Menu
European Directive 2008/50/EC mandates monitoring the particulates in ambient air and establishes quality objectives. Moreover, the exposure of workers and the general public due to inhalation of particulates has become a more major concern. In this context, it is now necessary to proceed with characterizations of particulates in aerosol form.
Services proposed
Characterization of the following physicochemical parameters:
- Concentration: Measurements of concentration, in both mass and numerical terms, by means of real-time techniques
- Diameter: Size distribution-based characterization of suspended particles
- Morphology: Particle observations
- Chemical composition: Both elemental and molecular.
Resources available
To carry out these services, LNE has been equipped with aerosol generators and a set of tools for conducting real-time measurements (on-line: temporal resolution). The laboratory also possesses the requisite sampling equipment for performing off-line (or a posteriori) measurements, which necessitate a sampling step prior to analysis. The instruments available at LNE capable of executing these measurements have been listed below.
Aerosol generation devices:
InstrumentSpecificationsInstrument use
NebulizerGeneration range:
100 nm - 1 µmAdapted to aerosol generation via a wet process (e.g. colloidal suspensions)
ElectrosprayGeneration range:
5 nm - 150 nmAdapted to aerosol generation via a wet process (e.g. colloidal suspensions)
Vortex ShakerGeneration range:
PM10, PM2.5
submicron and supermicron aerosolsAdapted to aerosol generation via a dry process (e.g. powders, aggregates). Generator adapted to measuring the pulverulence of nano-structured powders
Generator, by means of electrical dischargeGeneration range:
a few nm - 200 nmAdapted to the generation of carbon, copper, silver, aluminum aerosols, etc.
On-line measurements:
InstrumentSpecificationsInstrument use
S MPS (Scanning Mobility Particle Siz er)Measurement range:
5 – 1,000 nm
Minimum temporal resolution on the order of 1 minuteSize distribution measurement of suspended particles (Diameter and Concentration)
APS (Aerodynamic Particle Sizer)Measurement range:
0.5 – 20 µm
Minimum temporal resolution of one secondSize distribution measurement of suspended particles (Diameter and Concentration)
DMS (Dynamic Mobility Spectrometer)Measurement range:
5 – 1,000 nm
Minimum temporal resolution of one secondSize distribution measurement of suspended particles (Diameter and Concentration)
CPC (Condensation Particle Counter)Measurement range:
5 – 2,000 nm
In real timeConcentration measurement, in terms of number of particles
TEOM (Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance)
- Resolution in mass concentration, µg/m3
- Temporal resolution of 2 seconds
Concentration measurement, in terms of particle mass
Sampling equipment for off-line characterizations:
InstrumentSpecificationsInstrument use
Sampling by filtration Use of various types of filters and membranesMass concentration measurement and off-line characterization (Morphology and Chemical composition)
Sampling by electrostatic precipitationUse of various types of susbstrates (microscopy grids, mica, etc.)Particle size distribution measurement and off-line characterization (Morphology and Chemical composition)
Sampling by means of diffusion-impactionMeasurement range:
2 nm – 35 µmMass-based particle size distribution measurement (Diameter and Mass Concentration) and off-line characterization (Morphology and Chemical composition)
Off-line measurements:
InstrumentInstrument use
SEM – FEG (Scanning Electron Microscopy – Field Emission Gun)Observation of particles sampled, with an enlargement of up to 50,000 times, coupled with an image analysis
Size characterization
SEM – EDX (Scanning Electron Microscopy – Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy)Characterization of the elemental chemical composition of samples
ICP-MS (Inductively-Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry)Characterization of the elemental chemical composition of samples
AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy)Measurements of particle adhesion forces
Topographical characterization at the nanometric scale
Size characterization
Applicable regulations
Directive 2008/50/EC, threshold exposure values (ANSES, INRS).
Testing means covered
For all types of aerosols, including:
- Measurement of the pulverulence of nano-structured powders;
- Measurement of particulate pollution in ambient air, plus sources and temporal evolution of suspended particles;
- Measurement of particulate pollution in industrial settings / workplaces, plus sources and temporal evolution of suspended particles;
- Filter efficiency testing;
- Evaluation of air purification systems, intake / exhaust systems;
- Characterization of aerosols emitted during the combustion of nanocomposite materials;
- Metrological characterization of sprays and nebulizers used to administer aerosols for medical purposes: determination of sizes and particulate concentrations, etc.
