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LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Emission and exposure assessment of arc discharge produced multiwalled carbon nanotubes in an industrial environment

Ludvigsson, Linus (2012) MAM720 20112
Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology
Solid State Physics
Abstract
The industry of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) has grown rapidly during the last decade, with for example carbon nanotubes (CNTs) incorporated in high-tech composites and nanosized TiO2 in sunscreens and paint. With an increased potential of human exposure to these novel ENPs, especially
during production and handling of nanoparticles, the concern of risks when people become exposed has increased. In this diploma work results from measurements of emission and exposure at a smallscale facility that produces multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) using the arc discharge method will be described. Several steps in the production, such as harvesting, sieving, dispersion and purification of harvested material, involves handling of MWCNTs in... (More)
The industry of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) has grown rapidly during the last decade, with for example carbon nanotubes (CNTs) incorporated in high-tech composites and nanosized TiO2 in sunscreens and paint. With an increased potential of human exposure to these novel ENPs, especially
during production and handling of nanoparticles, the concern of risks when people become exposed has increased. In this diploma work results from measurements of emission and exposure at a smallscale facility that produces multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) using the arc discharge method will be described. Several steps in the production, such as harvesting, sieving, dispersion and purification of harvested material, involves handling of MWCNTs in powder form, during which the workers are potentially exposed. The aim of the study was to investigate the emissions to the work place air during the different production steps. Another goal was to assess personal exposure of CNTs to the workers during the different work tasks. Filter samples from emission measurements were investigated off-line by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The manually measured particle number-size distribution from SEM analysis was compared with the distribution measured with timeof-
flight instrument (APS). The measurements showed that there were emissions of free CNT fibers and CNT containing particles in the two analyzed steps in the work process. The emissions occurred as short bursts, identified by the APS. The full day personal exposure measurement also showed clear signs of exposure to free CNT fibers and CNT containing particles with 0.32 CNT fibers per cm3 as respirable fraction sampled air in the breathing zone. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Ludvigsson, Linus
supervisor
organization
course
MAM720 20112
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
other publication id
ISRN LUTMDN/TMAT-5158-SE
language
English
id
3173224
date added to LUP
2012-11-19 23:18:14
date last changed
2012-11-19 23:18:14
@misc{3173224,
  abstract     = {{The industry of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) has grown rapidly during the last decade, with for example carbon nanotubes (CNTs) incorporated in high-tech composites and nanosized TiO2 in sunscreens and paint. With an increased potential of human exposure to these novel ENPs, especially
during production and handling of nanoparticles, the concern of risks when people become exposed has increased. In this diploma work results from measurements of emission and exposure at a smallscale facility that produces multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) using the arc discharge method will be described. Several steps in the production, such as harvesting, sieving, dispersion and purification of harvested material, involves handling of MWCNTs in powder form, during which the workers are potentially exposed. The aim of the study was to investigate the emissions to the work place air during the different production steps. Another goal was to assess personal exposure of CNTs to the workers during the different work tasks. Filter samples from emission measurements were investigated off-line by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The manually measured particle number-size distribution from SEM analysis was compared with the distribution measured with timeof-
flight instrument (APS). The measurements showed that there were emissions of free CNT fibers and CNT containing particles in the two analyzed steps in the work process. The emissions occurred as short bursts, identified by the APS. The full day personal exposure measurement also showed clear signs of exposure to free CNT fibers and CNT containing particles with 0.32 CNT fibers per cm3 as respirable fraction sampled air in the breathing zone.}},
  author       = {{Ludvigsson, Linus}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Emission and exposure assessment of arc discharge produced multiwalled carbon nanotubes in an industrial environment}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}