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Abstract

The invention provides a method for obtaining aerosol particle size distributions with a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) device comprising a differential mobility analyzer (DMA); which method comprises the stages:

(i) collecting a first data set of particle concentrations vs. size for a size range from a predetermined minimal size Dmin to an intermediate size Dt by varying a voltage applied to a DMA column of an SMPS from Vmin to Vt1 at a first sheath flow rate Qsh1;(ii) changing the sheath flow rate from the first sheath flow rate Qsh1 to a second sheath flow rate Qsh2;(iii) collecting a second data set of particle concentrations vs. size for a size range from the intermediate size Dt to a predetermined maximum size Dmax by varying the voltage applied to the DMA column of the SMPS from Vt2 to Vmax at the second sheath flow rate Qsh2;(iv) convolving the first data set from stage (i) using an apparatus function of the DMA and the sheath flow rates Qsh1 and Qsh2 in stage (ii);(v) combining the convolved data set from stage (iv) with the second data set from stage (iii) to form a merged data set corresponding to the size distribution from Dmin to Dmax; and(vi) deconvolving the merged data set to provide a size distribution for the full size range Dmin to Dmax.

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