Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
199900 
Journal Article 
Nanoparticle aerosol generation methods from bulk powders for inhalation exposure studies 
Schmoll, LH; Elzey, S; Grassian, VH; O'Shaughnessy, PT 
2009 
1 
Nanotoxicology
ISSN: 1743-5390
EISSN: 1743-5404 
Taylor & Francis Group Ltd., 2 Park Square Milton Park, Abingdon Oxford OX14 4RN UK, [URL:http://www.taylorandfrancis.co.uk/] 
3 
4 
265-275 
WOS:000274526800002 
Inhalation toxicity studies of nanoparticles require production of test aerosols with a number of acceptable characteristics. Five
different generation methods for producing a nanoparticle aerosol from the bulk powder were evaluated with the goal of
producing an acceptable aerosol that is homogenous, has a consistent concentration over time in which the magnitude may be
intentionally varied, and has a size distribution that is both unimodal and has a small geometric mean diameter relative to the
primary particle size of the nanoparticle bulk powder. Four types of bulk powders were evaluated including titanium dioxide,
silicon dioxide, polymer-coated silver, and single walled carbon nanotubes. A nebulizer was the only tested method able to
produce a consistent aerosol of sufficient magnitude. However, the resulting aerosol contains particles derived from the carrier
water. Prior sonication of the nanoparticle suspension alone was found to be not useful for deagglomerating nanoparticles. 
Nanoparticles; aerosol generators; nebulizer