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Inventories

Environment, Health and Safety Research

CRAEMS: Fundamental Studies of Nanoparticle Formation in Air Pollution

Project Information

Principal InvestigatorBarbara Wyslouzil
InstitutionOhio State University Research Foundation
Project URLView
Relevance to ImplicationsSubstantial
Class of NanomaterialIncidental Nanomaterials
Impact SectorEnvironment
Broad Research Categories Generation, Dispersion, Transformation etc.
Characterization
NNI identifier

Funding Information

CountryUSA
Anticipated Total Funding$1,228,509.00
Annual Funding$307,127.25
Funding SourceNSF
Funding MechanismExtramural
Funding SectorGovernment
Start Year2003
Anticipated End Year2007

Abstract/Summary

This Collaborative Research Activities in Environmental Molecular Science (CRAEMS) Award to Worcester Polytechnic Institute is supported by the Special Projects Office in the Chemistry Division. Barbara Wyslouzil is supported by this award for the fundamental study of nanoparticle formation in air pollution. Support is also provided to Doug Doren, Murray Johnston, Hai Wang, and Anthony Wexler at the University of Delaware through subawards. An integrated experimental and theoretical program will be carried out to understand, at a molecular level, the processes of nanoparticle formation that are relevant to air pollution. The topics that will be addressed are (1) nucleation in aqueous systems, (2) soot inception, and (3) the interaction between soot and metals during combustion. Water, water/alcohol and water/nitric acid aerosols will be generated in a supersonic nozzle and characterized by small angle neutron scattering and FTIR. Molecular simulation techniques will be applied to calculate nucleation rates and to address important non-equilibrium effects. Soot particles will be generated in a flat flame burner and characterized by sampling with a scanning mobility particle sizer. Size distributions will be compared to those derived from small angle neutron and x-ray scattering experiments. Molecular composition of the particles will be determined by mass spectrometry. The reaction between metals and soot will be studied by generating particles from ethylene-oxygen flames, seeded with ferrocene. Mathematical models will be developed that incorporate molecular mechanisms of metal oxide particle formation and carbon deposition. Particle nucleation is a key step in many environmental and industrial processes. Refractory particles are formed in combustion and metallurgical processes, while acid-water droplets are produced in stack gases, volcanic plumes and in photochemical reactions in the atmosphere. This research will help define the mechanisms by which they are formed and the role they play in air pollution.