10th International Aerosol Conference September 2 - September 7, 2018 America's Center Convention Complex St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Abstract View
Fluorescence Analysis of Combustion Particulate Matter on Solid State Substrate
GAURAV MAHAMUNI, Gregory Korshin, Igor Novosselov, University of Washington
Abstract Number: 1293 Working Group: Low-Cost and Portable Sensors
Abstract Exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) from dissimilar sources such as cigarette smoking, combustion engines, agricultural, and forest fires can contribute to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Spectroscopic analysis of PAH compounds present in PM is used for source apportionment of potentially harmful particles, but this involves cumbersome sample processing and requires expensive laboratory equipment. We present a novel PM analysis approach based on the use of solid-state Excitation Emission Matrix (EEM) measurements. The collection substrate is a glass coverslip coated with a layer of Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). PM of any provenance (e.g., cigarette smoke, wood smoke, and diesel exhaust) are collected on the substrate using electrostatic parallel plate collector. PM collection on reference filters is done in parallel to generate reference samples. Following the collection, the gravimetric analysis determines mass loading on the substrate and the filters. EEM of the sample on the PDMS substrate is obtained by direct excitation of the substrate. These solid-state measurements are compared with EEM from filter extraction into cyclohexane. Relevant experimental data shows that EEM data from PDMS substrates match well with EEM data in liquid extracts for typical PM sources. Limit of detection for combustion-generated PM can be calculated by correlating mass concentration and total fluorescence obtained using this method. The technique can be used to develop a compact, low-cost sensor for source apportionment of PM chemical composition.