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A Practical Guide on Coupling a Scanning Mobility Sizer and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer SMPS-ICPMS
Published on: July 11, 2017
A Practical Guide on Coupling a Scanning Mobility Sizer and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (SMPS-ICPMS)
Mohamed Tarik1, Debora Foppiano2, Adrian Hess3
1Bioenergy and Catalysis Laboratory (LBK), Energy and Environment Research Division (ENE), Paul Scherrer Institute; mohamed.tarik@psi.ch.
This study presents a hyphenated analytical technique combining Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICPMS) for simultaneous online analysis of particle size and elemental composition in aerosols. The method offers a practical guide for implementation and demonstrates versatility across various aerosol types.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
Background:
- Particle characterization is crucial in many scientific fields.
- Traditional methods often analyze particle size and elemental composition separately, requiring offline procedures.
- Simultaneous online determination of both properties is highly desirable for efficiency and accuracy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a practical guide for establishing and utilizing a hyphenated analytical system.
- To demonstrate the simultaneous online measurement of particle size and elemental composition.
- To showcase the versatility of the technique with diverse aerosol types.
Main Methods:
- A hyphenated system integrating a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) and an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICPMS).
- Utilized a Rotating Disk Diluter (RDD) for flexible aerosol introduction.
- Developed a practical guide for instrumentation setup and operation.
Main Results:
- Successfully established a hyphenated SMPS-ICPMS system for online analysis.
- Demonstrated parallel determination of particle mobility diameter, number concentration, and elemental composition.
- Validated the technique with aerosols from salt solution, suspensions, and thermal processes.
Conclusions:
- The hyphenated SMPS-ICPMS technique enables simultaneous online characterization of particle size and elemental composition.
- The developed system offers a versatile and practical tool for aerosol analysis.
- This approach overcomes limitations of traditional offline methods, providing comprehensive insights into aerosol properties.
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