Indoor Particle Size Distribution and Ionic Content of Particles in the Laboratory of ISTAC Composting Facility

Year 2017, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 49 - 55, 25.02.2017

Arslan Saral

Abstract

Particulate
matter can be generated through several processes. Formation processes
determines the size distribution of the particles. The size distribution gives
us important data about the fate of the particles. Composition of the
particulate matter includes forensic about their actual sources. The aim of
this study is to determine the impact of composting process to laboratory
indoor air quality in close proximity to composting process. For this purpose,
sampling was conducted at two different points; one of them wass inside the laboratory,
whereas the other one was in the composting facility.

A low volume cascade impactor was used to collect
particulate matter according to their sizes. The impactor was operated for one
week at each sampling point. Particles of 10 µm was dominant in the composting
facility. The dominant particle size was 5.8 µm inside the laboratory.
Particles were ultrasonically extracted in deionized water in order to
determine ion concentrations. Ions were quantified in Dionex ICS-3000 ion
chromatograph. Ca⁺², NH₄⁺ and SO₄^-2
were investigated. NH₄⁺ and SO₄^-2
had highest share in the finest size fraction at both laboratory and plant.
Particles of 3.3 µm were enriched with Ca⁺². Biological
decomposition products were effective in the ionic composition of  the fine particles, whereas mechanically
generated dusts formed the coarse particle fraction.

Keywords

Particle size distribution, ionic content, active sampling

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