Lorena Miñambres

Hygroscopic properties of internally mixed particles of ammonium sulfate and succinic acid studied by infrared spectroscopy.

Atmospheric aerosols typically consist of inorganic and organic material. Although the organic fraction can affect the behavior of mixed organic/inorganic particles, their physical properties are not well-understood. In this work, infrared spectra of internally mixed submicrometer particles of ammonium sulfate and succinic acid have been studied at ambient temperature in an aerosol flow cell. The spectra of dried particles show distinct features relative to the pure components, as a result of ion-molecule interactions between the inorganic and organic species. The hygroscopic behavior of the particles has been followed for several organic/inorganic mass ratios, showing that around equimolar composition, the mixed particles uptake water in a broad range of relative humidities (30-80%), substantially lower than the deliquescence relative humidity of the mixed system near 80%. Infrared spectra at predeliquescence relative humidities reveal that succinic acid is partially or completely in the liquid phase at much higher concentrations that those corresponding to a saturated solution of succinic acid. This behavior is proposed to arise from the ion-molecule interactions between the organic and inorganic components, which unstabilize the crystal structure relative to the pure solids and cause loss of translational order in the crystal, bringing about an increase in the Gibbs energy of the solid particles and allowing the uptake of water molecules prior to the deliquescence point. The obtained results show that water absorption prior to full deliquescence in this system has to be taken into account because it extends the range of relative humidities at which particles are partially or completely liquid.

Infrared Spectroscopic Properties of Sodium Bromide Aerosols

The infrared extinction spectra of aqueous NaBr aerosols at ambient temperature have been measured as a function of relative humidity. Submicron-sized aerosol particles atomized from aqueous NaBr solutions at various concentrations are dried and/or mixed with nitrogen at different humidities and spectroscopically monitored as they flow through an infrared absorption cell. Estimated dry particle median diameters range from 0.24 to 0.15 microm, as calculated from Mie extinction theory. Measured deliquescence and efflorescence relative humidities (35-40% and 25-30%, respectively) are in accordance with previously reported ones. Our results show that NaBr particles take up water only moderately over the deliquescence point, with a significant increase at relative humidities above 70%. The effect of particle size onto water uptake properties has been studied, indicating that smaller particles take up lower amounts of water, and only increase their size significantly at relative humidities near saturation. Particle composition and diameter growth factors have been calculated from spectral data and are shown to be consistent with those predicted from thermodynamic data and Kohler theory. Band centers of liquid water in NaBr aerosols relative to pure water are blue-shifted up to 50 cm-1 at low humidities. Particle structure and phase, together with atmospheric implications, are also discussed.

In Vitro Surfactant and Perfluorocarbon Aerosol Deposition in a Neonatal Physical Model of the Upper Conducting Airways

Objective Aerosol delivery holds potential to release surfactant or perfluorocarbon (PFC) to the lungs of neonates with respiratory distress syndrome with minimal airway manipulation. Nevertheless, lung deposition in neonates tends to be very low due to extremely low lung volumes, narrow airways and high respiratory rates. In the present study, the feasibility of enhancing lung deposition by intracorporeal delivery of aerosols was investigated using a physical model of neonatal conducting airways. Methods The main characteristics of the surfactant and PFC aerosols produced by a nebulization system, including the distal air pressure and air flow rate, liquid flow rate and mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD), were measured at different driving pressures (4–7 bar). Then, a three-dimensional model of the upper conducting airways of a neonate was manufactured by rapid prototyping and a deposition study was conducted. Results The nebulization system produced relatively large amounts of aerosol ranging between 0.3±0.0 ml/min for surfactant at a driving pressure of 4 bar, and 2.0±0.1 ml/min for distilled water (H2Od) at 6 bar, with MMADs between 2.61±0.1 µm for PFD at 7 bar and 10.18±0.4 µm for FC-75 at 6 bar. The deposition study showed that for surfactant and H2Od aerosols, the highest percentage of the aerosolized mass (∼65%) was collected beyond the third generation of branching in the airway model. The use of this delivery system in combination with continuous positive airway pressure set at 5 cmH2O only increased total airway pressure by 1.59 cmH2O at the highest driving pressure (7 bar). Conclusion This aerosol generating system has the potential to deliver relatively large amounts of surfactant and PFC beyond the third generation of branching in a neonatal airway model with minimal alteration of pre-set respiratory support.