Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/R36718/01
Title:	Measurement of atmospheric particulate matter using surface acoustic wave devices
Principal Investigator:	Newton, Dr MI
Other Investigators:	McHale, Professor G Percival, Professor CJ
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Chemistry and Physics
Organisation:	Nottingham Trent University
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	15 October 2001	Ends:	14 October 2004	Value (£):	171,137
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Analytical Science Surfaces & Interfaces
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Environment No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
The proposed project is in response to the ATAC initiative and is to develop a novel analytical technique for the monitoring and sizing of atmospheric particulates by combining the individually proven technologies of surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices and electrostatic precipitators. The project is a laboratory based proof-of-principle of the electrostatic precipitator-SAW (EP-SAW) approach which has the potential to provide robust instrumentation for fi measurement of atmospheric particulates. It is both a genuinely novel development of instrumentation and an innovative transfer of technologies from other scientific fields. The method is based on inexpensive SAW technology and so offers opportunity for wide spatial coverage. The approach also satisfies a requirement for a method with good temporal resolution for obtaining atmospheric data on the nature and quantification of atmospheric particulates in the troposphere. In our EP-SAW approach, we will use a metallised path in a SAW delay line as both a collector of ionised particulates and a sensor of the ma deposited. The metallised path will be held at a do bias to electrostatically promote precipitation of airborne particulates, ionised by a Po-21 0 source, and the SAW device will be configured as a resonator so that a frequency shift will provide real-time measurement of the deposited mass. A multi-bin analysis approach to determining particulate size distribution will be developed by combining a set of such EP-SAW devices in a flow cell with a set of filters. The performance of the system will be tested using aerosols and its potential for development to a field instrument determined.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.ntu.ac.uk