Accurate Measurement of Individual Particle Atomic Composition by Aerosol Mass Spectrometry
15 November 2001
Atomic compositions of individual particles of sodium chloride, ammonium sulfate, and silica are measured in real-time using an aerosol mass spectrometer. Accurate measurements of both the major constituents and minor constituents (+-20%) are obtainable with high laser power densities.
The minor constituents represent both homogeneous and heterogeneous contaminants. This demonstrates that particles of unknown composition can be accurately identified and the composition of particle ensembles can be reconstructed from the measurement of individual particles.