Filtration and Measurement of Nanoaerosol Particles

洁净的空气是人类生命的重要资源。然而，人口增长、人类活动的增强以及工业生产的迅速扩张，导致了全世界对清洁空气的空前需求。世界卫生组织2013年的报告显示，每年有200多万人因室内和室外空气污染而过早死亡。在所有空气污染物中，悬浮在空气中的纳米颗粒，即纳米气溶胶，已被证明是造成不利健康影响的主要原因。它们还通过与太阳辐射相互作用，对全球气候变化和极端天气产生负面影响。从空气中、从它们的源头和从周围空气中去除这些空气中的纳米颗粒是非常重要的。****空气过滤是空气采样和净化最有效的方法。理想的过滤器应具有高的效率和低的气流阻力。随着人们对节能和清洁空气的需求日益增长，纳米纤维过滤因其优越的过滤效率和低气流阻力而引起了人们的极大兴趣。尽管纳米纤维过滤的潜力巨大，但对纳米气溶胶颗粒的过滤知识非常有限。纳米气溶胶粒子在尺寸、表面积、密度、形态、扩散系数、机械常数、刚性、充电能力、空气动力学等方面具有独特的物理特性，因此其表现与微粒子不同。这些特性导致纳米气溶胶颗粒过滤过程中存在很大的不确定性。****此发现基金将支持申请人在纳米气溶胶过滤和测量方面进行基础研究。这种方法将是分析性和实验性的。一个通用的实验装置将被开发和使用，以协助实验研究。实验数据将验证纳米气溶胶表征和过滤的理论分析。这项研究计划将大大提高对纳米气溶胶动力学的理解及其对相关仪器和空气净化技术发展的影响。****与纳米气溶胶颗粒过滤和测量有关的新知识将有助于开发清洁空气技术，以保护公众健康和环境。在未来5年内，将有至少4名博士和2名硕士学生通过DG项目获得培训。更多的人将通过与DG计划密切相关的其他研究基金进行培训。这些HQP将成为加拿大劳动力的重要组成部分，为可持续经济、前沿研究和教育做出贡献

Clean air is a vital resource for human life. However, population growth, enhanced human activities, and the rapid expansion in industrial production have led to unprecedented demand on clean air all over the world. The 2013 report of the World Health Organization has shown that over 2 million premature deaths each year are attributed to indoor and outdoor air pollution. Among all air pollutants, nanosized particles suspended in the air, which are referred to as nanoaerosol, are proved to be the major cause of adverse health effects. They also negatively impact global climate change and extreme weather by interacting with solar radiation. It is of great importance to remove these airborne nanoparticles from the air, at their sources and from the ambient air.****         Air filtration is the most effective method for air sampling and cleaning. An ideal filter is expected to have high efficiency with low resistance to the air flow. With the growing demand for energy conservation and clean air, there has been great interest in nanofiber filtration for its superior filtration efficiency and low resistance to air flow. Despite of the great potential of nanofiber filtration, very limited knowledge is available for the filtration of nanoaerosol particles. Nanoaerosol particles behave differently than microsized particles because of their unique physical properties in terms of size, surface area, density, morphology, diffusivity, mechanical constant, rigidity, electrical charging capability, aerodynamics, etc. All these properties lead to great uncertainties in nanoaerosol particle filtration.****         This Discovery grant will support the applicant in conducting fundamental research in nanoaerosol filtration and measurement. The approach will be analytical and experimental. A generic experimental setup will be developed and employed to assist the experimental investigations. Theoretical analyses on nanoaerosol characterization and filtration will be validated by experimental data. This research program will greatly improve the understanding of nanoaerosol dynamics and its implications on the development of related instrumentation and air cleaning technologies.****         New knowledge related to nanoaerosol particle filtration and measurement will contribute to the development of clean air technologies for the protection of public health and the environment. In the coming 5 years, at least 4 PhD and 2 MSc students will be trained through this DG program. More will be trained through other research funding that is closely related to the DG program. These HQP will become an important part of the Canadian workforce contributing to a sustainable economy, and to cutting edge research and education.***