• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.28
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• pp.7.1-7.9
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• 2013

Objectives We investigated the particle mass size distribution and chemical properties of air pollution particulate matter (PM) in the urban area and its capacity to induce cytotoxicity in human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells. Methods To characterize the mass size distributions and chemical concentrations associated with urban PM, PM samples were collected by a 10-stage Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor close to nearby traffic in an urban area from December 2007 to December 2009. PM samples for in vitro cytotoxicity testing were collected by a mini-volume air sampler with $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ inlets. Results The PM size distributions were bi-modal, peaking at 0.18 to 0.32 and 1.8 to $3.2{\mu}m$. The mass concentrations of the metals in fine particles (0.1 to $1.8{\mu}m$) accounted for 45.6 to 80.4% of the mass concentrations of metals in $PM_{10}$. The mass proportions of fine particles of the pollutants related to traffic emission, lead (80.4%), cadmium (69.0%), and chromium (63.8%) were higher than those of other metals. Iron was the dominant transition metal in the particles, accounting for 64.3% of the $PM_{10}$ mass in all the samples. We observed PM concentration-dependent cytotoxic effects on BEAS-2B cells. Conclusions We found that exposure to $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10}$ from a nearby traffic area induced significant increases in protein expression of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8). The cell death rate and release of cytokines in response to the $PM_{2.5}$ treatment were higher than those with $PM_{10}$. The combined results support the hypothesis that ultrafine particles from vehicular sources can induce inflammatory responses related to environmental respiratory injury.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.151-160
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• 2012

Health effects caused by the ultrafine particles in ambient air are great concern to the public health, and the strict measuring and monitoring of the ambient aerosol are required. In this work, the characteristics of the aerosol size distribution in Pohang province are studied. Optical particle counters (Grimm APS 1108 and 1109) were used to measure the aerosol size distribution in the area. Locations near the national monitoring site located in the industrial and the residence area were selected for the measuring sites of this study, and the locations in border area between the industry and the residence were selected for the reference of the comparison. In the industry site, it is found that the concentration of aerosol particles near the size of 5 ${\mu}m$ appear characteristically and the fluctuations in concentration with respect to time are minimal. The mass concentration of the aerosol above 10 ${\mu}m$ in diameter in the industry area was found to fluctuate significantly. The mass portion of $PM_{10}$ and PM2.5 to TSP in the residence area were 83% and 51% respectively. In the industrial regional, it was found that the mass portion of PM10 and $PM_{2.5}$ to TSP were 76% and 35% respectively. In the boundary area the mass portion of $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ to TSP were 78% and 54% respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.567-572
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• 1997

The ZnO powder was prepared under glycothermal conditions by precipitation from metal nitrates with aqueous potassium hydroxide. The fine powder was obtained at temperatures as low as 225 to $275^{\circ}C$, The microstructure and phase of the powder were studied by SEM and XRD. The properties of the ZnO powder were studied as a function of various parameters (reaction temperature, reaction time, solid loading, etc). The average particle size of the ZnO increased with increasing reaction temperature. After glycothermal treatment at $225^{\circ}C$ for 8 h, the average particle size of the ZnO powder was about 150 nm and the particle size distribution was narrow.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.219-233
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• 2010

Understanding the Nano size particles is of great interest due to their chemical and physical behaviors such as compositions, size distributions, and number concentrations. Therefore, accurate measurements of size distributions and number concentrations in ultrafine particles are getting required because expected losses such as diffusion for the instrument system from ambient inlet to detector are a significant challenge. In this study, the data using the computed settling losses, impaction losses, diffusion losses for the sampling lines (explored different sampling line diameters, horizontal length, number of bending, line angles, flow rates with and without a bypass), and diffusion losses for the Scanning Mobility Particle Sizers are examined. As expected, the settling losses and impaction losses are very minor under 100 nm, however, diffusion loss corrections for the sampling lines and the size instrument make a large difference for any measurement conditions with high numbers of particles smaller mobility size. Both with and without the loss corrections, which can affect to size distributions and number concentrations are described. First, 80% or more of the smallest particles (less than 10 nm) can be lost in the condition of a flow rate of 0.3 liter per minute and the length of sampling line of 1.0 m, second, total number concentrations of measurements are quite significantly affected, and the mode structure of the size distribution changes dramatically after the loss corrections applied. With compared to the different measurements, statistically diffusion loss corrections yield a required process of the ambient particle concentrations. Based on the current study, as an implication, a possibility of establishing direct revelation mechanisms is suggested.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.641-649
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• 2002

The redox properties of a homogeneously-precipitated $TiO_2$ rutile powder with a BET surface area of ~$200 m^2$/g, consisting of an acicular primary particle, were characterized using photocatalytic reaction in aqueous 4-chlorophenol, Cu-EDTA and Pb-EDTA solutions under ultraviolet irradiation, compared to those of commercial P-25 X$200 m_2$ powder with a spherical primary particle as well as home-made anatase $TiO_2$ powder with ~$200 m^2$/g BET surface area. Here, the anatase powder also includes mainly the primary particles very similar to the acicular shapes of the rutile $TiO_2$ powder. The rutile powder showed the fastest decomposition rate and the largest amount in the photoredor, compared with the anatase or P-25 powder, while the anatase powder unexpectedly showed the slowest rate and the smallest amount in the same experiments regardless of almost the same surface area. From results, the excellent photoredox abilities of this rutile powder appears to be due to specific powder preparation method, like a homogeneous precipitation leading to direct crystallization from the solution, regardless of their crystalline structures even when having the similar particle shape and surface area.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1013-1018
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• 2011

The charging of 10-nm-class nanoparticles in an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) according to particle charging ratio has been investigated and compared to the diffusion effect of the nanoparticles. The competition between the charging probability and the diffusion loss effect determines the collection efficiency of nanoparticles in the ESP. The collection efficiency of nanoparticles decreased continuously with decreasing particle diameter. This indicates that the partial charging effect of 10-nm-class nanoparticles is more dominant than their diffusion loss effect in the ESP for nanoparticles in the particle size range of less than 10 nm. The charging ratios based on unipolar diffusion charging calculations were in good agreement with the experimental collection efficiencies for nanoparticles less than 10 nm in diameter.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.524-538
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• 2018

Objective: This study aimed to identify the size distributions of particulate matter emitted during 3D printing according to operational conditions and estimate particle inhalation exposure doses at each respiratory region. Methods: Four types of printing filaments were selected: acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polylactic acid (PLA), Laywood, and nylon. A fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer was used for printing. Airborne particles between 10 nm and $10{\mu}m$ were measured before, during, and after printing using real-time monitors under extruder temperatures from 215 to $290^{\circ}C$. Inhalation exposures, including inhaled and deposited doses at the respiratory regions, were estimated using a mathematical model. Results: Nanoparticles dominated among the particles emitted during printing, and more particles were emitted with higher temperatures for all materials. Under all temperature conditions, the Laywood emitted the highest particle concentration, followed by ABS, PLA, and nylon. The particle concentration peaked for the initial 10 to 20 minutes after starting operations and gradually decreased with elapsed time. Nanoparticles accounted for a large proportion of the total inhaled particles in terms of number, and about a half of the inhaled nanoparticles were estimated to be deposited in the alveolar region. In the case of the mass of inhaled and deposited dose, particles between 0.1 and $1.0{\mu}m$ made up a large proportion. Conclusion: The number of consumers using 3D printers is expected to expand, but hazardous emissions such as thermal byproducts from 3D printing are still unclear. Further studies should be conducted and appropriate control strategies considered in order to minimize human exposure.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.461-468
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• 2019

Demand for improving dust removal efficiency in coal power plants and the dust removal requirement to the level of capturing fine particulate matter and ultrafine particles have been increasing. While bag filter and electrostatic precipitator (ESP) are typically used for dust removal in the processes operating at atmospheric pressure, metal filters or ceramic filters are employed for dust which is produced at high temperature/pressure system as in coal gasification. For dust removal at the high temperature/pressure conditions, two metal filters of five compressed/sintered layers were manufactured and applied to analyze the dust removal characteristics. Manufactured metal filters exhibited more than 99% dust removal efficiency on coal gasification fine particulates in mass basis. To evaluate the fine particulate removal efficiency of less than $2.5{\mu}m$, JIS standard fine sample was used and confirmed the removal efficiencies of 97% and 70~82% on the fine particulates of $1{\sim}2.5{\mu}m$ size range. For the size range of less than $1{\mu}m$, dust removal efficiency of manufactured metal filters significantly degraded with smaller particle size. Improving methods are proposed to overcome the limitations in applying to fine dust of less than $1{\mu}m$.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.594-602
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• 1998

Titanium hydroxide (TiO({{{{ {OH }_{2 } }})) fine particles were produced by the reverse micelle technique. For the formation of titanium hydroxide (TiO({{{{ {OH }_{2 } }})) particles with the technique reversed micellar solution was prepared by solubilizing water into organic solvent (isooctane) with a surfactant and titanium alkoxide (tetraisopropyl orthotitanate) diluted with isopropyl alcohol was added to the reversed micellar solution. The hdrolyzed species (TiO({{{{ {OH }_{2 } }})) was formed by the hydrolysis of titanium alkoxide and titanium dioxide is then formed by the condensation of the hydrolyzed species. There are several process variables such as surfactants concentration of surface cosurfactant hydrolysis temperature and pH. In this work the ef-fects of process variables on paticle shapes particle size distribution and paticle agglomeration were bi-nodal for an anionic surfactant(AOT) in the whole range of temperature pH and surfactant concentration of this experiment. The addition of ethanol as a cosurfactant resulted in narrow particle size distribution of the experiment. The additiono of ethanol as a cosurfactant resulted in narrow particle size distribution and 0.12${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ of smaller average particle diameter. FT-IR spectrum of particles shows the absorption peak of Ti-OH bonding and Ti-O bonding. An exothermic peak around 41$0^{\circ}C$ in TGA-DTA curve shows that crys- tallized anatase phase appears and completely transits to anatase around 45$0^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this case study is to assess workers' exposure to carbon nanotubes(CNTs) and characterize particles aerosolized during the process of producing CNT-enabled polytetrafuoroethylene(PTFE) composites at a worksite in Korea. Methods: Personal breathing zone and area samples were collected for determining respirable concentrations of elemental carbon(EC) using NIOSH(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) Method 5040. Personal exposure to nano-sized particles was measured as the number concentration and mean diameter using personal ultrafine particle monitors. The number concentration by particle size was measured using optical particle sizers(OPS) and scanning mobility particle sizers(SMPS). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) area samples were collected on TEM grids and analyzed to characterize the size, morphology, and chemistry of the particles. Results: Respirable EC concentrations ranged from 0.04 to 0.24 ㎍/㎥, which were below 23% of the exposure limit recommended by NIOSH and lower than background concentrations. Number concentrations by particle size measured using OPS and SMPS were not noticeably elevated during CNT-PTFE composite work. Instant increase of number concentrations of nano-sized particles was observed during manual sanding of CNT-PTFE composites. Both number concentrations and mean diameters did not show a statistically significant difference between workers handing CNT-added and not-added materials. TEM analyses revealed the emission of free-standing CNTs and CNT-PTFE aggregate particles from the powder supply task and composite particles embedded with CNTs from the computer numerical control(CNC) machining task with more than tens of micrometers in diameter. No free-standing CNT particles were observed from the CNC machining task. Conclusions: Significant worker exposure to respirable CNTs was not found, but the aerosolization of CNTs and CNT-embedded composite particles were observed during handing of CNT-PTFE powders and CNC machining of CNT-PTFE composites. Considering the limited knowledge on the toxicity of CNTs and CNT composite particles to date, it seems prudent to take a precautionary approach for the protection of workers' health.