Development and Evaluation of a Thermophoretic Personal Sampler for Nanoparticle Exposure Studies

摘要: Some Nanoparticles have been shown to cause adverse health effects. Assessment of personal exposure these nanoparticles is a major step towards evaluating this potential risk. measurements fine and coarse particles carried out mainly with samplers consisting miniaturized impactor defined cut off size followed by filter for off-line weighing. This approach unsuitable due their low mass. One applicable way sampling employing the principle thermophoresis. In thesis, sampler (Thermal Precipitator, TP) which thermophoretically samples particles, was developed based on CFD-modelling. The objective uniformly deposit representative sample substrate simplify subsequent Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis minimising time. Numerical simulations provided information about deposition characteristics used as basis develop sampler. Laboratory tests were TP using monodisperse PSL 95,6 nm 305 in diameters well polydisperse soot range 14 – 98 nm. sampled substrates later analysed SEM. Different locations along entire length investigated. A more detailed made evaluation region substrate, where uniform expected according prior modelling. Experimental results show homogeneous up 300 independent particle material type orientation device during sampling. Independence important since worker mobile all directions Unlike an older version 32 SEM images its non-uniform had be evaluated obtain average distribution, new much simplified, remarkably reducing time cost evaluation, while improving statistics results.