| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R36763/01 |
| Title: |
Investigations of atmospheric aerosol chemistry : developing a new analytical tool for probing microparticles |
| Principal Investigator: |
Reid, Professor JP |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
School of Chemistry |
| Organisation: |
University of Birmingham |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 November 2001 |
Ends: |
29 February 2004 |
Value (£): |
290,118
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Analytical Science |
Gas & Solution Phase Reactions |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Environment |
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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We propose the development of a new analytical technique for probing directly and non-intrusively the chemical composition and physical properties of atmospheric aerosols. The novel combination of aerodynamic focussing lenses and cavity enhanced Raman scattering (CERS) will enable the characterisation of aerosols by acquiring a unique spectroscopic fingerprint for each particle sampled. From this fingerprint, the size, refractive in temperature and chemical composition of the aerosol can be examined. A polydispersed aerosol sample will be collimated into a beam by using aerodynamic focussing lenses. The spectral fingerprint will be acquired by resolving the wavelength dependence of the scattered light following the illumination of the aerosol with a Nd:YAG pumped dye laser. The interfacing of the aerodynamic lenses and CERS technique will be initially calib with aqueous monodispersed aerosols and then a polydispersed distribution of sizes. Subsequent experiments will perform size-resolved compositional measurements on polydispersed aerosols containing sulphate and nitrate ions. The sensitivity of the technique to other trace chemical species will be determined. It is anticipated that this novel combination of existing techniques could provide a new analytical instrument capable of refining our understanding of the heterogeneous chemistry of atmospheric aerosols.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.bham.ac.uk |