AAAR 32nd Annual Conference
September 30 - October 4, 2013
Oregon Convention Center
Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract View
Causes and Implications of Large Particle Penetration during PM10 Sampling
WILLIAM FAULKNER, John Haglund, Raleigh Smith, Texas A&M University
Abstract Number: 39 Working Group: Instrumentation and Methods
Abstract Researchers involved in sampling of coarse aerosols such as those derived from agricultural and mining sources have reported “oversampling” of PM10 concentrations when using FRM PM10 inlets compared to concentrations of PM10 calculated by applying a theoretical PM10 sampler penetration curve to total suspended particulate samples that were analyzed for particle size distribution (e.g., Buser et al., 2008). Despite these observations, there is not universal agreement whether the results constitute an “oversampling bias” for industries in which generated particulates typically exhibit a significant coarse fraction. The present research employed analysis methods designed to minimize uncertainty in measured penetration efficiencies for large particles through the FRM PM10 pre-collector in hopes of facilitating resolution to issues associated with sampling of large particles. Non-trivial penetration of particles larger than 15µm was observed, and the regulatory and health-based implications of these findings were explored.