2134/35487
Reginald Davies
Reginald
Davies
The physical separation of particulates
Loughborough University
2018
untagged
Chemical Engineering not elsewhere classified
2018-10-25 15:57:12
Thesis
https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/thesis/The_physical_separation_of_particulates/9238523
Particulates are present in the atmosphere as a result
of both natural and man-made processes. Typical
particulates include windblown soil, sea salt, sulphur,
nitr0gen and hydrocarbon complexes, ammonium sulphate
and nitrate, carbonaceous matter, biological debris,
metal oxides, trace metals, and extra-terrestrial magnetic
and radioactive compounds. Natural processes such as
cloud formation, rainfall, and sedimentation cleanse
the atmosphere of these particulates and, in so doing,
form particle groups or agglomerates which can contain
many unit particles. For the purpose of atmospheric
research and, in particular, the physical tracing of
pollution sources, particulates are a useful emission
indicator. Consequently, if one wishes to use them
effectively, it is necessary to separate the agglomerate
into its independent particle units prior to analysis
and identification. This is no simple matter, as the
particles are held together by strong physical forces.
The purpose of this thesis is to investigate a method
of separating particulates for physical tracer studies,
but the atmospheric aerosol was considered too complex
a model for the initial studies. [Continues.]