• Title/Summary/Keyword: Individual particles

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Measurement of Insoluble Mineral Particles in a Saturated Atmosphere

  • Ma, Chang-Jin;Choi, Sung-Boo
    • Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.24 no.E1
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    • pp.44-53
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    • 2008
  • This study was undertaken to measure the properties of individual mineral particles in an artificially saturated atmosphere at a vertical extinct mine with 430 m height. By synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) microprobe analysis, it was possible to determine the elemental composition of residual insoluble particles on individual cloud droplet replicas formed on the Collodion film. The XRF visualized elemental maps enabled us not only to presume the chemical mixing state of particles retained in cloud droplet, but also to estimate their source. Details about the individual mineral particles captured by artificial cloud droplets should be helpful to understand about the removal characteristics of dust particles such as interaction with clouds. Nearly all individual particles captured in cloud droplets are strongly enriched in Fe. Mass of Fe is ranged between 41 fg and 360 fg with average 112 fg. There is a good agreement between single particle analysis by SR-XRF and bulk particle analysis by PIXE.

Chemical Properties of Indoor Individual Particles Collected at the Daily Behavior Spaces of a Factory Worker

  • Ma, Chang-Jin;Kang, Gong-Unn;Sakai, Takuro
    • Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.11 no.2
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    • pp.122-130
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    • 2017
  • The main purpose of the study was to clarify the properties of individual particles collected at each behavior space of a factory worker. The samplings of size-segregated ($PM_{2.1-1.1}$ and $PM_{4.7-3.3}$) indoor particles were conducted at three different behavior spaces of a factory worker who is engaged in an auto parts manufacturing plant (i.e., his home, his work place in factory, and his favorite restaurant). Elemental specification (i.e., relative elemental content and distribution in and/or on individual particles) was performed by a micro-PIXE system. Every element detected from the coarse particulate matters of home was classified into three groups, i.e., a group of high net-counts (Na, Al, and Si), a group of intermediate net-counts (Mg, S, Cl, K, and Ca), and a group of minor trace elements (P, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb). The results of EF for $PM_{4.7-3.3}$ in home indicated that several heavy metals were generated from the sources within the house itself. An exceptional feature shown in the individual particles in workplace is that Cr, Mn, and Co were clearly detected in both fine and coarse particles. Cluster analysis suggested that the individual coarse particles ($PM_{4.7-3.3}$) collected at the indoor of factory were chemically heterogeneous and they modified with sea-salt, mineral, and artificially derived elements. The principal components in individual coarse particles collected at restaurant were sea-salt and mineral without mixing with harmful trace elements like chromium and manganese. Compared to the indoor fine particles of home and restaurant, many elements, especially, Cl, Na, Cr, Mn, Pb, and Zn showed overwhelmingly high net-counts in those of factory.

Chemical Properties of the Individual Asian Dust Particles Clarified by Micro-PIXE Analytical System

  • Ma, Chang-Jin;Kang, Gong-Unn;Kasahara, Mikio;Tohno, Susumu
    • Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.8 no.3
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    • pp.154-161
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    • 2014
  • The present study was undertaken to evaluate the chemical characteristics of Asian dust (hereafter called "AD") particles with the aid of the most advanced micro-PIXE (Particle-induced X-ray emission) analytical technique. To this end, size-selected particles were sampled on a rural peninsula of Korea (Byunsan, 35.37N; 126.27E) during AD and non-AD periods in 2004. The coarse particle (> $2{\mu}m$) number density during an AD event were 170 times higher than those of the non-AD counterpart. The average net-count of silica in individual particles collected on AD event was roughly 11 times higher than that of non-AD counterpart. The X-ray net-counts of trace elements (Zn, Co, Mn, and V) were also considerably high in AD relative to the non-AD day. Particle classification based on the inter ratio analysis of elemental net-count suggests that a large portion of the coarse particles collected during AD event underwent chemical transformation to a certain degree. The visual interpretation of micro-PIXE elemental maps and elemental localization data in and/or on individual AD particles clarified the internal mixture of AD particles with sea-salt and artificial metallic particles.

Feasibility Study of Isotope Ratio Analysis of Individual Uranium-Plutonium Mixed Oxide Particles with SIMS and ICP-MS

  • Esaka, Fumitaka;Magara, Masaaki;Suzuki, Daisuke;Miyamoto, Yutaka;Lee, Chi-Gyu;Kimura, Takaumi
    • Mass Spectrometry Letters
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    • v.2 no.4
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    • pp.80-83
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    • 2011
  • Isotope ratio analysis of nuclear materials in individual particles is of great importance for nuclear safeguards. Although secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) are utilized for the analysis of individual uranium particles, few studies were conducted for the analysis of individual uranium-plutonium mixed oxide particles. In this study, we applied SIMS and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to the isotope ratio analysis of individual U-Pu mixed oxide particles. In the analysis of individual U-Pu particles prepared from mixed solution of uranium and plutonium standard reference materials, accurate $^{235}U/^{238}U$, $^{240}Pu/^{239}Pu$ and $^{242}Pu/^{239}Pu$ isotope ratios were obtained with both methods. However, accurate analysis of $^{241}Pu/^{239}Pu$ isotope ratio was impossible, due to the interference of the $^{241}Am$ peak to the $^{241}Pu$ peak. In addition, it was indicated that the interference of the $^{238}UH$ peak to the $^{239}Pu$ peak has a possibility to prevent accurate analysis of plutonium isotope ratios. These problems would be avoided by a combination of ICP-MS and chemical separation of uranium, plutonium and americium in individual U-Pu particles.

Chemical Transformation of Individual Asian Dust Particles Estimated by the Novel Double Detector System of Micro-PIXE

  • Ma, Chang-Jin
    • Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.4 no.2
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    • pp.106-114
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    • 2010
  • By the application of novel double detector system of micro-PIXE that can detect light elements (Z<14), we made an attempt to provide a thorough discussion on the aging processes of Asian dust (hereafter called "AD") particle by reaction with sea-slat. The elemental spectra and maps obtained from the microbeam radiation of micro-PIXE to individual AD particles were useful for fractionating AD particles into both internally and externally mixed particles. A spatial distribution of elements in a minute domain of single particle obtained by scanning the microbeam irradiation enabled us not only to estimate the chemical mixing state of individual AD particles but also to presume their aging processes in both ambient air and cloud. By calculating the normalized micro-PIXE net count of elements, it was possible to classify individual AD particles into three distinct groups (i.e., (1) Aging type 1: AD particle coated by the gaseous Cl evaporated by the reaction between artificial acids and sea salt; (2) Aging type 2: AD particle mixed with sea salt but no additional reaction with artificial acids; and (3) Non-aged type) A relatively high transformation rate (63.3-75.9%) was shown in large particles (greater than $5.1\;{\mu}m$ in diameter).

An Orchestrated Attempt to Determine the Chemical Properties of Asian Dust Particles by PIXE and XRF Techniques

  • Ma, Chang-Jin;Kim, Ki-Hyun;Choi, Sung-Boo;Kasahara, Mikio;Tohno, Susumu
    • Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.4 no.3
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    • pp.189-197
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    • 2010
  • An orchestrated attempt was made to analyze samples of bulk and individual particulate matters (PM) collected at the Gosan ground-based station on the west coast of Jeju, Korea. A two-stage filter pack sampler was operated to collect particles in both large (> $1.2\;{\mu}m$) and small size fractions (< $1.2\;{\mu}m$) between the Asian dust (hereafter called "AD") storm event and non-Asian dust period. Elemental components in bulk and individual particles were determined by PIXE and synchrotron XRF analysis systems, respectively. To assess the transport pathways of air parcels and to determine the spatial distribution of PM, the backward trajectories of the Meteorological Data Explorer (Center for Global Environmental Research, 2010) and the NOAA's HYSPLIT dispersion-trajectory models were applied. In line with general expectations, Si and other crustal elements in large size particles showed considerably higher mass loading on AD days in comparison with non-AD days. Computation of the crustal enrichment factors [(Z/Si)$_{particle}$/(Z/Si)$_{desert}$ sand] of elements in large size particles (> $1.2\;{\mu}m$) allowed us to estimate the source profile and chemical aging of AD particles as well as to classify the soil-origin elements. On the basis of a single particle analysis, individual AD particles are classified into three distinct groups (neutralized mineral particles, S-rich mineral particles, and imperfectly neutralized particles).

Uranium Particle Identification with SEM-EDX for Isotopic Analysis by Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

  • Esaka, Fumitaka;Magara, Masaaki
    • Mass Spectrometry Letters
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    • v.7 no.2
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    • pp.41-44
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    • 2016
  • Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) is a promising tool to measure isotope ratios of individual uranium particles in environmental samples for nuclear safeguards. However, the analysis requires prior identification of a small number of uranium particles that coexist with a large number of other particles without uranium. In the present study, this identification was performed by scanning electron microscopy - energy dispersive X-ray analysis with automated particle search mode. The analytical results for an environmental sample taken at a nuclear facility indicated that the observation of backscattered electron images with × 1000 magnification was appropriate to efficiently identify uranium particles. Lower magnification (less than × 500) made it difficult to detect smaller particles of approximately 1 μm diameter. After identification, each particle was manipulated and transferred for subsequent isotope ratio analysis by SIMS. Consequently, the isotope ratios of individual uranium particles were successfully determined without any molecular ion interference. It was demonstrated that the proposed technique provides a powerful tool to measure individual particles not only for nuclear safeguards but also for environmental sciences.

Interpretation of the Chemical Transformation of Individual Asian Dust Particles Collected on the Western Coast of Korean Peninsula

  • Ma, Chang-Jin;Kim, Jong-Ho;Kim, Ki-Hyun
    • Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.14-22
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    • 2012
  • This paper is focused on the comprehensive and detailed interpretation for the chemical transformation of individual Asian dust (hereafter called "AD") particles during long-range transport from source regions to receptor area. A multi-stage particle sampler was operated at a ground-based site in Taean, Korea directly exposed to the outflow of air masses from China during AD period in April 2003. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses for size-classified individual particles were carried out by a microbeam X-ray fluorescence (XRF) method and a microbeam Particle Induced X-ray Emission (micro-PIXE), respectively. Among major characteristic elements, the elemental masses of soil derived components, sulfur, and chloride varied as a function of particle size showing the monomodal maximum with a steeply increasing at 3.3-4.7 ${\mu}m$ particle size. Although the details on chemical composition of AD particle collected on a straight line from source area to our ground-based site are needed, a large amount of Cl coexisted in and/or on AD particles suggests that AD particles collected in the present study might be actively engaged in chemical transformation by sea-salt and other Cl containing pollutants emitted from the China's domestic sources. Through the statistical analyses it was possible to classify individual AD particles into six distinct groups. The internally mixed AD particles with Cl, which has various sources (e.g., sea-salt, coal combustion origin HCl, gaseous HCl derived from the adsorption of acids to sea-salt, and Cl containing man-made particles) were thoroughly fractionated by the elemental spectra drivened by the double detector system of micro-PIXE.

Preliminary Study on the Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN) Activation of Soot Particles by a Laboratory-scale Model Experiments

  • Ma, Chang-Jin;Kim, Ki-Hyun
    • Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.8 no.4
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    • pp.175-183
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    • 2014
  • To visually and chemically verify the rainout of soot particles, a model experiment was carried out with the cylindrical chamber (0.2 m (D) and 4 m (H)) installing a cloud drop generator, a hydrotherometer, a particle counter, a drop collector, a diffusing drier, and an artificial soot particle distributer. The processes of the model experiment were as follows; generating artificial cloud droplets (major drop size : $12-14{\mu}m$) until supersaturation reach at 0.52%-nebulizing of soot particles (JIS Z 8901) with an average size of $0.5{\mu}m$-counting cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) particles and droplets by OPC and the fixation method (Ma et al., 2011; Carter and Hasegawa, 1975), respectively - collecting of individual cloud drops - observation of individual cloud drops by SEM - chemical identifying of residual particle in each individual droplet by SEM-EDX. After 10 minutes of the completion of soot particle inject, the number concentrations of PM of all sizes (> $0.3{\mu}m$) dramatically decreased. The time required to return to the initial conditions, i.e., the time needed to CCN activation for the fed soot particles was about 40 minutes for the PM sized from $0.3-2.0{\mu}m$. The EDX spectra of residual particles left at the center of individual droplet after evaporation suggest that the soot particles seeded into our experimental chamber obviously acted as CCN. The coexistence of soot and mineral particle in single droplet was probably due to the coalescence of droplets (i.e., two droplets embodying different particles (in here, soot and background mineral particles) were coalesced) or the particle capture by a droplet in our CCN chamber.

Sampling Method for Individual Particle Analysis of Atmospheric Aerosol (개별입자 분석을 위한 대기에어로졸의 시료채취법)

  • Seong-Woo Cheon;Jeong-Ho Park
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.33 no.2
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    • pp.113-119
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    • 2024
  • In this study, the most suitable sampling methods for the bimodal mass distribution characteristics and individual particle analysis of atmospheric aerosols were investigated. Samples collected in Quartz, Teflon, and Nuclepore filters were analyzed for individual particles using scanning electron microscopy with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM/EDS). Then, the pore diameter of the filter and the collection flow rate were determined using the theoretical collection efficiency calculation formula for two-stage separation sample collection of coarse and fine particles. The Nuclepore filter was found to be the most suitable filter for identifying the physical and chemical characteristics of atmospheric aerosols since it was able to separate the sample and count the different sized particles better than either Quartz or Teflon. Nuclepore filters with 8.0 ㎛ and 0.4 ㎛ pores were connected in series and exposed to a flow rate of 16.7 L/min for two-stage separation sampling. The results show that it is possible to separate and collect both coarse and fine particles. We expect that the proposed methodology will be used for future individual particle analysis of atmospheric aerosols and related research.