Abstract
This paper examines the nature of diesel exhaust aerosols (particles suspended in a gas). Particle size, structure and chemical composition are discussed as well as the influence of coagulation, condensation, adsorption and chemical reactions on the nature of diesel exhaust particles. These processes are fast and may lead to important differences between the physical and chemical character of these particles as they exist in the atmosphere and as they exist in a sampling system or exposure facility. It is demonstrated that diesel exhaust particles are primarily submicron agglomerates of carbonaceous nuclei. From 5 to 50% of the mass of these agglomerates is solvent extractable. The extracts are mainly hydrocarbons, but also contain oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur. Diesel exhaust aerosols are much more dynamic and susceptible to artifact formation than are gaseous pollutants. The exhaust particle size distributions produced by a small diesel engine were found to depend upon fuel and operation conditions. Such size distribution measurements are important not only for assessing the environmental impact of diesel particles, but also aid in understanding how they are formed by the engine.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages | 337-359 |
| Number of pages | 23 |
| State | Published - Jan 1 1980 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | Gener of Aerosols and Facil for Exposure Exp, pap presented at Symp on Aerosol Gener and Exposure Facil - Honolulu, HI, USA Duration: Apr 2 1979 → Apr 3 1979 |
Other
| Other | Gener of Aerosols and Facil for Exposure Exp, pap presented at Symp on Aerosol Gener and Exposure Facil |
|---|---|
| City | Honolulu, HI, USA |
| Period | 4/2/79 → 4/3/79 |