The hygroscopic behaviour of individual aerosol particles in nickel refineries as investigated by environmental scanning electron microscopy

Abstract

The hygroscopic properties of individual aerosol particles (1–35 μm equivalent projected area diameter) from the Roasting, Anode Casting and Electrorefining Departments of two Ni refineries were studied by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX) at a relative humidity of 96–98% (at a temperature of 5 °C). In the Roasting and Anode Casting Departments, most particles (60–85% by number) showed no visible change in size or surface morphology when exposed to high relative humidity. Approximately 15–30% of the particles developed a thin water film (growth factors between 1.006 and 1.06) indicating the presence of thin surface coatings of sulfates. About 10% of the particles in the Roasting Department formed droplets (growth factors between 1.1 and 2.6) which always contained a large portion of insoluble material. In the Electrorefining Department, most particles (≈60%) were residues from the electrolysis bath solution. At a relative humidity of 96–98% these particles formed a solution which contained only small insoluble inclusions. About 30% of the particles in the Electrorefining Department developed thin water films. As only a small fraction of the particles increased substantially in size when exposed to high relative humidity, the deposition pattern of the total aerosol mass fraction will not be changed substantially by hygroscopic growth. The frequent occurrence of thin surface coatings of soluble material on insoluble Ni compounds has to be considered for health assessment purposes.