Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Electrical detection of airborne particulates using surface ionization techniques

Journal Article · · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es60102a001· OSTI ID:7297851
A variety of individual aerosol particles can be detected by causing them to impinge onto a heated metal surface where they pyrolyze and transfer surface-ionizable constituents to the surface within times of 10/sup -6/--10/sup -2/ sec, depending on the filament temperature. These surface-ionizable constituents then become ionized and are released from the surface as a burst of ions. For particles of similar composition, the number of ions per pulse is related to the particle size. This technique has been studied and has been applied to the continuous monitoring of submicron urban particulate matter.
Research Organization:
Univ. of Pittsburgh
OSTI ID:
7297851
Journal Information:
Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 9:4; ISSN ESTHA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English