Engineering Research Equipment Grant: Studies of Single Particles Using an Electrodynamic Balance

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This award is to provide support for purchase of equipment to construct an electrodynamic balance system for investigation of the interaction of dispersed single particles and a gaseous environment. In particular, the apparatus will be used in studies of ambient and model aerosols and in experimental simulations of processes that separate and remove contaminants from gas streams. The electrodynamic balance facility will enable researchers to characterize the optical properties, chemical composition, and kinetics of ambient and model aerosol particles. This project will involve determining the distribution of chemical species within individual aerosol particles, the accuracy of light scattering calculations, the index of refraction of single particles, hygroscopic properties of single particles, and the kinetics of aerosol particle evaporation. The particle balance also will be used to investigate the thermal decomposition of hazardous contaminants, the adsorption of organics and heavy metals onto particles, the surface area of particles, and the validity of numerical models that describe the removal of gaseous contaminants by particles. The proposal leading to this award was submitted in response to NSF 87- 68, Engineering Research Equipment Grants. The results of this research investigation are expected to describe the fundamental mechanisms by which potentially harmful contaminants may be prevented from entering the atmosphere.