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As per the standards by US EPA, PTFE filter paper of 2micrometer pore size, 46.2mm dia can be used. But the choice of filter paper depends upon the research objective. Less costlier filter papers like nylon, GF, quartz etc also can be used. It is better to refer the catalogue as they clearly mentions the nature of study associated with a filter paper, for which it can be used.
PM2.5 refers to fine particles that are 2.5 micrometers (μm) or smaller in diameter. Ambient air is defined as any unconfined part of the Earth’s atmosphere, that the surrounding outdoor air in which humans and other organisms live and breathe.
The quality of filter papers to be used should be 47mm (diameter) polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filter paper with Polypropylene support ring manufactured by M/s Whatman or M/s Pall Life Sciences or equivalent having 2 μm pore sizes. The filter papers should have very low background concentrations for ion and elements.
Principle: An electrically powered air sampler draws ambient air at a constant volumetric flow rate (16.7 lpm) maintained by a mass flow / volumetric flow controller coupled to a microprocessor into specially designed inertial particle-size separator (i.e. cyclones or impactors) where the suspended particulate matter in the PM2.5 size ranges is separated for collection on a 47 mm polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filter over a specified sampling period.
The filter paper is weighed before and after sample collection to get the net weight due to the particulate matter. The mass concentration in the ambient air is calculated as the total mass of collected particles in the PM2.5 size ranges divided by the actual volume of air sampled, and is expressed in μg/m3.
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