US EPA

1358019 

Journal Article 

Airborne Particulate Size Distribution Measurements In Nickel Smelter Plumes 

Chan, WH; Vet, RJ; Lusis, MA; Skelton, GB 

1983 

1 

Atmospheric Environment
ISSN: 1352-2310
EISSN: 1873-2844 

NIOSH/00138146 

17 

6 

1173-1181 

English 

WOS:A1983QZ82600012 

Studies of particulate size distributions were made in nickel (7440020) (Ni) smelter plumes. Smoke plumes from two Ni smelters in Ontario, Canada, were sampled with impactors mounted on helicopters. Aqueous and acid leachings were carried on the samples for the analysis of sulfate (14808798), nitrate (14797558), and ammonium (14798039) ions, and trace metals. Mass median particle distributions were determined. The airborne results were compared with those of in stack measurements. It was necessary to use sticky substrates such as petroleum jelly to collect the larger particles, as they tended to bounce off the untreated substrates. The particle distributions were bimodal and consisted of coarse particles having mass median diameters larger than 2.5 micrometers. They were mainly iron (7439896), copper (7440508), Ni, aluminum (7429905), and manganese (7439965). The fine particles consisted of lead (7439921), zinc (7440666), cadmium (7440439), arsenic (7440382), and ammonium, nitrate, and sulfate ions. Inconsistent results were generally obtained when comparing the airborne measurements with the in stack measurements. The authors note that the airborne and in stack measurements were not made at the same time. They suggest that changes in particle size and distribution can occur as the emissions mix with the ambient air. 

DCN-126089; Industrial emissions; Quantitative analysis; Aerosol particles; Airborne particles; Analytical chemistry; Research; Environmental pollution; Metal refining; Dust analysis