Jump to main content.

Research Project Search
 Enter Search Term:
   
 NCER Advanced Search

Source Characterization of Airborne Particles on a Single-Particle Basis

EPA Grant Number: U915354
Title: Source Characterization of Airborne Particles on a Single-Particle Basis
Investigators: Silva, Philip J.
Institution: University of California - Riverside
EPA Project Officer: Boddie, Georgette
Project Period: January 1, 1998 through January 1, 2000
Project Amount: $53,624
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (1998)
Research Category: Academic Fellowships , Fellowship - Chemistry and Materials Science , Engineering and Environmental Chemistry

Description:

Objective:

The objective of this research project is to perform chemical analysis of particulate emissions from several primary sources of particulate pollution on a single-particle basis. The results will be used to perform the first source apportionment of airborne particles using a real-time, single-particle technique.

Approach:

Aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ATOFMS) is a single-particle analysis technique with real-time capabilities. ATOFMS yields data on both the chemical composition and the aerodynamic size of individual particles. By obtaining a size and chemical composition for each individual particle, it is possible to obtain a unique “fingerprint” for different types of particles. These fingerprints can be obtained for various particle sources during emissions tests. Once obtained, the particle fingerprint can be used to identify particles based on their source in ambient samples. Using these fingerprints, ambient data can be used to assess the relative contribution of each source to ambient particulate pollution and track the diurnal variation of each source contribution in the atmosphere.

This study will be the first attempt to use a single-particle mass spectrometry technique for source apportionment. Therefore, emphasis will be placed on the method to convert single-particle data into valid source contributions. This research project will show the potential for using single-particle data for source apportionment and also discuss the difficulties involved. It is expected that source apportionment can be accomplished with more precision using ATOFMS than using a conventional mass balance of bulk chemical data, because particle types can be counted rather than having to deconvolute source profiles of numerous different particle types.

Supplemental Keywords:

fellowship, aerosol, trace metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs, particulate matter, PM, laser desorption, aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometry, ATOFMS, source apportionment, air pollution, particulates. , Air, Scientific Discipline, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Air Quality, Atmospheric Sciences, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Monitoring, real time monitoring, aerosol time of flight spectrometry, ambient emissions, chemical composition, aerosol particles, source apportionment studies, aerodynamic particle sizing, emissions, air quality field measurements, atmospheric particles, analytical chemistry

Top of page

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

Local Navigation

Jump to main content.