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Guidelines for the Application of SEM/EDX Analytical Techniques to Particulate Matter Samples.

PB2004100988

Publication Date	2002
Personal Author	Willis, R. D.; Blanchard, F. T.; Conner, T. L.
Page Count	128
Abstract	Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with Energy-Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) is a powerful tool in the characterization and source apportionment of environmental particulate matter (PM), providing use, chemistry, and morphology of particles as small as a few tenths of a micron. Such information can reveal information about emission sources which cannot be determined through bulk chemical analysis. Automated SEMs capable of routinely analyzing hundreds of particles per hour have dramatically increased the throughput of SEM/EDX, making it feasible to conduct statistically meaningful analyses of PM samples and to generate large data sets for source apportionment studies. The National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) of the U.S. EPA has been developing and evaluating the use of SEM/EDX to characterize ambient and source-derived particles. The present document, which evolved over several years as a product of research carried out in support of the U.S. EPA/NERL SEM/EDX Laboratory, is intended to provide guidelines for researchers using SEM/EDX for aerosol characterization and source apportionment. Topics include laboratory procedures for sample handling, sample preparation, guidelines for successful manual and automated SEM/EDX analyses, data interpretation, issues relating to data quality and method validation, and case studies highlighting the use of SEM/EDX in PM research.
Keywords	Particulate matter Laboratory procedures Aerosols Size Chemistry Morphology Source apportionment Guidelines Analytical techniques Emission sources Statistical analysis Data sets Scanning electron microscopy Energy-dispersive x-ray analysis SEM/EDX
Source Agency	Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development
Corporate Authors	ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC.; Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC. National
Supplemental Notes	This document is color dependent and/or in landscape layout. It is currently available on CD-ROM and paper only. CD-ROM contains a 128 page document. Sponsored by Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC. National Exposure Research Lab.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	200407

Guidelines for the Application of SEM/EDX Analytical Techniques to Particulate Matter Samples.

Guidelines for the Application of SEM/EDX Analytical Techniques to Particulate Matter Samples.
PB2004100988

Publication Date	2002
Personal Author	Willis, R. D.; Blanchard, F. T.; Conner, T. L.
Page Count	128
Abstract	Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with Energy-Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) is a powerful tool in the characterization and source apportionment of environmental particulate matter (PM), providing use, chemistry, and morphology of particles as small as a few tenths of a micron. Such information can reveal information about emission sources which cannot be determined through bulk chemical analysis. Automated SEMs capable of routinely analyzing hundreds of particles per hour have dramatically increased the throughput of SEM/EDX, making it feasible to conduct statistically meaningful analyses of PM samples and to generate large data sets for source apportionment studies. The National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) of the U.S. EPA has been developing and evaluating the use of SEM/EDX to characterize ambient and source-derived particles. The present document, which evolved over several years as a product of research carried out in support of the U.S. EPA/NERL SEM/EDX Laboratory, is intended to provide guidelines for researchers using SEM/EDX for aerosol characterization and source apportionment. Topics include laboratory procedures for sample handling, sample preparation, guidelines for successful manual and automated SEM/EDX analyses, data interpretation, issues relating to data quality and method validation, and case studies highlighting the use of SEM/EDX in PM research.
Keywords	Particulate matter Laboratory procedures Aerosols Size Chemistry Morphology Source apportionment Guidelines Analytical techniques Emission sources Statistical analysis Data sets Scanning electron microscopy Energy-dispersive x-ray analysis SEM/EDX
Source Agency	Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development
Corporate Authors	ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC.; Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC. National
Supplemental Notes	This document is color dependent and/or in landscape layout. It is currently available on CD-ROM and paper only. CD-ROM contains a 128 page document. Sponsored by Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC. National Exposure Research Lab.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	200407