NanoScan SMPS – A Novel, Portable Nanoparticle Sizing and Counting Instrument

• Published in: Journal of physics. Conference series 2013-01, Vol.429 (1), p.12061-10
• Main Authors: Tritscher, Torsten, Beeston, Michael, Zerrath, Axel F, Elzey, Sherrie, Krinke, Thomas J, Filimundi, Eric, Bischof, Oliver F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Breathing; Butanol; Condensates; Counting; Driver behavior; In vehicle; Linearity; Nanoparticles; Nanostructure; Particles (of physics); Physics; Radiation counters; Reference systems; Sizing; Test facilities; Ventilation
• ISSN: 1742-6588; 1742-6596
• DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/429/1/012061

A novel instrument, the NanoScan SMPS (TSI 3910), is introduced here that provides the capability of employing well-established Scanning Mobility Particle Sizing (SMPS) technology in a format that can be easily utilized in the field. The use of a non-radioactive unipolar charger, radial Differential Mobility Analyzer (rDMA) and isopropanol-based Condensation Particle Counter (CPC) removes transport and application restrictions on occasion encountered with current SMPS technology. The NanoScan SMPS was compared initially to a TSI component SMPS reference system using several sizes of monodisperse silver particles. A further comparison was completed with polydisperse NaCl and Emery Oil particles. A linearity test for the instrument was performed by comparison to the ultra-fine butanol CPC (TSI 3776) as concentration reference. Subsequently, in-vehicle measurements during a freeway journey between two German cities were made to provide an example of everyday exposure to nanoparticles while driving. Coupling continuous in-vehicle measurements with GPS technology enabled an easy on-route characterization of particle size distributions, allowing source appointment of measurements, identification of evident hotspots as well as a variety of other sources of interest. Finally, the NanoScan SMPS was applied to different processes within a production test facility. Here direct comparisons between ventilation (background) and in the breathing zone were made. These measurements demonstrated the variation between the nature of the nanoparticles in the ventilation system from those within the breathing zone. During all tests the NanoScan SMPS was found to provide data that compares very well with that of the reference SMPS. It also showed a clear linearity with the CPC measurement up to concentrations as high as 106 particles/cm3. In conclusion, the NanoScan SMPS was found to be a reliable tool for nanoparticle sizing and counting in applications where current SMPS instruments would prove to be challenging.