Real-Time Photoacoustic Measurements of the Mass Concentration of Respirable Crystal Silica Dust: Theory

Details

• Personal Author:
  Arnott WP ; Kocsis KC ; Nascimento P ; Taylor SJ
• Description:
  Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is an inhalation health hazard for mining and industrial work environments and must be monitored. We provide theoretical analysis of real-time measurements for determining RCS mass concentration without the use of filters by using photoacoustic spectroscopy. The suspended dust in the mine air can be continuously sampled by the photoacoustic instrument. A tunable quantum cascade laser is the light source, allowing for determination of interferences such as kaolinite, coal dust, and water vapor. The most useful spectral region is found to be between 11 and 13 µm. Absorption by water vapor, and, to a lesser extent, carbon dioxide, in this spectral region has gaps that allow for quantification of the aforementioned dust species as well as a convenient check on the calibration of the instrument. This work brings photoacoustic measurement of aerosol to the mid infrared range where spectrally dependent light absorption can be used to quantify dust composition and mass concentration. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Air Pollution Dust Mining Occupational Health Safety Silicon Dioxide
• Keywords:
  Acoustic Measurement Aerosol Particles Air Quality Air Quality Monitoring Author Keywords: Photoacoustic Coal Dust Crystalline Silica Lasers Quantum Cascade Laser Real Time Respirable Dust Sampling Methods Sensors Silica Dust Silica Dusts Underground Mines

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• ISSN:
  2524-3462
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Contract
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Nevada ; OSHA Region 8 ; OSHA Region 9 ; Utah
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  39
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20066147
• Citation:
  Min Metall Explor 2022 Oct; 39(5):2247-2256
• Contact Point Address:
  W. Patrick Arnott, Department of Physics, Atmospheric Science Program, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA
• Email:
  arnottw@unr.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• Performing Organization:
  University of Nevada, Reno
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20190901
• Source Full Name:
  Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e57f071a7a0db3b74bd9aae1ef8e84782b39b94f865651f53f8079f5664f27f8d13af164ec9999a8154771ba0ce437d0c9a85acb8e83d9b70d244a7a46da52aa
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/212655/cdc_212655_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.84 MB ]