Laboratory study of the performance of the miniature diffusion size classifier (discmini) for analyzing different aerosols in the range 15-400 NM

Recently published strategies indicate that, in addition to chemical composition, a variety of parameters is required for characterizing exposure to airborne nanomaterials. Among them, particle concentration and size play an important role since they provide information on both the quantity of nanoparticles inhaled and the region of the respiratory tract where they are deposited and may potentially interact.
Test nanoaerosols composed of different materials (C, Ag, CsCl, DEHS) were produced by means of different generators in the CAIMAN facility. Number concentrations measured by the DiSCmini were compared to data from a CNC ; in parallel, average sizes from the DiSCmini were compared to DMA-selected sizes or SMPS mode. Experimental data indicate a close agreement between the different devices.