Atmospheric Acidic Ultrafine Particle Measuring Device

Evidence has accumulated suggesting that acidic ultrafine particles (AUFPs, particles with a diameter of less than 0.1 μm) may affect human health. However, related researches lack reliable instruments to quantify the concentration of AUFPs for further evaluation of their health effects.

Our novel acidic ultrafine particle measuring device features a diffusion sampler and a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) detector with specially treated crystal oscillators. The device can precisely measure the concentration of AUFPs. When in operation, both acidic and non-acidic ultrafine particles are collected and deposited on the diffusion sampler. While the non-acidic ultrafine particles collected are removed, the AUFPs react with the crystal oscillators. The QCM then measures the change in mass and calculates the mass and number concentrations of AUFPs.