Das RÄtsel der Exoelektronen Historie,gegenwärtiger Stand,Lösungsvorschläge

This paper deals with the history of exoelectron emission (EE), as well as with the experimental results and the attempts to explain them. The author concludes that thermally and optically stimulated EE (TSEE, OSEE) are different phenomena and that OSEE is mere photoeffect. The source of the energy causing the emission has been heatedly discussed. The author believes that most of the models can be ruled out by the fact that the activation energies do not depend on the nature of the metal nor on its oxide. He supposes the simplest model—direct thermal emission from surface traps—to be right. The author concludes that none of the excitation processes produces electron traps, as is often assumed. They only fill existing traps with electrons, e.g., radiation, mechanical treatment or a simple dip in water.     

Development of a Sample Equilibration System for the TEOM Continuous PM Monitor

ABSTRACT

In recent years, scientific discussion has included the influence of thermodynamic conditions (e.g., temperature, relative humidity, and filter face velocity) on PM retention efficiency of filter-based samplers and monitors. Method-associated thermodynamic conditions can, in some instances, dramatically influence the presence of particle-bound water and other light-molecular-weight chemical components such as particulate nitrates and certain organic compounds. The measurement of fine particle mass presents a new challenge for all PM measurement methods, since a relatively greater fraction of the mass is semi-volatile.

The tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) continuous PM monitor is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) PM₁₀ equivalent method (EQPM-1090-079). Several hundred of these monitors are deployed throughout the United States. The TEOM monitor has the unique characteristic of providing direct PM mass measurement without the calibration uncertainty inherent in mass surrogate methods. In addition, it provides high-precision, near-real-time continuous data automatically. Much attention has been given to semi-volatile species retention of the TEOM method.

While using this monitor, it is desirable to maintain as low an operating temperature as practical and to remove unwanted particle-bound water. A new sample equilibration system (SES) has been developed to allow conditioning of the PM sample stream to a lower humidity and temperature level. The SES incorporates a special low-particle-loss Nafion dryer. This paper discusses the configuration and theory of the SES. Performance results include high time-resolved PM_2.5 data comparison between a 30 °C sample stream TEOM monitor with SES and a standard 50 °C TEOM monitor. In addition, 24-hr integrated data are compared with data collected using an EPA PM_2.5 Federal Reference Method (FRM)-type sampler. The SES is a significant development because it can be applied easily to existing TEOM monitors.