampling (e.g., once an hour);
• sampling from flows - isokinetic sampling;
The degree of comprehensiveness in air quality assessment is a function of the endpoint
• Basic research;
• Regulatory compliance (sampling procedure to achieve comparable results);
• Remedial action;
Detection is a two-stage process:

1) Measurement for the determination of the quantity;
2) Data convolution for the determination of the quality
a) Mass measurement techniques

Sample collection methods (static):
• Filter collection;
• Inertial and gravitational collection;
• Diffusional deposition;
• Electrostatic deposition;
Dynamic methods
• Piezoelectric mass monitor;
• Tapered-Element Oscillating;
• Microbalance Method (TEOM);
• Optical techniques: light scattering;
• Aerosol photometer – nephelometer;
b) Number concentration measurement techniques - concentration of atmospheric
particles is most commonly performed using (both techniques provide no information
about the size distribution):
• Condensation nucleus counters;
• Aerosol electrometers;
c) Size distribution measurement techniques: for atmospheric particle size classification,
it includes:
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• optical particle counters (inlets determines which sort of particles may be measured);
• electrostatic classifiers;
• diffusion batteries;
d) Combination of physical measurement techniques:
Information on particle size distribution is generally obtained by combining a dynamic
aerosol detection technique with a size classification technique.
2. Filter collection:
Filter collection is conducted for further:
• Gravimetric analysis (mass – standard filters do not allow microscopic analysis)
• Microscopic analysis (shape, number, elemental composition, morphology)
• Micro chemical analysis (chemical composition; organic and inorganic; elements and
compounds)
• Radioactivity measurements
Filter holders can be:
• Opened-faced
• In-line
• Cassette variety
General consideration:
in setting up a filtration sampling system:
• Selection of a filter (according to application must for example withstand elevated
temperatures);
• ensuring a positive seal (leakages falsify results);
• flow rate stability and measurements; e.g. [m3/s];
• minimizing particle losses in the system;
• filter performance testing;
Selection of a filter - Criteria for selecting a filter:
• Collection efficiency of the filter for the aerosol size distribution to be tested;
• Pressure drops across the filter;
• Compatibility of filter with the sampling conditions (such as temperature, pressure,
humidity, corrosiveness, etc);
• Cost constrains relating to sampling effort and the number of filters required (filters may
cost up to AU$ 100 apiece).
*
‫نصف القطر األيوني‬
4
‫‪Lecture (8):‬‬ ‫‪Air pollution Measurement‬‬
‫‪Asst. prof. Dr. Basim I. Wahab Al-Temimi‬‬
‫نصف القطر األيوني هو نصف قطر أيون لذرة ما‪ .‬على الرغم من صعوبة تحديد شكل نهائي للذرات أو لأليونات‪ ،‬إال‬
‫أنه يمكن اعتبارها على شكل كرات ذات أنصاف أقطار‪ ،‬بحيث أنه في مركب أيوني‪ y‬يكون مجموع نصفي قطر‬
‫الكاتيون واألنيون يعطي في النهاية المسافة بين األيونات في الشبكة البلورية‬
‫‪5‬‬

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Lecture (8): Air pollution Measurement

Asst. prof. Dr. Basim I. Wahab Al-Temimi

• Chemical or biological composition;

Type of aerosol measurements

Detection is a two-stage process:

a) Mass measurement techniques

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