CHARACTERIZATION OF THE GHENT STACKED FILTER UNIT PM10 SAMPLER

An integral part of several International Atomic Energy Agency sponsor ed coordinated research programmes involving the sampling and analysis of ambient airborne particules was the development of a PM10 sampler. Each participant was provided with such a sampler so that comparable samples would be obtained by each of the participating groups, Thus, i n order to understand the characteristics of this sampler, we undertok e several characterization studies in which we examined the aerodynami c collection characteristics of the impactor inlet and the reproducibi lity of the sample mass collection, One of the samplers machined in Be lgium was compared with one built from the same design in the U.S. and comparable results were obtained, The sampler was operated side-by-si de with a commercial PM10 beta gauge and an IMPROVE-design 2.5 mu m cu t-point cyclone, Although the sampler was not wind tunnel tested as re quired for certification as a reference sampler, it does provide a col lection efficiency that generally follows the guidelines for a PM10 sa mpler. (C) 1997 American Association for Aerosol Research.