title: An evaluation of sharp cut cyclones for sampling diesel particulate matter aerosol in the presence of respirable dust.
abstract: Two prototype cyclones were the subjects of a comparative research campaign with a diesel particulate matter sampler (DPMS) that consists of a respirable cyclone combined with a downstream impactor. The DPMS is currently used in mining environments to separate dust from the diesel particulate matter and to avoid interferences in the analysis of integrated samples and direct-reading monitoring in occupational environments. The sampling characteristics of all three devices were compared using ammonium fluorescein, diesel, and coal dust aerosols. With solid spherical test aerosols at low particle loadings, the aerodynamic size-selection characteristics of all three devices were found to be similar, with 50% penetration efficiencies (d 50) close to the design value of 0.8 μm, as required by the US Mine Safety and Health Administration for monitoring occupational exposure to diesel particulate matter in US mining operations. The prototype cyclones were shown to have 'sharp cut' size-selection characteristics that equaled or exceeded the sharpness of the DPMS. The penetration of diesel aerosols was optimal for all three samplers, while the results of the tests with coal dust induced the exclusion of one of the prototypes from subsequent testing. The sampling characteristics of the remaining prototype sharp cut cyclone (SCC) and the DPMS were tested with different loading of coal dust. While the characteristics of the SCC remained constant, the deposited respirable coal dust particles altered the size-selection performance of the currently used sampler. This study demonstrates that the SCC performed better overall than the DPMS.
authors: 1.Office of Mine Safety and Health Research, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA ecauda@cdc.gov.
authors: Emanuele
authors: E
authors: Cauda
authors: 2.Department of Health, Environmental Health Program, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383, USA.
authors: Maura
authors: M
authors: Sheehan
authors: 3.BGI Incorporated, 58 Guinan Street, Waltham, MA 02451, USA.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Gussman
authors: 4.Health and Safety Executive, Foundry House, 3 Millsands, Sheffield S3 8NH, UK.
authors: Lee
authors: L
authors: Kenny
authors: 1.Office of Mine Safety and Health Research, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA.
authors: Jon
authors: J
authors: Volkwein
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis*; D000392:Air Movements; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis; D003031:Coal; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005452:Fluoresceins; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D008906:Mining; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D012119:Respiration; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D003031:Coal; D004391:Dust; D005452:Fluoresceins; D052638:Particulate Matter; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
keywords: DPMS; cyclone; diesel particulate matter; mining; sampler