APPLICATION OF LOW PRESSURE CASCADE IMPACTOR TO STUDY ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOLS

Abstract

Low pressure Berner cascade impactor was used in different applications including the determination of mass concentration and the mass size distribution of

atmospheric aerosols. Also the impactor was used to study

the activity concentration and the activity size 212

distribution of radionuclide

Pb. The Measurements were

carried. out on the physics department of EL-Minia University.

For reducing the effect of particle re-entrainment, the collection surfaces were coated with an adhesive substance.

It was found that the mass concentration of atmospheric aerosol is fluctuated along the year depending

on the weather conditions. The aver ge total mass concentration was found to be 87.9 g/m3 .

The mass size distribution of atmospheric aerosols was found as bi-modal log normal size distribution. The mean value of MMAD of accumulation mode was 790 nm with geometric standard deviation of 3.1. The ean value of MMAD of coarse mode was 4549 nm with geometric standard

deviation of 1.5 .