DEVELOPMENT OF A SIMPLE DEVICE FOR MEASUREMENT OF PARTICULATE MATTER IN AIR

Abstract

Topic : Development of a simple device for the measurement of particulate matter in air. Air pollution is a growing hazard to health. In heavily industrialized areas, near thermal power plants, near coal mines, querries, near kilns (discharging lime—stone and cement dust) near heavy traffic roads, measurement of suspended particulate matter (SPM) is needed as a part of pollution \abatement programMe. Air pollution studies are also required to predict the likely increase in pollution from industrial development in a given area. In developing areas it is necessary to plan not merely single installation but entire industrial complexes. Isolation of the SPM from air is done by. filtration of the ambient air in adequate quantities to give concentr-ation of SPM inp.g/m3. The present work discusses a smimple air sampling technique for the measurement of SPM applicable for spot as well as continuous sampling. A new filtration medium and a new sample collector have been developed as alternative to the traditionally used High Volume Air Sampler (HVAS), to achieve economy and simplicity. Comparative studios of the filtration have been done between the new filter medium called Micro—Tex (MT) and the commonly used Glass—Fibre (GP) filters, using the newly fabricated sample collector. As source of SPM a synthetic atmosphere was created in the laboratory. At varying dust levels and velocities flow reductions and pressure losses have also been observed. Hardly any difference in the performance of filter has been observed and with ever increasing ernrhasis on air monitoring programmes, the easy availability of the MT filtor&its low cost heavily goes in its favour. The 1 cost of MT filter is about 15th that of GF filter.