Comparison of Three Real-Time Measurement Methods for Airborne Ultrafine Particles in the Silicon Alloy Industry.
The aim of this study was to compare the applicability and the correlation between three commercially available instruments capable of detection, quantification, and characterization of ultrafine airborne particulate matter in the industrial setting of a tapping area in a silicon alloy production plant. The number concentration of ultrafine particles was evaluated using an Electric Low Pressure Impactor (ELPI(TM)), a Fast Mobility Particle Sizer (FMPS(TM)), and a Condensation Particle Counter (CPC). The results are discussed in terms of particle size distribution and temporal variations linked to process operations. The instruments show excellent temporal covariation and the correlation between the FMPS and ELPI is good. The advantage of the FMPS is the excellent time- and size resolution of the results. The main advantage of the ELPI is the possibility to collect size-fractionated samples of the dust for subsequent analysis by, for example, electron microscopy. The CPC does not provide information about the particle size distribution and its correlation to the other two instruments is somewhat poor. Nonetheless, the CPC gives basic, real-time information about the ultrafine particle concentration and can therefore be used for source identification.
Department of Industrial Process, Technology SINTEF Materials and Chemistry, P.O. Box. 4760, NO-7465 Trondheim, Norway. ida.kero@sintef.no.
Ida Teresia
IT
Kero
Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. rikke.jorgensen@iot.ntnu.no.
Rikke Bramming
RB
Jørgensen
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D000497:Alloys / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008669:Metallurgy; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D012825:Silicon / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors; D017132:Workplace
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000497:Alloys; D004391:Dust; D052638:Particulate Matter; D012825:Silicon
aerodynamic diameter; airborne particulate matter; condensation particle counter; electric arc furnace tapping; electric low pressure impactor; fast mobility particle sizer; mobility diameter; silica fume