ISO/TC 24/SC 4/WG 12 - Electrical mobility and number concentration analysis for aerosol particles

This document provides guidelines and requirements for the determination of aerosol particle number size distribution by means of the analysis of electrical mobility of aerosol particles. This measurement is usually called "differential electrical mobility analysis for aerosol particles". This analytical method is applicable to particle size measurements ranging from approximately 1 nm to 1 µm. This document does not address the specific instrument design or the specific requirements of particle size distribution measurements for different applications but includes the calculation method of uncertainty. In this document, the complete system for carrying out differential electrical mobility analysis is referred to as DMAS (differential mobility analysing system), while the element within this system that classifies the particles according to their electrical mobility is referred to as DEMC (differential electrical mobility classifier). NOTE This document does not include technical requirements and specifications for the application of DMAS, which are defined in application specific standards or guidelines, e.g. for road vehicle applications (ISO/TC 22), environmental measurements (ISO/TC 146) or nanotechnologies (ISO/TC 229).

ISO 27891:2015 describes methods to determine the detection efficiency of condensation particle counters (CPCs) at particle number concentrations ranging between 1 cm-3 and 105 cm-3, together with the associated measurement uncertainty. In general, the detection efficiency will depend on the particle number concentration, the particle size, and the particle composition. The particle sizes covered by the methods described in this International Standard range from approximately 5 nm to 1 000 nm. The methods can therefore be used both to determine a CPC calibration factor to be applied across the range of larger particle sizes where the detection efficiency is relatively constant (the plateau efficiency), and to characterize the drop in CPC detection efficiency at small particle sizes, near the lower detection limit. These parameters are described in more detail in Annex A. The methods are suitable for CPCs whose inlet flows are between approximately 0,1 l/min and 5 l/min. This International Standard describes a method for estimating the uncertainty of a CPC calibration performed according to this International Standard.

ISO 15900:2009 provides guidelines on the determination of aerosol particle size distribution by means of the analysis of electrical mobility of aerosol particles. This measurement is usually called “differential electrical mobility analysis for aerosol particles”. This analytical method is applicable to particle size measurements ranging from approximately 1 nm to 1 µm. ISO 15900:2009 does not address the specific instrument design or the specific requirements of particle size distribution measurements for different applications, but includes the calculation method of uncertainty.