• 한국입자에어로졸학회지
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.191-202
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• 2019

In this study, performance (particle removal efficiency and breathing resistance) of several commercially available face masks (electrostatic filter masks (KF80 certified), a nanofiber filter mask (KF80 certified), and an uncertified mask) with their filter structure and composition were evaluated. Also, effects of relative humidity (RH) of incoming air, water and alcohol exposure, and reusability on performance of face masks were examined. Monodisperse and polydisperse sodium chloride particles were used as test aerosols. Except the uncertified mask filter, PM_2.5 removal efficiency was found to be higher than 90%, and the nanofiber filter mask had the highest quality factor due to the low pressure drop and high removal efficiency (nanofibers were arranged in a densely packed pore structure and contained a significant amount of fluorine in addition to carbon and oxygen). In the case of the KF80 certified mask, the removal efficiency was little affected when the RH of incoming air increased. When the mask filters were soaked in water, the removal efficiency of mask filters was degraded. In particular, the uncertified mask filter showed the highest removal efficiency degradation (26%). When the mask was soaked in alcohol, the removal efficiency also decreased with the greater degree than the water soaking case. The nanofiber mask filter showed the strongest resistance to alcohol exposure among tested mask filters. During evaluation of reusability of masks in real life, the removal efficiency of certified mask filter was less than 4% for 5 consecutive days (2 hours per day), while the removal efficiency of uncertified mask filter significantly decreased by 30% after 5 days.

• 대한기계학회논문집B
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• 제27권12호
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• pp.1734-1743
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• 2003

Aerosol generator using an electrically heated tube furnace is a stable apparatus to supply nanometer sized aerosols by using the evaporation and condensation processes. Using this method, we can generate highly concentrated polydisperse aerosols with relatively narrow size distribution. In this work, characteristics of particle size distribution, generated from a tube furnace, were experimentally investigated. We evaluated effects of several operation parameters on particle generation: temperature in the tube furnace, air flow rates through the tube, size of boat containing solid sodium chloride(NaCl). As the temperature increased, the geometric mean diameter increased and the total number concentration also increased. Dilution with air affected the size distribution of the particles due to coagulation. A smaller sized boat, which has small surface area to contact with air, brings smaller particles of narrow size distribution in comparison of that of a larger boat. Finally, we changed the electrical mobility diameter of aggregate sodium chloride particles by varying relative humidity of dilution air, and obtained non-aggregate sodium chloride particles, which are easy to generate exact monodisperse particles.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.203-215
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the filtration efficiencies and pressure drops of five commercial cloth masks (4 plate type, 1 cup type) in comparison to the performance of a class 1 disposable respirator (reference respirator). A further objective was to evaluate the effects of the number of layers and wash treatment independently on filtration efficiencies and pressure drops. Methods: Polydisperse NaCl aerosols were generated in an aerosol chamber and their concentrations were measured by an optical particle counter (OPC) in the size range of $0.3{\sim}10{\mu}m$ (five channels). Results: The filtration efficiencies of the five cloth masks and the reference respirator were D: 9.5%, C: 18.5%, E: 23.6%, A: 28.5%, B: 29.7% and R: 91.1%, respectively, and the pressure drops through them were C, D: 0.8 Pa, E: 1.7 Pa, B: 6.4 Pa, A: 42.7 Pa and R: 19.3 Pa, respectively. The filtration efficiencies of the cloth masks and reference respirator were below the class 1 respirator criterion (${\geq}94.0%$) of the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) and Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). The pressure drops satisfied the class 1 respirator criterion (${\leq}70Pa$) of MOEL and MFDS. When the cloth masks were folded into two and four layers, the filtration efficiencies of cloth masks A, B, C, D (plate type) increased 1.7-4.6 times, and 2.3-6.8 times, respectively, compared to the efficiencies of the same products in a single layer. Pressure drops increased as the number of layers was increased. The filtration efficiency of cloth mask E with a liner was 1.3 times higher than that of the same mask without a liner, and the pressure drop was lower in the no-liner configuration. After a single washing, the filtration efficiencies of all the cloth mask products decreased 1.04-4.0 times compared to those of the same products intact. For the cloth masks C and E, their filtration efficiencies were significantly decreased after washing (p<0.05). The pressure drops of all cloth masks were 1.2-2.0 times lower after washing. Conclusions: The filtration efficiencies of the five cloth masks were below 30% and did not improve greatly by increasing the number of layers. After a single washing, their performances decreased. Considering the above and other issues identified with cloth masks, such as poor fit and stretched fibers through use, people should not expect protection against particulate matters from the cloth masks on the market.

• 대한환경공학회지
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.153-160
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• 2009

PM10(공기역학 직경${\leq}$10 ${\mu}m$) 시료채취기는 사람이 부유 먼지에 잠재적으로 노출되는 정도를 정량화하고 정부의 규제에 대응하기 위한 목적으로 사용된다. 본 연구는 동일한 PM10 분리한계 직경을 가지지만 다른 기울기를 가지는 미국 환경청의 PM10 시료채취 기준과 미국산업위생전문가협의회/유럽표준위원회/국제표준기구의 흉곽성 PM10 시료채취 기준을 이론과 실험을 통해 비교 평가하고자 수행되었다. 이를 위해 미국 환경청의 기준을 따르는 4개의 PM10 시료채취기와 흉곽성 PM10 기준과 일치하는 1개의 RespiCon 시료채취기를 비교 평가 수단으로 사용하였으며, 1개의 DustTrak 측정기를 PM10의 실시간 질량농도를 확인하기 위하여 사용하였다. 6개 시료채취기를 다양한 크기 분포를 가지는 비산재를 이용하여 입자 발생 챔버안에서 실험하였다. 이론적 질량농도는 측정된 비산재의 입자크기 분포 특성(기하평균 = 6.6 ${\mu}m$, 기하표준편차= 1.9)을 각 시료채취 기준에 적용하여 계산하였다. 챔버 실험을 통하여 측정된 질량농도 결과는 흉곽성 PM10 시료채취 기준을 가지는 RespiCon 시료채취기가 미국 환경청의 PM10 기준을 가지는 PM10 시료채취기보다 상대적으로 작은 질량농도를 측정함으로써 이론적 질량농도와 일치하였다. 전체적 챔버 실험 결과는 PM10 시료채취기를 기준 시료채취기로 사용하였을 때, (1) RespiCon 시료채취기는 PM10 시료채취기로 포집된 PM10 먼지 질량농도에 비해 평균 60% 정도 낮게 측정한 것을 의미하는 정규화계수 1.6으로 나타났으며 (2) PM10 유입구를 사용한 DustTrak 실시간 채취기는 2.1의 보정계수를 가지는 것으로 분석되었다.