Beta Ray Absorption Method for Measurement

Respirable Particulate Matter

Beta-GaugeMethod
Particulate matter is collected on high efficiency glass fiber filter tape, through which the
sample air is drawn. The filter tape runs between a radioactive source (emitting B
-radiation) and a detection device. The mass of particulate is estimated from the
observed absorption of B radiation1. Measuring instruments for ambient air.

1.3. Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM)

Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) is solid and liquid particle suspended in ambient air of
which particle size is not more than 10 micro-m.
Beta attenuation monitoring (BAM) is a widely used air monitoring technique
employing the absorption of beta radiation. by solid particles extracted from air flow.
This technique allows for the detection of PM10 and PM2.5, which are monitored as
standards by most air pollution regulatory agencies. The main principle is based on a
kind ofBouguer (LambertBeer) law:
Beta particles are high-energy, high-speed electrons or positrons emitted by certain
types of radioactive nuclei, such as potassium-40. The beta particles emitted are a form
of ionizing radiation also known as beta rays. The production of beta particles is
termed beta decay. They are designated by the Greek letter beta (). There are two
forms of beta decay, and +, which respectively give rise to the electron and the
positron. The amount by which the flow of beta radiation (electrons) is attenuated by
a solid matter is exponentially dependent on its mass and not on any other feature
(such as density, chemical composition or some optical or electrical properties) of this
matter. So, the air is drawn from outside of the detector through an "infinite" (cycling)
ribbon made from some filtering material so that the particles are collected on it. There
are two sources of beta radiation placed one before and one after the region where air
flow passes through the ribbon leaving particles on it; and there are also two detectors
on the opposite side of the ribbon, facing the detectors. The sources'intensity and
detectors' sensitivity being the same (or corrected with appropriate calibration lookup
table), the intensity of beta rays detected by one of detectors is compared to that of the
other. Thus one can deduce how much mass has the ribbon acquired upon being
exposed to air flow; knowing the drain velocity, actual particle mass concentration in air
could be assessed.
The radiation source can be a gas chamber, filled with 86Kr gas, or a pieces of 14C-rich
polymer plastic, such as PMMA. Detector is simply a GeigerMueller counter. The
particulate matter content measured is affected by the moisture content in the air,
unfortunately.

the amount by which the flow of beta radiation (electrons) is attenuated by a solid
matter is exponentially dependent on its mass and not on any other feature (such
as density, chemical composition or some optical or electrical properties) of this matter.
So, the air is drawn from outside of the detector through an "infinite" (cycling) ribbon
made from some filtering material so that the particles are collected on it. There are two
sources of beta radiation placed one before and one after the region where air flow
passes through the ribbon leaving particles on it; and there are also two detectors on
the opposite side of the ribbon, facing the detectors. The sources'intensity and
detectors' sensitivity being the same (or corrected with appropriate calibration lookup
table), the intensity of beta rays detected by one of detectors is compared to that of the
other. Thus one can deduce how much mass has the ribbon acquired upon being
exposed to air flow; knowing the drain velocity, actual particle mass concentration in air
could be assessed.
The radiation source can be a gas chamber, filled with 86Kr gas, or a pieces of 14C-rich
polymer plastic, such as PMMA. To discriminate between particle of different sizes (e.
g., between PM10 and PM2.5), some preliminary separation could be accomplished, for
example, by cyclone battery.
A similar method exists, where instead of beta particle flow an X-ray Fluorescence
Spectroscopic monitoring is applied on the either side of air flow contact with the ribbon.
This allows to obtain not only cumulative measurement of particle mass, but also to
detect their average chemical composition (technique works for potassium and
elements heavier than it).
The relationship between intensity of beta-ray transmitted and dust quantity is expressed by the
following equation
I = Io exp(-um/Xm)
I : Beta-ray intensity transmitted through filter and particulate
Io : Beta-ray intensity transmitted only through filter
um : Mass absorption coefficient (cm2/g)
Xm : Mass of particulate matter (g/cm2)
From this equation, the mass of SPM is calculate as
Xm = 1/um ln(Io/I)
Also the concentration of SPM is expressed as
C = S/VXm 103 = (S/V)(1/um)ln(Io/I) 103
C : Concentration of SPM (mg/m3)
S : Collection area (cm2)
V : Air aspiration volume (m3)

Beta Radiation

Alpha radiation consists of helium nuclei and is readily stopped by a sheet of paper. Beta radiation,
consisting of electrons or positrons, is halted by an aluminum plate. Gamma radiation is damped by lead.

Bouguer (LambertBeer):
The BeerLambert law, also known as Beer's law, the LambertBeer law, or
the BeerLambertBouguer law relates the attenuation of light to the properties of the
material through which the light is traveling. The law is commonly applied to chemical
analysis measurements and used in understanding attenuation in physical optics, for
photons, neutrons or rarefied gases.

PMMA:
Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is a transparent thermoplastic often used in sheet
form as a lightweight or shatter-resistant alternative to soda-lime glass. The same
material can be utilised as a casting resin; in inks and coatings, and also has other
uses.

GeigerMueller counter.
he GeigerMller counter, also called a Geiger counter, is an instrument used for
measuring ionizing radiation used widely in such applications as radiation
dosimetry, radiological protection, experimental physics and the nuclear industry.
It detects ionizing radiation such as alpha particles, beta particles and gamma
rays using the ionization effect produced in a GeigerMller tube; which gives its name

to the instrument. In wide and prominent use as a hand-held radiation survey

instrument, it is perhaps one of the world's best-known radiation detection instruments.
GeigerMller counter

A "two-piece" bench type GeigerMller

counter with end-window detector.
Other names

Geiger counter

Uses

Particle detector

Inventor

Hans
Walther Mller

Related items

GeigerMller tube

Geiger

X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopic:

A Philips PW1606 X-ray fluorescence spectrometer with automated sample feed in a

cement plant quality control laboratory

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is the emission of characteristic "secondary" (or

fluorescent) X-rays from a material that has been excited by bombarding with highenergy X-rays orgamma rays. The phenomenon is widely used for elemental
analysis and chemical
analysis,
particularly
in
the
investigation
of metals, glass, ceramics and
building
materials,
and
for
research
in geochemistry, forensic science and archaeology.
Beta attenuation monitoring

The schematic of a beta attenuation monitor (BAM). The detector allows to assess
cumulative mass concentration of suspended particulate matter (PM) in the ambient air.
Notation: 1 air inlet; 2 cycling ribbon; 3 and 4 beta radiation sources; D1 and D2
beta radiation detectors; 5 air pump; 6 air exhaust

Applications
Immissions measuring systems for monitoring fine dust
Mobile immissions-measuring
Dust measurement in health and safety applications
Interior dust measurements
Measurement and collection of dust particles for heavy metal analysis
Long-term background studies in ambient dust concentration
Dust measurement and collection at problem sites and repositories
Dust measurement for secondary emission of repositories (e.g. coal)
Dust measurement in supply air and exhaust