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Virginia Tech

Emission of Insoluble Mineral Particles from Ultrasonic Humidifiers

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Ultrasonic humidifier use is a potential source of human exposure to inhalable particulates. This paper focused on the behavior of insoluble iron oxides particles, and aluminum oxide particles in ultrasonic humidifiers. 10 mg/L Fe oxide particles and 5 mg/L Al oxide suspension solutions were added into tap water, as fill water for ultrasonic humidifiers operated for 14 hours. Denser, heavier particles of approximate 1.5 um diameter of iron or aluminum oxides accumulated in the humidifier reservoir. Smaller, suspended metal oxide particles of 0.22-0.57 um diameter were emitted as aerosols from humidifiers. Soluble anions and cations in tap water were present in the aerosols emitted from humidifiers. The results indicate that if suspended particles and dissolved minerals are present in source water, they will be transported in aerosolized waters.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
M. S.
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Civil Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2018

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Yao, Wenchuo
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Dietrich, Andrea M.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Marr, Linsey C.
  • Gallagher, Daniel L.

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:13543
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/99237

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Yao, Wenchuo. Emission of Insoluble Mineral Particles from Ultrasonic Humidifiers. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/99237