Measurement of fine particles in diesel emissions using a real-time aerosol monitor.
A real-time monitoring methodology to determine diesel fine particles in diesel emissions has been evaluated. The range of particle size captured by the monitor was approximately 0.1 microm to 1 microm. DustTrak real-time monitors were connected to the dilution tunnel of the vehicle exhaust to measure the emissions during the vehicle tests under both dynamic and steady-state driving conditions, and concentration data were recorded every 5 sec. Test variation of the real-time monitoring among different test days was similar to that measured by traditional filter-based gravimetric method, whereas the repeatability of the monitor data within the same-day tests was better than that of gravimetric method. Correlations between the two methods were established for different fuels tested on a single light duty vehicle. When the emissions from the reference fuel was used to convert the monitor's response to diesel fuels, the levels determined by the real-time monitor were consistent with those measured by gravimetric method among different fuels tested. Use of the real-time monitor could provide information on the levels of fine particles that is more relevant to the public health than the total particles.
Zhu
Jiping
J
Chemistry Research Division, Safe Environments, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. jiping_zhu@hc-sc.gc.ca
Aikawa
Bio
B
Pigeon
René
R
D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis*; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005742:Gasoline / Q000032:analysis*; D010316:Particle Size; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis*
D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D005742:Gasoline; D001335:Vehicle Emissions