Oil refinery dusts: morphological and size analysis by TEM

• Published in: Analytical & bioanalytical chemistry (Print) Vol. 399; no. 9; pp. 3261 - 3270
• Main Authors: Sielicki, Przemysław, Janik, Helena, Guzman, Agnieszka, Broniszewski, Mieczysław, Namieśnik, Jacek
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag 01.03.2011; Springer-Verlag; Springer
• Subjects: Aerosols/particulates; Air Pollutants - chemistry; Air/gases; Analysis; Analysis methods; Analytical Chemistry; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Atmospherics; Biochemistry; Carbon; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Dust; Dust - analysis; Dust control; Electron/ion microprobe; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Exact sciences and technology; Food Science; Industrial hygiene; Laboratory Medicine; Micrographs; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission - methods; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Original Paper; Particle Size; Petroleum refineries; Photomicrographs; Pollution; Refineries; sampling; Software; Transmission electron microscopy; Aerosols/particulates; Industrial hygiene; Software; Electron/ion microprobe; Sampling; Air/gases; Microscope; Collodion; Support; Soot; Size; Plant; Morphological analysis; Membrane; Vegetals; Sample; Use; Carbon; Atmospheric dust; Objective; Transmission electron microscopy; Treatment; Morphology; Parameter; Limit; Spherical particle; Surface area; Effluent
• ISSN: 1618-2642; 1618-2650
• DOI: 10.1007/s00216-010-4416-y

The objectives of this work were to develop a means of sampling atmospheric dusts on the premises of an oil refinery for electron microscopic study to carry out preliminary morphological analyses and to compare these dusts with those collected at sites beyond the refinery limits. Carbon and collodion membranes were used as a support for collection of dust particles straight on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) grids. Micrographs of the dust particles were taken at magnifications from ×4,000 to ×80,000 with a Tesla BS500 transmission electron microscope. Four parameters were defined on the basis of the micrographs: surface area, Feret diameter, circumference, and shape coefficient. The micrographs and literature data were used to classify the atmospheric dusts into six groups: particles with an irregular shape and rounded edges; particles with an irregular shape and sharp edges; soot and its aggregates; spherical particles; singly occurring, ultrafine dust particles; and particles not allocated to any of the previous five groups. The types of dusts found in all the samples were similar, although differences did exist between the various morphological parameters. Dust particles with the largest Feret diameter were present in sample 3 (mean, 0.739 μm)--these were collected near the refinery's effluent treatment plant. The particles with the smallest diameter were found in the sample that had been intended to be a reference sample for the remaining results (mean, 0.326 μm). The dust particles collected in the refinery had larger mean Feret diameters, even 100% larger, than those collected beyond it. Particles with diameters from 0.1 to 0.2 μm made up the most numerous group in all the samples collected in the refinery.