Measurement and Speciation of Ultrafine Particles Generated by Small Electric Motors

GARY CASUCCIO, Traci Lersch, Kristin Bunker, Scott Hollenbeck, John Jankovic, Tracy Zontek, RJ Lee Group, Inc.

     Abstract Number: 321
     Working Group: Aerosol Exposure

Abstract
Laboratory experiments were performed in a test chamber to evaluate the emissions of particulate matter emitted from small electric motors used in commercial products such as hair dryers and vacuum cleaners. The test chamber was designed to contain the electric motor and sampling apparatus. Particulate concentrations (p/cm3) and particle size distribution from 10 nm to 600 nm were measured using a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS). A thermophoretic particle sampler was used to collect airborne ultrafine particulate directly on an electron microscope grid, which was analyzed using electron microscopy (EM) techniques including computer controlled scanning electron microscopy (CCSEM). EM and CCSEM analyses provided information on particle characteristics including morphology, elemental composition, particle size distribution and particle concentration (p/cm3). The particle concentration and size distribution from the CCSEM analysis for the electron motor emissions analyzed were similar to the SMPS results. The electron microscopy results indicated that emissions were primarily composed of copper and carbon particles.