Matthew D. Wright

A Technique for Rapid Estimation of the Charge Distribution of Submicron Aerosols under Atmospheric Conditions

A portable technique is presented for rapid estimation of the charge distribution of submicron aerosols under atmospheric conditions, using two Differential Mobility Analyzer (DMA) systems in parallel. Simultaneous measurement of the aerosol mobility and size distributions are made by using one DMA with a neutralizer and the other without. An estimate of the aerosol charge is obtained by a fitting procedure, in which the size distribution and an expression for the charge distribution are used to calculate the mobility distribution of the sample. The parameters in the theoretical charge distribution are varied iteratively until the calculated and measured mobility distributions match. Validation was undertaken with separate measurements of ion mobility and concentration used in the charging expression. Results are presented for ambient indoor air, unipolar ion production by an ionizer and downwind of a high-voltage overhead AC powerline.

Small-ion and nano-aerosol production during candle burning: Size distribution and concentration profile with time

The characteristics of small-ions and aerosols in the diameter range 0.4 nm to 1.1 μm, produced during burning of paraffin wax tea-light candles, were investigated using a custom-built aspiration condenser ion mobility spectrometer (ACIMS) and a sequential mobility particle sizer and counter (SMPS+C) system. Peaks in the number concentration were observed at diameters 10–30 nm and 100–300 nm, consistent with “normal” and “sooting” burn modes. In addition, a smaller mode in the size range 2.5–9 nm was observed, interpreted as a soot-precursor species. When a fan was placed behind the burning candle a “modified small-ion” signal was seen at sizes 1.1–2.0 nm. This was not observed without the fan present or when a lamp chimney was used. During burning, aerosol concentration was elevated and small-ion counts were low. However after extinction of the flame, this trend was reversed and the number of small-ions increased to levels higher than those observed prior to burning, remaining so for several hours.

Indoor and outdoor atmospheric ion mobility spectra, diurnal variation, and relationship with meteorological parameters

We report measurements of small ion mobility spectra and concentrations made over a 5 month period using a Gerdien-type ion mobility spectrometer at one indoor site in central Bristol, UK, and one indoor and one outdoor site in a semirural area. We assess the diurnal variation in ion concentration and mobility, variability with meteorological parameters, and features within the ion mobility spectra. Ion concentration (typically in the range 100–1000 cm−3) was highest overnight and lowest in late morning and afternoon. Total conductivity also followed this trend suggesting that small ions contribute more to conductivity than larger charged particles, although at the semirural site, indoor activity produced charged aerosol intermittently, while infiltration of outdoor aerosol contributed at the urban site. Negative ion mobility (typically 1.6–1.9 cm2 V−1 s−1) was higher overnight than at other times, while positive ion mobility (typically 1.2–1.4 cm2 V−1 s−1) showed no diurnal variability. In general, temperature, pressure, wind speed, and water vapor pressure were inversely related to both concentration and mobility, except outdoors when (negative) mobility increased with increasing temperature and pressure, while increased relative humidity was associated with higher ion mobilities and concentrations. Analysis of high-resolution mobility spectra revealed several mobilities for each polarity at which peaks were identified across all sites, suggesting similarity in composition but with varying importance at each site. Intermediate ions (mobilities 0.2–0.3 cm2 V−1 s−1) were observed at the outdoor site, but individual nucleation events which may be associated with them were not identifiable.

Modulation of urban atmospheric electric field measurements with the wind direction in Lisbon (Portugal)

Atmospheric electric field measurements (potential gradient, PG) were retrieved in the urban environment of the city of Lisbon (Portugal). The measurements were performed with a Benndorf electrograph at the Portela Meteorological station in the suburbs of the city (NE from the centre). The period of 1980 to 1990 is considered here. According to wind direction, different content and types of ions and aerosols arrive at the measurement site causing significant variations to the PG. To the south there are significant pollution sources while to the north such sources are scarcer. The Iberian Peninsula is found east of the station and the Atlantic Ocean covers the western sector, Wind directions are divided in four sectors: i) NW: 270° ≤ θ ≤ 360°; ii) NE: 0 ≤ θ ≤ 90°; iii) SE: 90 ≤ θ ≤ 180°; iv) SW: 180° ≤ θ ≤ 270°. Analysis of weekly cycle, caused by anthropogenic pollution related with urban activity, was undertaken for each wind sector. NW sector has been shown to be less affected by this cycle, which is attributed to the effect of marine air. The daily variation of NE sector for weekends reveals a similar behaviour to the Carnegie curve, which corresponds to a clean air daily variation of PG, following universal time, independent of measurement site.

Urban pollutant transport and infiltration into buildings using perfluorocarbon tracers

People spend the majority of their time indoors and therefore the quality of indoor air is worthy of investigation; indoor air quality is affected by indoor sources of pollutants and from pollutants entering buildings from outdoors. In this study, unique perfluorocarbon tracers were released in five experiments at a 100 m and ~2 km distance from a large university building in Manchester, UK and tracer was also released inside the building to measure the amount of outdoor material penetrating into buildings and the flow of material within the building itself. Air samples of the tracer were taken in several rooms within the building, and a CO2 tracer was used within the building to estimate air-exchange rates. Air-exchange rates were found to vary between 0.57 and 10.90 per hour. Indoor perfluorocarbon tracer concentrations were paired to outdoor tracer concentrations, and in-out ratios were found to vary between 0.01 and 3.6. The largest room with the lowest air-exchange rate exhibited elevated tracer concentrations for over 60 min after the release had finished, but generally had the lowest concentrations, the room with the highest ventilation rates had the highest concentration over 30 min, but the peak decayed more rapidly. Tracer concentrations indoors compared to outdoors imply that pollutants remain within buildings after they have cleared outside, which must be considered when evaluating human exposure to outdoor pollutants.

Spectral response of atmospheric electric field measurements near AC high voltage power lines

To understand the influence of corona ion emission on the atmospheric electrical field, measurements were made near to two AC high voltage power lines. A JCI 131 field-mill recorded the atmospheric electric field over one year. Meteorological measurements were also taken. The data series is divided in four zones (dependent on wind direction): whole zones, Z0; zone 1, Z1; zone 2, Z2; zone 3, Z3. Z3 is the least affected by corona ion emission and for that reason it is used as a reference against Z1 and Z2, which are strongly influenced by this phenomena. Analysis was undertaken for all weather days and dry days only. The Lomb-Scargle strategy developed for unevenly spaced time-series is used to calculate the spectral response of the aforementioned zones. Only frequencies above 1 minute are considered.

Re-creation of aerosol charge state found near HV power lines using a high voltage corona charger

Corona ionisation from AC HV power lines (HVPL) can release ions into the environment, which have the potential to electrically charge pollutant aerosol in the atmosphere. It has been hypothesised that these charged particles have an enhanced probability of being deposited in human airways upon inhalation due to electrostatic attraction by image charge within the lung, with implications for human health. Carbonaceous aerosol particles from a Technegas generator were artificially charge-enhanced using a corona charger. Once generated, particles were passed through the charger, which was either on or off, and stored in a 15 litre conducting bag for ~20 minutes to observe size and charge distribution changes over time. Charge states were estimated using two Sequential Mobility Particle Sizers measuring the size and mobility distributions. Charge-neutral particles were measured 7 times and positive particles 9 times, the average charge-neutral value of x was 1.00 (sd = 0.06) while the average positive value was 4.60 (0.72). The system will be used to generate positive or charge neutral particles for delivery to human volunteers in an inhalation study to assess the impact of charge on ultrafine (size < 100 nm) particle deposition.

Aerosol charge state characterisation using an ELPI

A new technique has been developed to measure the size distribution and charge state of highly charged aerosols using an Electrical Low Pressure Impactor (ELPI). The internal charger was switched alternately on and off and the time between stable charge states found to be ~ 10 s. The size distribution of aerosols was found when the charger was on, from which the charge distribution can be estimated when the charger is off using the current at each impactor stage. This method was tested in background conditions, when a candle was burning and when a negative air ioniser was used. The ELPI electrometers were not sensitive enough to accurately measure the charge state on background and candle air, but gave a value for air charged by an ioniser. Comparing results from the ELPI with other techniques showed inaccuracies in this method that need to be addressed before further use of this technique.