More accurate measurement of black carbon particles is now within reach of UK local authorities, air quality and climate change researchers and industry thanks to a highly-specified device, newly available via Enviro Technology.
Reducing levels of black carbon in the air improves human health and slows climate change. Because it is dark, black carbon absorbs a lot of heat from the sun and it also has a shorter atmospheric life-span than greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. These two factors mean that the benefits of better controlling this pollutant can be felt very quickly.
Air quality monitoring specialist Enviro Technology is now supplying the PAX (Photoacoustic Extinctiometer) System for carbon particle sensing. PAX is a high-resolution, fast-response instrument that directly measures in-situ light absorption and scattering of aerosol particles, from which it derives extinction, single scattering albedo and black carbon (soot) mass concentration.
Put simply, this means that PAX provides accurate and speedy measurement of absorption from black carbon to indicate levels of the pollutant in the air.
Better understanding of a pollutant's levels or concentration forms a vital part of any activity to combat its production. And reducing black carbon emissions represents an opportunity for a valuable 'quick hit' in on-going long-term strategies to manage climate change.
Duncan Mounsor, sales and marketing director at Enviro Technology, believes that over the coming years we will see a large-scale shift in attention towards particulate composition, counting and characterisation, in addition to real-time mass measurement which is still far more commonplace.
"Environmental experts are increasingly turning their attention to particulate matter," he explains. "The Black Carbon Campaign being led by EPUK in 2012 is a case in point. It is important that we enhance our understanding of particulate pollution, and cutting-edge technologies like the PAX System form a vital piece of the jigsaw."
The PAX System is suitable for use in a range of measurement applications, including air quality and visibility, atmosphere and climate, health effects, combustion source emissions and biomass burning. It is suitable for fixed site, mobile or airborne sampling and the technical specification includes:
- Direct in-situ measurement of light absorption and scattering in a single instrument
- Absorption measurement correlates to black carbon mass concentration
- Reciprocal nephelometry provides excellent scattering coefficient sensitivity
- Choice of wavelengths: 870nm (standard); optional 405nm, 532nm or 781nm
- Fast response, one-second resolution, real-time data display
- Wide dynamic range suitable for pristine regions to source sampling
- Continuous and autonomous operation
- High-resolution touch-screen display for real-time data and instrument status
- No filter collection required - no filter data artefacts
ET will be demonstrating the PAX at the Royal Society of Chemistry's AAMG event in London on 12-13 December.
Further details about PAX and a full product information sheet are available at Enviro Technology Services' website.
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