• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.216-221
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• 2016

Background: Very fine radiation-induced aerosol particles are produced in intense radiation fields, such as high-intensity accelerator rooms and containment vessels such as those in the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (FDNPP). Size measurement of the aerosol particles is very important for understanding the behavior of radioactive aerosols released in the FDNPP accident and radiation safety in high-energy accelerators. Materials and Methods: A combined technique using wire screens and imaging plates was developed for size measurement of fine radioactive aerosol particles smaller than 100 nm in diameter. This technique was applied to the radiation field of a proton accelerator room, in which radioactive atoms produced in air during machine operation are incorporated into radiation-induced aerosol particles. The size of $^{11}C$-bearing aerosol particles was analyzed using the wire screen technique in distinction from other positron emitters in combination with a radioactive decay analysis. Results and Discussion: The size distribution for $^{11}C$-bearing aerosol particles was found to be ca. $70{\mu}m$ in geometric mean diameter. The size was similar to that for $^7Be$-bearing particles obtained by a Ge detector measurement, and was slightly larger than the number-based size distribution measured with a scanning mobility particle sizer. Conclusion: The particle size measuring method using wire screens and imaging plates was successfully applied to the fine aerosol particles produced in an intense radiation field of a proton accelerator. This technique is applicable to size measurement of radioactive aerosol particles produced in the intense radiation fields of radiation facilities.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.109-114
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• 2016

People in metropolitan cities can be exposed to particulate air pollutants at public transportation systems such as bus stops. In this study, we sampled aerosol particles with an impactor at a bus stop. We analyzed the shapes of these particles with an optical microscope. It was estimated that fibers, silicons, byproducts of combustion, and pollens existed in the air environments at the bus stop with analysis of shapes of sampled particles.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2018

Since the motion of the charged particle strongly depends on its charge characteristics, information on charge distributions of target particles is one of the important variables in aerosol research. In this study, charged distribution of atomized NaCl particles were measured using a Gerdien type ion counter. Two kinds of particle charging conditions were used in this study. First, atomized NaCl particles were passed through an aerosol neutralizer to have a Boltzmann charge distribution, and then its charge distribution was measured. In this case, the portion of uncharged particles was compared with the portion obtained from the Boltzmann charge distribution for verifying the suggested experimental method. Second, same experiment was conducted without the aerosol neutralizer to measure the charge distribution of atomized and un-neutralized NaCl particles. In the conclusion, the portion of uncharged, negatively charged and positively charged particles were 19%, 62% and 20%, respectively, for neutralized particles. The atomized particles, which was generated without the aerosol neutralizer, also had almost a zero charge state, but the standard deviation in charge distribution was larger than that of neutralized particles. The test method proposed in this study is expected to be used in various aerosol research fields because it can obtain simple information on the particle charge characteristics more easily and quickly than the existing test methods.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.201-208
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• 2001

To investigate the physio-chemical components and properties of aerosol particles in urban area sampling of aerosol particles was carried out in the campus of Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan, during snowfall. Aerosol particles were collected on millipore filter papers using a low volume air sampler. Their shapes, sizes and chemical components were analyzed by a SEM(Scanning Electron Microscope) and an EDX(Energy Dispersive X-ray). As a results, ice crystals of dendrite and column types were predominantly shown at mature and developing stage of snowfall intensity. The denerite and sector plate types of ice crystals were mainly originated from the sea but column types were come from soil. Scavenging effect by snowfall was greatly also shown at dendrite type ice crystals that embryo was fully developd. Al, Si elements were shown at high frequencies as compared with others. Na, Cl components were especially shown at high frequencies under the sea-breeze wind during snowfall. Anthropogenic aerosol particles had shown with irregular shapes and sizes, relatively. Mainly 3-7$\mu$m aerosol particles were abundant and coarse particles also could be seen during snowfall. Ca, Zn, Fe components mainly caused by spike tires from vehicles in winter season were dominant before snowfall, however the element S mainly caused by human activity was rich after snowfall. The pH values of snow in Sapporo city were higher than those at coastal area. The concentration of chemical components in aerosol particles was also affected by surface winds. Aerosol particles in urban area, Sapporo were mainly affected by human activities like vehicles and combustion with wind system. And their types were related with snowfall intensity.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.823-832
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• 2004

Atmospheric aerosol particles collected in Seoul on four single days, each in every seasons of 2001, were characterized and classified on the basis of their chemical species using low-Z particle electron probe X-ray microanalysis (low-Z particle EPMA). Low-Z particle EPMA technique can analyze both the size and the chemical species of individual aerosol particles of micrometer size and provide detailed information on the size distribution of each chemical species. The major chemical species observed in Seoul aerosol were aluminosilicate, silicon dioxide, calcium carbonate, organic, carbon-rich, marine originated, and ammonium sulfate particles, etc. The soil originated species, such as aluminosilicate, silicon dioxide, and calcium carbonate were the most popular in the coarse fraction, meanwhile, carbonaceous and ammonium sulfate were the dominant species found in the fine fraction. Marine originated species such as sodium nitrate was frequently encountered, up to 30% of the analyzed aerosol particles.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1489-1497
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• 2003

Aerosol charge neutralizers with various radioactive sources have been used to apply an equilibrium charge distribution to aerosols of unknown charge distribution. However, the performance of aerosol charge neutralizers is not well known, especially for highly charged particles. Measurements of highly charged particles are needed in air cleaning devices, e.g. electrostatic precipitator, bag filter with a pre-charger, and electrical cyclone. In this study, the particle charging characteristics of two different aerosol charge neutralizers were experimentally investigated for singly charged monodisperse particles and highly charged polydisperse particles. One has radioactive source of $^{85}$ Kr (beta source, 2 mCi) and the other has $^{210}$ Po (alpha source, 0,5 mCi). The air flow rate passing through each aerosol charge neutralizer was changed from 0.2 to 2.5 L/min. The results show that the charge distribution of singly charged monodisperse particles passing through the $^{85}$ Kr aerosol charge neutralizer is well agreed with the Boltzmann equilibrium charge distribution at an air flow rate of 0.3 L/min, However, it deviates from the equilibrium charge distribution when the air flow rates are 0.6, 1,0, and 1,5 L/min, On the other hands, the effect of air flow rate is insignificant for the $^{210}$ Po aerosol charge neutralizer. The non-equilibrium character in charge distribution of highly charged polydisperse particles passing through the $^{85}$ Kr aerosol charge neutralizer greatly depends on the air flow rate, however it is insensitive to the air flow rate for the $^{210}$ Po aerosol charge neutralizer.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.131-137
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• 2017

A cyclone is an effective tool to facilitate the collection of aerosol particles without using filters, and in cell exposure studies is able to collect a sufficient amount of aerosol particles to evaluate their adverse health effect. In this study, we examined two different methods to improve the aerosol particle collection efficiency of a cyclone. The individual and combined effects of reducing the surface roughness of the inner wall of the cyclone and of using a circular cone attachment were tested. The collection efficiency of particles of diameter $0.2{\mu}m$ was improved by approximately 10% when using a cyclone with a smoothened inner wall (average roughness $Ra=0.08{\mu}m$) compared with the original cyclone ($Ra=5.1{\mu}m$). A circular cone attachment placed between the bottom section of the cyclone and the top section of a collection bottle, resulted in improved collection of smaller particles without the attachment. The 50% cutoff diameter of the modified cyclone (combined use of smoothened inner wall and attachment) was $0.23{\mu}m$ compared to $0.28{\mu}m$ in the original model. The combined use of these two techniques resulted in improved collection efficiency of aerosol particles.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2012

The aerosol number concentration have measured with an aerodynamic particle sizer spectrometer(APS) at Gosan site in Jeju, Korea, from March 2010 to March 2011. And then the atmospheric aerosol number concentration, the temporal variation and the size distribution of aerosol number concentration have been investigated. The aerosol number concentration varies significantly from 748 particles/$cm^3$ to zero particles/$cm^3$. The average number concentration in small size ranges are very higher than those in large size ranges. The number concentrations in the size range 0.25~0.28 ${\mu}m$, 0.40~0.45 ${\mu}m$ and 2.0~2.5 ${\mu}m$ are about 84 particles/$cm^3$, 2 particles/$cm^3$ and 0.4 particles/$cm^3$, respectively. The number concentrations in range of larger than 7.5 ${\mu}m$ are below 0.001 particles/$cm^3$. The seasonal variations in the number concentration for smaller particle(<1.0 ${\mu}m$) are not much, but the variations for larger particle are very evident. And strong amplitudes of diurnal variations of entire averaged aerosol number concentration are not observed. Size-fractioned aerosol number concentrations are dramatically decreased with increased particle size. The size-fractioned aerosol number concentrations in size range 0.8~4.0 ${\mu}m$ during nighttime are evidently higher than during daytime, but similar levels are appeared in other size range. The seasonal differences in the size-fractioned number concentrations for smaller size range(<0.7 ${\mu}m$) are not observed, however, the remarkable seasonal differences are observed for larger size than 0.7 ${\mu}m$.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.315-323
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• 2004

An electrical cascade impactor is a multi-stage impaction device to separate airborne particles into aerodynamic size classes using particle charging and electrical detection techniques. A Faraday cage and an aerosol charger, which are basic components of the electrical cascade impactor, were designed and evaluated in this study. The low-level current response of the Faraday cage was investigated with changing particle size and air flow rate by using sodium chloride (NaCl) particles. The response of the prototype Faraday cage was very similar to that of a commercial aerosol electrometer (TSI model 3068) within ${\pm}$5% for singly-charged particles. The response linearity of the prototype Faraday cage could be extended up to flow rate of 30 L/min. For the performance evaluation of the aerosol charger the monodisperse liquid dioctyl sebacate (DOS) particles, with diameters of 0.1∼0.8$\mu\textrm{m}$, were generated using spraying from an atomizer followed by evaporation-condensation process. Typical performance parameters of the aerosol charger such as P$.$n, wall loss, and elementary charges per particle were evaluated. The performance of the prototype aerosol charger was found to be close to that of the aerosol charger used in an electrical low pressure impactor (ELPI, Dekati).

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.143-150
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• 2012

Fungal particles have been known to aggravate indoor air quality. To develop fungal particle cleaning devices requires a well-controlled generator of fungal aerosol particles. In this study, a novel fungal aerosol generator was designed and tested for anti-fungal experiment. Cladosporium cladosporioides was selected as test fungal particle. After aerosolization, the number concentration and the size of particles were measured by aerodynamic particle sizer. The number concentration depended on the vibration strength and vibration period of the designed fungal aerosol generator. For the vibration strength of 10volt and the period of 10 sec (5 sec on and 5 sec off), the stable particle generation with concentration of 10#/cm3 was maintained during 35 minutes.