Fractionator for size classification of aerosolized solid particulate matter

A system is developed for collecting kilogram quantities of size-fractionated particulate matter which can be subsequently used for biologic testing purposes. The apparatus consists of a series of two cyclones and a centripeter and yields four size fractions. When used over a 12-day period to classify fly ash from stack gas passed through the electrostatic precipitator of a coal-fired power plant, the collected fractions have volume median diameters of 20, 6.3, 3.2, and 2.2 ..mu..m with geometric standard deviations of approximately 1.8. A total of 8.08 kg of fly ash is collected.