PIXE and PDMS methods applied to aerosols analysis

The aim of this study was to apply the PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emissio n) and PDMS (Plasma Desorption Mass Spectrometry) techniques to characteriz e airborne dust particles containing metals. Aerosols generated at a minera l-sand processing plant were characterized in this study. The aerosol sampl es were collected at a plant that processes mineral sands to obtain rutile, ilmenite, zircon, and monazite concentrates. A cascade impactor with six s tages was used to collect mineral dust particles with aerodynamic diameters in the range of 0.64 to 19.4 mu m The particles impacted on each stage of the cascade impactor were analyzed by PIXE, which permits the determination of the elemental mass air concentration and the MMAD (Mass Median Aerodyna mic Diameter). The chemical compositions of the aerosol samples were identi fied by PDMS analysis. This study shows that, by using PIXE and PDMS techni ques, it is possible to determine the chemical compounds in which the eleme nts are associated in the aerosol particles. Based on the results of the PI XE analysis, the elemental mass concentrations and the MMADs were determine d.