Influence Factors on Particle Growth for On-line Aerosol Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry

An evaporation/condensation flow cell was developed and interfaced with the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization （MALDI） time-of-flight mass spectrometer for on-line bioaerosol detection and characterization, which allows matrix addition by condensation onto the laboratory-generated bioaerosol particles. The final coated particle exiting from the con- denser is then introduced into the aerodynamic particle sizer spectrometer or home-built aerosol laser time-of-flight mass spectrometer, and its aerodynamic size directly effects on the matrix-to-analyte molar ratio, which is very important for MALDI technique. In order to observe the protonated analyte molecular ion, and then determine the classification of bi- ological aerosols, the matrix-to-analyte molar ratio must be appropriate. Four experimental parameters, including the temperature of the heated reservoir, the initial particle size, its number concentration, and the matrix material, were tested experimentally to analyze their influences on the final particle size. This technique represents an on-line system of detection that has the potential to provide rapid and reliable identification of airborne biological aerosols.

Dynamic Study of Polymer Particle Growth in Gas Phase Polymerization of Butadiene

An experimental apparatus composed of microscope, video camera. image-processing, and mini reactor which can be used for real-time measurement of the growth of polymer particle in gas phase polymerization was built up to carry out dynamic study of gas phase polymerization of butadiene by heterogeneous catalyst based on neodymium(Nd). The studies of the shape duplication of polymer particles and catalyst particles and the growth rate of polymer particle were made. Results show that the apparatus and procedure designed can be well utilized to make dynamic observation and data collection of the growth of polymer particle in gas phase polymerization. A phenomenon of shape duplication of polymer particles and catalyst particles was observed by the real-time measurement. The result also concludes that the activity of individual catalyst particle is different, and the effect of reaction pressure on the growth of polymer particle is significant.

Simulation of Particle Growth in Gas Phase Polymerization of Butadiene by the Multigrain Model

Gas phase polymerization of butadiene by neodymium catalyst was modeled. The effects of mass and heat transfer resistances in the external boundary layer and within particles, sorption of butadiene in polybutadiene,and deactivation of active sites on polymer particle growth and morphology were studied. Simulation results show that the effects of intraparticle mass and heat transfer resistances on the growth rate of polymer particles are insignificant, and that there is no significant effect of mass transfer resistance on the morphology of polymer particles.The simulation results were compared with the experimental results.

Particle Growth in an Experimental Dusty Plasma System

The coagulation and growth process of dust particles is investigated through laboratory experiment in a plasma system. A large number of dust particles with different sizes and shapes are formed. The growth process is characterized by the scattering laser intensity and fractal dimension. The comparisons of dust particles and scattering laser intensity obtained at different rf powers are presented. The three-dimensional distribution of dust particles is also given. These results provide an experimental basis for dust growth investigation.

Evaluation of particle growth systems for sampling and analysis of atmospheric fine particles

Three types of water-based condensational growth systems, which can enable particles to grow in size to facilitate sampling and subsequent chemical analysis, were evaluated. The first one is a mixing type growth system where aerosols are mixed with saturated water vapor, the second one is a thermal diffusive growth system where warm flow enters cold-walled tube, and the third one is a laminar flow type where cold flow enters a warm wet-wall tube. Hygroscopic sodium chloride （NaCl）, ammonium sulfate （（NH4）2SO4） and ammonium nitrate （NH4N03）, and non-hygroscopic polystyrene latex （PSL） particles, in the size range of 50-400 nm, were used to determine their growth factors through the growth systems. Our data showed that the third-type growth system could enable particles to grow most efficiently regardless of their hygroscopic property. Collection efficiency of particles in the size range of 0.05-2.5 μm, in a continuous aerosol sampler after they passed through the third-type growth system was about 100%, suggesting that the third-type growth system would he the most useful among the tested growth systems for sampling and subsequent chemical analysis of fine and ultrafine particles.

Analysis on Concentration and Source Rate of Precursor Vapors Participating in Particle Formation and Growth at Xinken in the Pearl River Delta of China

Concentration and source rate of precursor vapors participating in particle formation and subsequent growth were investigated during the Pearl River Delta intensive campaign （PRD2004, October 2004） in southeastern China. Four new particle formation event days and a typical non-event day were selected for our analysis. Atmospheric sulphuric acid, the important precursor vapor in nucleation and growth, were simulated with a pseudo steady-state model based on the measurements of SO2, NOx, 03, CO, non-methane hydrocarbon （NMHC） and ambient particle number concentrations as well as modeled photolysis frequencies obtained from measurements. The maximum midday sulphuric acid concentrations vary from 4.53 × 10^7 to 2.17 × 10^8 molecules cm^-3, the corresponding source rate via reaction of OH and SO2 range between 2.37 × 10^6 and 1.16 × 10^7 molecules cm^-3 s^-1. Nucleation mode growth rate was derived from size spectral evolution during the events to be 6.8-13.8 nm h^-1. Based on the growth rate, concentration of the vapors participating in subsequent growth were estimated to vary from 1.32 × 10^8 to 2.80 × 10^8 molecules cm^-3 with corresponding source rate between 7.26 × 10^6 and 1.64 × 10^7 molecules cm^-3 s^-1. Our results show the degree of pollution is larger in PRD. Sulphuric acid concentrations are fairly high and have a close correlation with new particle formation events. Budget analysis shows that sulphuric acid alone is not enough for required growth; other nonvolatile vapors are needed. However, sulphuric acid plays an important role in growth; the contribution of sulphuric acid to growth in PRD is 12.4%-65.2%.

Effect of initial nickel particle size on stability of nickel catalysts for aqueous phase reforming

The deactivation behavior by crystallite growth of nickel nanoparticles on various supports（carbon nanofibers, zirconia, Si C, α-Al2O3 and γ-Al2O3） was investigated in the aqueous phase reforming of ethylene glycol. Supported Ni catalysts of ~10 wt% were prepared by impregnation of carbon nanofibers（CNF）,Zr O2, SiC, γ-Al2O3 and α-Al2O3. The extent of the Ni nanoparticle growth on various support materials follows the order CNF ~ ZrO2〉 SiC 〉 γ-Al2O3〉〉 α-Al2O3 which sequence, however, was determined by the initial Ni particle size. Based on the observed nickel leaching and the specific growth characteristics; the particle size distribution and the effect of loading on the growth rate, Ostwald ripening is suggested to be the main mechanism contributing to nickel particle growth. Remarkably, initially smaller Ni particles（~12 nm） supported on α-Al2O3 were found to outgrow Ni particles with initially larger size（~20 nm）. It is put forward that the higher susceptibility with respect to oxidation of the smaller Ni nanoparticles and differences in initial particle size distribution are responsible for this behavior.

H_2O_2-Promoted Size Growth of Sulfated TiO_2 Nanocrystals

Anatase nanoparticles modified by sulfate groups were synthesized using hydrothermal method. The particles were controlled to large sizes by simply adjusting the amount of H2O2, in which HOO^- ions replaced the surface sulfate groups and reduced the steric effect to promote the grain growth. The size-induced microstructural changes of the as-prepared nanoparticles were characterized using powder XRD, FT-IR, TG. and UV-vis analyses. The sulfate groups existed on anatase surface in unidentate and bidentate coordination forms. With the particle size reduction, bandgap energies of the as-prepared anatase nanoparticles decreased, and the desorption temperature of sulfate groups shifted towards lower temperatures.

Numerical simulation of granular silicon growth and silicon fines formation process in polysilicon fluidized bed

Operating conditions strongly affect the yield and quality of polysilicon in a polysilicon fluidized bed.In this study,a new model of polysilicon fluidized bed was established using the Euler-Euler model coupled with population balance model(PBM),which was combined with fluid flow,heat,and mass transfer models,while considering the scavenging effect of silicon fines.The effects of different operating conditions on the deposition and formation rates of silicon fines were investigated.Results show that the model can correctly describe the particle growth process in the fluidized bed of polysilicon.The silicon fines and the interphase velocity difference show"N"-and"M"-shaped distributions along the axial direction,respectively.The particle temperature and concentration near the wall are higher than those in the central region.The decomposition of silane in the bottom region of the bed is dominated by het-erogeneous deposition.The scavenging of silicon fines occurs in the dilute-phase region.The effects of operating conditions,i.e.inlet gas temperature,silane composition,and gas velocity,on the reactor performance were also explored comprehensively.Increasing the inlet gas composition and velocity enhances the formation rates of solid silicon and fines.Increasing the inlet gas temperature promotes the growth of solid silicon and inhibits the formation of silicon fines.High fluidization ratio,low inlet silane concentration,and high inlet gas temperature enhance the selectivity of silicon growth.

Nucleation and growth of L1_(2)-Al_(3)RE particles in aluminum alloys:A first-principles study

The internal mechanisms of nucleation and growth of L1_(2)-AI_(3)RE(RE=Sc,Y,La-Lu) second phases in Al alloys were investigated by combining first-principles calculations with quasi-harmonic approximation(QHA).The calculated results show that the diffusion rate D_s and chemical potential AG_V increase with the increase of temperature.With the increase of atomic number,the D_s and the strain energy ΔE_(CS)increase firstly from Sc to La,and then decreases,while the calculated interface energy γ_(α/β) and ΔG_V show opposite tendency.Based on above calculated results,the critical nucleation radius R*and coarsening rate K_(LSW) are obtained from the classical nucleation theory(CNT) and LSW model of the Ostwald ripening of particles,respectively.With the increase of atomic number,the R*increases firstly,and then decreases for all planes at finite temperatures.Whereas the K_(LSW) shows opposite variation to the R^(*).From this point of view,it is reasonably speculated that Y and later RE elements can replace the expensive Sc for heat-resistance Al alloys.The solubility c_(∞) of particles is usually very small at low temperature,and there is obvious solubility only when the temperature reaches 600 K.The surface energies E_(sur) of AI_(3)RE compounds and Al solid solution are respectively larger and smaller than that of pure Al,respectively,except for the surface(001) and(110) of Al_(3)La.For all planes,with the increase of atomic number of RE,E_(sur) decreases firstly from Sc to La,and then increases linearly to Lu.These results are helpful for designing high performance heat-resistance Al alloys.

Growth characteristics of spherical titanium oxide nanoparticles during the rapid gaseous detonation reaction

The nanosize grain growth characteristics of spherical single-crystal titanium oxide （TiO2） during the rapid gaseous detonation reaction are discussed. Based on the experimental conditions and the Chapman-Jouguet theory, the Kruis model was introduced to simulate the growth characteristics of spherical TiO2 nanoparticles obtained under high pressure, high temperature and by rapid reaction. The results show that the numerical analysis can satisfactorily predict the growth characteristics of spherical TiO2 nanoparticles with diameters of 15-300 nm at different affecting factors, such as concentration of particles, reaction temperature and time, which are in agreement with the obtained experimental results. We found that the increase of the gas-phase reaction temperature, time, and particle concentration affects the growth tendency of spherical nanocrystal TiO2, which provides effective theoretical support for the controllable synthesis of multi-scale nanoparticles.

Suppressing Al2O3 nanoparticle coarsening and Cu nanograin growth of milled nanostructured Cu-5vol.%Al2O3 composite powder particles by doping with Ti

Both the coarsening of Al2O3 nanoparticles and the growth of Cu nanograins of mechanically milled nanostructured Cu-5 vol.%Al2O3 composites with, and without, trace amounts of Ti during annealing at973 K for 1 h were investigated. It was found that doping with a small amount of Ti（e.g. 0.2 wt%） in a nanostructured Cu-5 vol.%Al2O3 composite effectively suppressed the coarsening of Al2O3 nanoparticles during exposure at this temperature. Further, the Ti addition also prevented the concomitant abnormal growth of the copper grains normally caused by the coarsening of the Al2O3 nanoparticles. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis of the Al2O3 nanoparticles in the annealed Cu-5 vol.%Al2 O3-0.2 wt%Ti sample suggested that the Ti atoms either diffused into the Al2O3 nanoparticles or segregated to the Cu/Al2O3 interfaces to form Ti-doped Al2O3 nanoparticles, which was more stable than Ti-free Al2O3 nanoparticles during annealing at high homologous temperatures.

Parameter Estimation of S-Shaped Growth Model:A Modified Particle Swarm Algorithm

Parameter estimation plays a critical role for the application and development of S-shaped growth model in the agricultural sciences and others.In this paper,a modified particle swarm optimization algorithm based on the diffusion phenomenon（DPPSO） was employed to estimate the parameters for this model.Under the sense of least squares,the parameter estimation problem of S-shaped growth model,taking the Gompertz and Logistic models for example,is transformed into a multi-dimensional function optimization problem.The results show that the DPPSO algorithm can effectively estimate the parameters of the S-shaped growth model.

THE MICROPHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF SNOW CLOUDS AND THE GROWTH PROCESS OF SNOW PARTICLES IN WINTER IN XINJIANG

The microphysical structure of snow clouds and the growth process of snow crystals were observed by means of instrumented aircraft, weather radar, snow crystal observations etc. in Urumqi region during the winter of 1982. The analysis of three cases show that about 70% of snow mass growth is produced in the lower layer below 2000 m under the cold front, and that the concentration of ice crystals is as high as 60 L^(-1) and the supercooled water is absent in lower clouds. We may infer that the deposition of ice crystals and the aggregation of snow crystals are important processes for the snow development. The microphysical structure of the snow band near the front aloft and its characteristics as a seeder cloud are also described in this paper.

Particle number size distribution and new particle formation (NPF) in Lanzhou,Western China

Particle number size distribution from 10 to 10,000 nm was measured by a wide-range particle spectrometer （WPS-1000XP） at a downwind site north of downtown Lanzhou, western China, from 25 june to 19 July 2006. We first report the pollution level, diurnal variation of particle concentration in different size ranges and then introduce the characteristics of the particle formation processes, to show that the number concentration of ultrafine particles was lower than the values measured in other urban or suburban areas in previous studies, However, the fraction of ultrafine particles in total aerosol number concentration was found to be much higher. Furthermore, sharp increase of ultrafine particle concentration was frequently observed at noon. An examination of the diurnal pattern suggests that the burst of the ultrafine particles was mainly due to nucleation process. During the 25-day observation, new particle formation （NPF） from homogeneous nucleation was observed during 33% of the study period. The average growth rate of the newly formed particles was 4.4 nm/h, varying from 1.3 to 16,9 nm/h. The needed concentration of condensable vapor was 6.1 × 10^7 cm-3, and its source rate was 1.1× 10^6 cm-3 s 1. Further calculation on the source rate of sulphuric acid vapor indicated that the average participation of sulphuric acid to particle growth rate was 68.3%.

Roles of SO_2 oxidation in new particle formation events

The oxidation of SO2 is commonly regarded as a major driver for new particle formation（NPF） in the atmosphere. In this study, we explored the connection between measured mixing ratio of SO2 and observed long-term（duration 〉 3 hr） and short-term（duration〈 1.5 hr） NPF events at a semi-urban site in Toronto. Apparent NPF rates（J30） showed a moderate correlation with the concentration of sulfuric acid（[H2SO4]） calculated from the measured mixing ratio of SO2 in long-term NPF events and some short-term NPF events（Category I）（R^2= 0.66）. The exponent in the fitting line of J30~ [H2SO4]nin these events was1.6. It was also found that SO2 mixing ratios varied a lot during long-term NPF events,leading to a significant variation of new particle counts. In the SO2-unexplained short-term NPF events（Category II）, analysis showed that new particles were formed aloft and then mixed down to the ground level. Further calculation results showed that sulfuric acid oxidized from SO2 probably made a negligible contribution to the growth of 〉 10 nm new particles.

A study of spray granulation in vibrated fluidized bed with internal heating tubes

The granulation process in a vibratedfluidized bed with immersed horizontal heating tubes was studied in this paper,with small monoammonium phosphate particles as the initial particles and monoammonium phosphate solution sprayed on them.The concrete influences on the granulating performance of the immersed horizontal heating power,fluidizing gas velocity,vibration frequency and amplitude had been analyzed theoretically.The results show that appropriate vibration intensity is a preferred condition for the growth of partials,but thefine dust will become much more along with prolonged vibration.Increasing the heating power is beneficial to raise the growth rate.Particles will grow faster if thefluidizing gas velocity is higher,but this will cause morefine dust.The optimized condition of A=0.002 m,f=6.67 Hz,u=1.4 m/s was given after the analysis of the experimental results.In the end,a semiempirical formula was derived from the experiment data,and the calculation results show good agreement with the experimental data.