Abstract
The performance of a set of low-cost optical components used for measuring the optical density of PM particles was evaluated in the present study. To this end, the set of low-cost optical components was replaced with that of general optical components used to measure the PM optical density under identical experimental conditions. The optical densities measured from the set of general optical components were then compared to those obtained from the set of low-cost optical components. While the optical density is measured, another key parameter, the dimensionless extinction constant of PM particles (which is needed to optically measure the PM concentration) was also determined in the present study. The experimental results indicate that the optical density and PM concentration measurements performed by low-cost optical components are feasible, producing trackable variations in the OD and concentrations compared to values obtained from the set of general optical components.