Airborne Nanoparticles: Control and Detection, Table 8 Instruments used to characterize nanoparticles
Instrument
Commercial
model
Measures
Particle
size range
(nm)
Online Notes
Reference
APM/DMA
(Aerosol Particle
Mass Analyzer/
Differential
Mobility
Analyzer)
Kanomax
APM-3602
Size-resolved
mass
concentration
30<
Yes
Gives only mass
information
The measurement not
dependent on particle
size or shape
[101]
QCM (Quartz
Crystal
Microbalance)
CMI PC-2H
Size-resolved
mass
concentration
50–10,000 Yes
Ideal for medium and
lower concentration
measurements down
to a few mg/m
3
[102]
MOUDI (MicroOrifice Uniform
Deposit Impactor
(MOUDI)
TSI NanoMOUDI
125R
Size-resolved
mass
concentration
10–10,000 No
13 stages-offline
characterizing
Collects sizefractionated particle
samples for
gravimetric and/or
chemical analysis
[103]
ELPI (Electric
Low-Pressure
Impactor)
Dekati ELPI+
Size-resolved
mass
concentration
6–10,000
Yes
High time resolution
Able to collect
samples for offline
analysis
Spherical particle
approximation
[104]
Laser Aerosol
Spectrometer
(LAS)
TSI 3340A
Number size
distribution
90–7500
Yes
Overcomes the
limitations of classic
optical particle
analyzers
[105]
CPC
(Condensation
Particle Counter)
TSI CPC
3750
Number
concentration
1–10,000
Yes
High sensitivity for
low variation of
particle number
High time resolution
[106]
EAS (Electrical
Aerosol
Spectrometer)
Airel EAS
Number size
distribution
3–10,000
Yes
Spherical particle
approximation
[107]
SMPS (Scanning
Mobility Particle
Sizer)
TSI 3938 E57
with 3082
1 nm DMA
classifier and
CPC 3750
Mass and
number size
distribution
1–500
Yes
Better reliability and
reproducibility of
measurements
Spherical particle
approximation
[108]
EEPS (Engine
Exhaust Particle
Sizer)
TSI 3090
Mass and
number size
distribution
5.6–560
Yes
High time resolution
(10 times per second)
Low sensitivity EEPS
which limits these
instruments to high
concentration aerosol
measurements such as
engine exhaust
measurements
Considerably lower
size resolution
compared to SMPS
Spherical particle
approximation
[109]
(continued)
118
Airborne Nanoparticles: Control and Detection
Instrument
Commercial
model
Measures
Particle
size range
(nm)
Online Notes
Reference
APM/DMA
(Aerosol Particle
Mass Analyzer/
Differential
Mobility
Analyzer)
Kanomax
APM-3602
Size-resolved
mass
concentration
30<
Yes
Gives only mass
information
The measurement not
dependent on particle
size or shape
[101]
QCM (Quartz
Crystal
Microbalance)
CMI PC-2H
Size-resolved
mass
concentration
50–10,000 Yes
Ideal for medium and
lower concentration
measurements down
to a few mg/m
3
[102]
MOUDI (MicroOrifice Uniform
Deposit Impactor
(MOUDI)
TSI NanoMOUDI
125R
Size-resolved
mass
concentration
10–10,000 No
13 stages-offline
characterizing
Collects sizefractionated particle
samples for
gravimetric and/or
chemical analysis
[103]
ELPI (Electric
Low-Pressure
Impactor)
Dekati ELPI+
Size-resolved
mass
concentration
6–10,000
Yes
High time resolution
Able to collect
samples for offline
analysis
Spherical particle
approximation
[104]
Laser Aerosol
Spectrometer
(LAS)
TSI 3340A
Number size
distribution
90–7500
Yes
Overcomes the
limitations of classic
optical particle
analyzers
[105]
CPC
(Condensation
Particle Counter)
TSI CPC
3750
Number
concentration
1–10,000
Yes
High sensitivity for
low variation of
particle number
High time resolution
[106]
EAS (Electrical
Aerosol
Spectrometer)
Airel EAS
Number size
distribution
3–10,000
Yes
Spherical particle
approximation
[107]
SMPS (Scanning
Mobility Particle
Sizer)
TSI 3938 E57
with 3082
1 nm DMA
classifier and
CPC 3750
Mass and
number size
distribution
1–500
Yes
Better reliability and
reproducibility of
measurements
Spherical particle
approximation
[108]
EEPS (Engine
Exhaust Particle
Sizer)
TSI 3090
Mass and
number size
distribution
5.6–560
Yes
High time resolution
(10 times per second)
Low sensitivity EEPS
which limits these
instruments to high
concentration aerosol
measurements such as
engine exhaust
measurements
Considerably lower
size resolution
compared to SMPS
Spherical particle
approximation
[109]
(continued)
118
Airborne Nanoparticles: Control and Detection