Sampling and characterization of nanoaerosols in different environments

Efficient sampling and characterization of nanoparticles have been challenging tasks in environmental research due to the limitations of regular analytical techniques (e.g., dynamic light scattering, and nuclear magnetic resonance and UV-Vis spectroscopies) especially the difficulties in their application to in situ and real-time monitoring, which are intrinsically related to the nanometer-size range. This critical overview aims at characterizing recent instrumental techniques (e.g., hygroscopic tandem-differential mobility analysis, thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry) for sampling and characterization of individual nanoaerosols in terms of their general operation principles, analytical parameters, advantages and limitations. We also discuss classification of this instrumentation based on off-line and/or in situ methods, and on physical and chemical characterization of nanoaerosols. Further, we summarize recent air-quality studies aimed at understanding the physical and chemical behavior of aerosols in different environments. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.