• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.196-203
• /
• 2011

The main aim of this study is to establish methods of morphological preservation and elemental quantification for individual snow crystals. Individual snow crystals were collected at a height of 20 m above ground level. To stabilize and preserve the original morphologies of the snow crystals, cyanoacrylate, which has been used to fix liquid droplets, was applied (Kasahara et al., 2000). Several different kinds of snow crystals (dendrite, sectored plate, quasi-sectored plate, and hexagonal plate) were successively stabilized using this method. The stabilized snow crystals were pretreated with acetone, and then the elemental components contained in a whole snow crystal were quantified with the Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) analytical technique. The snow crystal residual composition determined in the present study was dominated by sulfur and mineral components, and the elemental mass showed an apparent crystal size dependence, where the elemental mass gradually decreased as the crystal size increased.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.307-317
• /
• 1997

Samples of fine particle $(d_P<2.5 \mum)$ were taken in Chongju area using a dichotomous sampler. The data set was collected on fifty-eight different days with 24 hour sampling period from October 27, 1995 through August 25, 1996. The samples were analyzed using a proton induced x-ray emission (PIXE) for Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, M, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br and Pb. Values of Fe, Ca, Si, Cu, K and Cl exhibit marked seasonal variations. Mean concentrations for this study had the following order S > Cl > Si > K > Al > Fe on fine particle. Concentrations of Ca, Si and Fe were higher during the spring season compared with any other season. These phenomena may be attributable to soil dust. Cl and K were higher in the winter, which may be explained by combustion of fossil fuel. Higher values for Cu and Zn in the Winter may be due to the combustion and incineration.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.115-125
• /
• 2014

In this study, particle composition data for $PM_{10}$ samples were collected every 3 days at Seoul, Korea from August 2006 to November 2007, and were analyzed to provide source identification and apportionment. A total of 164 samples were collected and 21 species (15 inorganic species, 4 ionic species, OC, and EC) were analyzed by particle-induced x-ray emission, ion chromatography, and thermal optical transmittance methods. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) was used to develop source profiles and to estimate their mass contributions. The PMF modeling identified nine sources and the average mass was apportioned to secondary nitrate (9.3%), motor vehicle (16.6%), road salt (5.8%), industry (4.9%), airborne soil (17.2 %), aged sea salt (6.2%), field burning (6.0%), secondary sulfate (16.2%), and road dust (17.7%), respectively. The nonparametric regression (NPR) analysis was used to help identify local source in the vicinity of the sampling area. These results suggest the possible strategy to maintain and manage the ambient air quality of Seoul.

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.7-12
• /
• 2010

In this work, effect of various process-control agents (PCAs) on the mechanical alloying of amorphous alloy of $Al_{85}Y_8Ni_5Co_2$ has been investigated. The dependence of the particle shape, size and crystallization behavior of the amorphous alloy powders on the type of PCAs and their concentrations was investigated by using X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. It was found that the additive of toluene could affect positively the amorphization and thermally induced crystallization processes, as well as the size refinement, morphology and particle-size distribution of as-milled powders in comparison with alloy obtained without PCA.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.30-42
• /
• 2008

In this study, the chemical compositions of $PM_{2.5}$ samples collected at the Redwood National Park IMPROVE site in California from March 1988 to May 2004 were analyzed to provide source identification and apportionment. A total of 1,640 samples were collected and 33 chemical species were analyzed by particle induced X-ray emission, proton elastic scattering analysis, photon induced X-ray fluorescence, ion chromatography, and thermal optical reflectance methods. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) was used to develop source profiles and to estimate their mass contributions. The PMF modeling identified five sources and the average mass was apportioned to motor vehicle (35.8%, $1.58\;{\mu}g/m^3$), aged sea salt (23.2%, $1.02\;{\mu}g/m^3$), fresh sea salt (21.4%, $0.94\;{\mu}g/m^3$), wood/field burning (16.1%, $0.71\;{\mu}g/m^3$), and airborne soil (3.5%, $0.15\;{\mu}g/m^3$), respectively. To analyze local source impacts from various wind directions, the CPF and NPR analyses were performed using source contribution results with the wind direction values measured at the site. These results suggested that sources of $PM_{2.5}$ are also sources of visibility degradation and then source apportionment studies derived for $PM_{2.5}$ are also used for understanding visibility problem.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.179-188
• /
• 2000

Trace elements in air samples artificially loaded on filters with urban dust and the bulk material of urban dust as an environmental sample were determined non-destructively using instrumental neutron activation analysis. Standard reference material (Urban Dust, SRM 1648) of the National Institute of Standard and Technology was used for the analytical quality control. The relative error for 37 elements was less than 15% and the standard deviation was less than 10%. 29 elements in the urban dust and 21 elements in the loaded filter sample were determined respectively. To evaluate the proficiency and reliability of the measurement, data intercomparison was performed and 39 analytical laboratories participated in the analysis using different analytical methods; neutron activation analysis, particle induced X-ray emission analysis, X-ray fluorescence analysis and atomic absorption spectrometry. Z-scores were calculated using the standard deviation of the laboratorie's mean as target standard deviation, and a good result was obtained that the values fall between -1 and +1 except some elements.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.20 no.E2
• /
• pp.53-59
• /
• 2004

The roadway tunnels in urban areas give rise to problems such as a localized air pollution. Here, we report the results of a case study of an urban roadway tunnel measurement. The size-resolved particle sampling was carried out with a two 2-stage filter pack samplers and an Andersen impactor sampler at the center of Buk-Ak tunnel in November 2001. Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) was applied to determine the elemental composition of size-resolved particles divided into soluble and insoluble fractions. The Thermal/Optical Reflectance (TOR$^{(R)}$) method was also employed in analyzing of elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC). Mass concentrations of fine (< 1.2 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$) and coarse (> 1.2 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$) particles are 165 and 48 $\mu\textrm{g}$ m$^{-3}$ , respectively. Total elemental mass concentration (the sum of insoluble coarse, soluble coarse, insoluble fine, and soluble fine) is found to be 24$\mu\textrm{g}$ m$^{-3}$ and comprises only 11 % of total particle mass concentration. The concentrations of EC, OC, and mass show the clear dependency on particle size with the maximum between 0.1 and 0.43 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ aerodynamic diameters. Total carbon (sum of EC and OC) accounts for approximately 70% of mass concentration.n.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.17 no.E1
• /
• pp.17-24
• /
• 2001

For the purpose of collecting fog droplets as a function of size a new sampling method was developed in this study. Formation of 100$\pm$10㎛ thickness of polymeric water absorbent film (PWAF) on a nuclepore filter could be successfully realized. Also applicability of particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) method to the chemical analysis of size-segregated fog droplets collected on PWAF was examined experimentally with synthetic fog droplets generated from a nebulizer. Absorption capacity of S-PAAS polymeric water absorbent shows marked decreases in the range less than 1 wt% and slight decrease between 1 and 3.5 wt% of every salt concentration. Dependency of absorption capacity on pH shows the maximum at pH 7. No apparent peak which can influence the quantitative analysis of elements dissolved and suspended in fog droplets was found at PIXE spectrum of PWAF blank. PWAF kept the original shape without rupture under the PIXE analytical conditions of beam intensity for 10 to 60 nA and irradiation time of 4∼5 min. It should be said that the proposed new technique in the work is helpful to get more detailed information of fog droplets, to clarify the fog formation processes, and to develop a model of acid deposition process.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.433-438
• /
• 2002

Trace elements in two air filters (V-50, P-50) artificially loaded with urban dust provided from IAEA were determined non-destructively using instrumental neutron activation analysis. Standard reference material (Urban Particulate Matter, SRM 1648) of National Institute of Standard and Technology was used for analytical quality control. About 20 elements in both of loaded filter samples were determined. To evaluate inter-laboratory comparison and proficiency test, analytical data were statistically treated with the results which collected from 49 laboratories, 40 countries participated in this study using neutron activation analysis, particle induced X-ray emission, inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy, etc,. From the results of statistical treatment, Z-scores are within ${\pm}2$. Furthermore, accuracy and precision of obtained analytical values are passed according to the criteria of the proficiency test. Consequently, it was proved that analytical quality for air dust samples being performed has been controlled properly.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.73-82
• /
• 2012

This study was aimed to thoroughly estimate the characteristics of indoor particulate matter (PM) collected on subway platforms by the cooperative approach of semi-bulk and single particle analyses. The size-resolved PM and its number concentration were measured on the platform in a heavily traveled subway station in Fukuoka, Japan. Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) and micro-PIXE techniques were applied to the chemical analyses of semi-bulk and single particle, respectively. There was the close resemblance of timely fluctuation between PM number concentration and train service on the third basement floor (B3F) platform compared to the second basement floor (B2F) and its maximum level was marked in rush hour. Higher number counts in large particles ($>1{\mu}m$) and lower number counts in fine particles ($<1{\mu}m$) were shown on the platform compared to an above ground. PM2.5 accounted for 58.2% and 38.2 % of TSP on B3F and on B2F, respectively. The elements that were ranked at high concentration in size-resolved semi-bulk PM were Fe, Si, Ca, S, and Na. The major elements tending to have more elevated levels on B3F than B2F were Fe (4.4 times), Ca (17.3 times), and Si (46.4 times). Although concentrations were very low, Cr ($11.9ng\;m^{-3}$ on B3F, $2.4ng\;m^{-3}$ on B2F), Mn ($3.4ng\;m^{-3}$ on B3F, $0.9ng\;m^{-3}$ on B2F), and Pb ($0.6ng\;m^{-3}$ on B3F, $1.6ng\;m^{-3}$ on B2F) were detected from PM2.5. Individual PM was nearly all enriched in Fe with Si and Ca. Classifying and source profiling of the individual particles by elemental maps and particle morphology were tried and particles were presumably divided into four groups (i.e., train/rail friction, train-rail sparking, ballast/abrasive, and cement).