Dustiness test of nanopowders using a standard rotating drum with a modified sampling train

The standard rotating drum tester was used to determine the dustiness of two nanopowders, nano-TiO2 and fine ZnO, in standard 1-min tests. Then, the sampling train was modified to determine the number and mass distributions of the generated particles in the respirable size range using a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS), an Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) and a Multi-orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor (MOUDI) in the 30-min tests. It was found that very few particles below 100 nm were generated and the released rate of particles decreased with increasing rotation time for both nanopowders in the 30-min tests. Due to the fluffy structure of the released TiO2 agglomerated particles, the mass distributions measured by the MOUDI showed large differences with those determined by the APS assuming the apparent bulk densities of the powders. The differences were small for the ZnO agglomerates, which were more compact than the TiO2 agglomerates.

[1]  Chuen-Jinn Tsai,et al.  PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF AN API AEROSIZERTM , 1998 .

[2]  G. Oberdörster,et al.  Nanotoxicology: An Emerging Discipline Evolving from Studies of Ultrafine Particles , 2005, Environmental health perspectives.

[3]  D. Pui,et al.  Inlet efficiency study for the TSI aerodynamic particle sizer , 1995 .

[4]  Göran Lidén.  Dustiness testing of materials handled at workplaces. , 2006, The Annals of occupational hygiene.

[5]  D. Leith,et al.  Concentration measurement and counting e ciency of the aerodynamic particle sizer 3321 , 2003 .

[6]  Thomas Schneider,et al.  Combined single-drop and rotating drum dustiness test of fine to nanosize powders using a small drum. , 2008, The Annals of occupational hygiene.

[7]  J. Volckens,et al.  Counting and particle transmission efficiency of the aerodynamic particle sizer , 2005 .

[8]  Paul A. Baron,et al.  Calibration and Use of the Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS 3300) , 1986 .

[9]  P. Baron,et al.  Exposure to Carbon Nanotube Material: Aerosol Release During the Handling of Unrefined Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Material , 2004, Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A.

[10]  Ian Lowndes,et al.  Assessment of the dustiness and the dust liberation mechanisms of limestone quarry operations , 2007 .

[11]  Frank Hamelmann,et al.  Methods of Estimating the Dustiness of Industrial Powders – A Review , 2003 .

[12]  P. Baron,et al.  Observation and measurement of anomalous responses in a differential mobility analyzer caused by ultrafine fibrous carbon aerosols , 2007 .

[13]  Chuen-Jinn Tsai,et al.  A Universal Calibration Curve for the TSI Aerodynamic Particle Sizer , 2004 .