• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.E1
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• pp.54-62
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• 2008

Microbeam PIXE, often called micro-PIXE, is one of powerful tools for analyzing a wide range of elements for various samples. Moreover, it has important applications of interest to the atmospheric science. In the present study, a qualitative elemental imagination for various atmospheric environmental species was attempted using micro-PIXE. Especially, in combination with a novel individual droplet collection method and the micro-PIXE analytical technique, the chemical specification of various individual atmospheric samples could be carried out. Here, we briefly introduce the results of an application of micro-PIXE to the study of atmospheric environment. The detailed spatial resolution of multiple elements for various samples like individual ambient particles, individual raindrops, individual fog droplets, and individual snow crystals could be successfully achieved by scanning 2.6 MeV $H^+$ micro beam ($1{\sim}2{\mu}m$) accelerated by 3 MeV single-end accelerator.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.67-74
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• 2005

Microbeam PIXE, often called micro-PIXE, is a powerful tool tot analyzing a wide range of elements for various samples, as well as, it has important applications of interest to the atmospheric science. In this study, qualitative elemental imagination for various atmospheric environmental species was attempted using micro-PIXE. Here, we present the results of an application of micro-PIXE to the study of atmospheric environment. The detailed spatial resolution of multiple elements lot various samples like individual ambient particles, individual raindrops, individual fog droplets, and individual snow crystals could be successfully achieved by scanning 2.6 MeV H+ micro beam (1-2 ${\mu}m$) accelerated by 3 MV single-end accelerator.

• 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).

• 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.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2017

Quantifying the trace elements in infinitesimal ambient liquid samples (e.g., single raindrop, cloud/fog water, and the soluble fraction extracted from the particles collected for a short time) is an important task for understanding formation processes, heating/cooling rates, and their health hazards. The purpose of this study is to employ an in-air micro PIXE system for quantitative analysis of the trace elements in a thimbleful of reference liquid sample. The bag type liquid sample holder originally designed with $10{\mu}m$ thick $Mylar^{(R)}$ film retained the original shape without any film perforation and apparent peaks of film blank by the end of the analysis. As one of tasks to be solved, the homogeneity of the elemental distribution in liquid reference species was verified by the X-ray line profiles for several references. It was possible to resolve the significant peaks for whole target elements corresponding to the channel number of micro-PIXE spectrum. The calibration curves for the six target elements (Si, S, Cl, Fe, Ni, and Zn) in standard solutions were successfully plotted by concentration (ppm) and ROI of interest net counts/dose (nC).

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 2023

Trace elements (TEs) have significant effects on both dental health and human health. Toxic effects are caused by deficiency or excess of TEs. This study was performed to determine levels of toxic and trace elements in incisor and molar teeth sampled from male and female participants residing in the north and south regions of Sudan. The tooth enamel of 18 extracted human teeth was analyzed using particle-induced x-ray emission (µ-PIXE) to determine its elemental profile and distribution. GeoPIXEII software package was used for the analysis of µ-PIXE data. The main elements determined were Na, Mg, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Zn, Co, and Sr which were homogeneously distributed in the areas of the tooth enamel mapped with micro-PIXE.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.E2
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• pp.78-88
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• 2006

In order to study the characteristics of cloud, a real-scale experiment for cloud generation was carried out using an extinct vertical mine (430 m height) located in the northeastern Honshu, Japan. The dry particles generated from the three-step concentrations of NaCl solutions were used for cloud generation. The number size distributions of initial dry particles and cloud droplets were monitored by Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) and Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe (FSSP) at bottom and upper sites of pit, respectively. The polymeric water absorbent film (PWAF) method was employed to measure liquid water content ($W_L$) as a function of droplet size. Moreover the chemical properties of individual droplet replicas were determined by micro-PIXE. The CCN number concentration shows the lognormal form in dependence of the particle size, while the number size distributions of droplets are bimodal showing the peaks around $9{\mu}m$ and $20{\mu}m$ for every case. In comparison to background mineral particles, right shifting of size distribution line for NaCl particles was occurred. When NaCl solutions with three-step different concentrations were neulized, $W_L$ shows the strong droplet size dependence. It varied from $10.0mg\;m^{-3}$ up to $13.6mg\;m^{-3}$ with average $11.6mg\;m^{-3}$. A good relationship between $W_L$ and cloud droplet number concentration was obtained. Both chemical inhomogeneities (mixed components with mineral and C1) and homogeneities (only mineral components or C1) in individual droplet replicas were obviously observed from micro-PIXE elemental images.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.16 no.E
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• pp.29-38
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• 2000

For the detailed characterization of atmospheric aerosol, the analysis of single particle is highly valuable. In this study, to investigate the characteristics of single Asian dust storm particles, scanning electron microscope(SEM) coupled with and energy dispersive X-ray microanalyzer(EDX) and micro-PIXE were applied. Sampling was performed at Kyoto University located in Kyoto, Japan, in spring of 1999. Mass concentration during Asian dust storm events was higher roughly 3∼5 times than measured in the season of the highest concentration. Single particles were generally sharp-edged and irregular in shape and contained mostly crustal elements. Significant amount of S in coarse fraction was detected in individual particles. A large particles in coarse fraction existed as the mixture of soil components and S. A good agreement between the result of SEM-EDX analysis and that iof micro-PIXE analysis was obtained in this study.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.114-123
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• 2016

A change in chemical compositions of Asian dust (AD) particles can dramatically alter their optical properties, cloud-forming properties, and health effects. The present study was undertaken to evaluate this aging of AD particles by means of two complementary methods (i.e., the traditional spot test and the most advanced micro-PIXE analytical technique) for single particle analysis. Size-classified particles were sampled at the rural peninsula of Korea (Byunsan, 35.37N; 126.27E) during AD event and non-AD period in 2004. Sulfate was principally enriched on the particles in the size range of $7.65-10.85{\mu}m$ collected during AD event. The average number fraction of coarse particles ($>2.05{\mu}m$) containing chloride was 16.2% during AD event. Relatively low particles containing nitrate compared to those containing sulfate and chloride were found in AD event. Micro-PIXE elemental maps indicated that a large number of AD particles were internally mixed with man-made zinc. The highest peaks of EC and OC concentrations were appeared at $0.01-0.43{\mu}m$ particle aerodynamic diameter. High EC concentration in $PM_1$ was might be caused by the Saemangeum Seawall Project that was being conducted during our field measurement.

• 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.