A new method for measuring the particle size distribution of aerosols

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Abstract
A new method (electronic cascade impaction) of measuring the particle size distribution of aerosols is presented, and an instrument we call an electronic cascade impactor (ECI) which uses the method is described. Aerosol particles are charged in a unipolar charger and enter a multistage cascade impactor. Each collection stage and the final filter is isolated electrically from other parts of the impactor and connected to an electrometer detector. Particles deposit on the collection stages according to their aerodynamic diameters, and from the associated electrical current the deposition rate onto each stage and the particle size distribution can be determined. Calibration data for the ECI are presented. The ECI has been used to study atmospheric aerosol dynamics in real time, and typical data are given. The ECI has proven to be relialbe in several hundred hours of laboratory and field use and other versions employing the same general method should prove useful in a wide variety of measurement situations.

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