Computer Controlled Scanning Electron Microscopy (CCSEM)
Computer-controlled SEM-EDX (CCSEM-EDX) can be used to analyze hundreds of particles an hour to determine elemental composition, size, and morphology.
Figure caption: (a) Aged-sulfate, aged-nitrate/sulfate, and partially aged sea spray aerosol (SSA) depicted as a function of size during two SSA-rich periods: June 10−13 (Event 1), July 3−8 (Event 2), and throughout the rest of SOAS (other). During these two events, SSA is present at both submicron and supermicron sizes. (b) Size-resolved SSA composition indicates the number fraction of SSA containing Cl, N, and/or S. The solid line corresponds to the number fraction containing the element, while the dashed line corresponds to the mole fraction per particle relative to sodium. Data collected using CCSEM.
Bondy, A. L.G; Wang, B.; Laskin, A.; Craig, R. L.G; Nhliziyo, M. V; Bertman, S. B.; Pratt, K. A.; Shepson, P. B.; Ault, A. P.* Inland Sea Spray Aerosol Transport and Incomplete Chloride Depletion: Varying Degrees of Reactive Processing Observed during SOAS. Environmental Science and Technology, 2017, 51 (17), 9533–9542. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b02085
CCSEM can be used to determine information about particle morphology in addition to particle composition.
Figure caption: Circularity distributions as a function of aerodynamic particle diameter, where a value of 1 is indicative of a perfect circle, of lake spray aerosol particles produced from the 2014 (a) Lake Michigan – Michigan City, (b) Lake Erie – Catawba, and (c) Lake Erie – Maumee freshwater samples, as measured by CCSEM.
May, N. W.; Olson, N. E.G; Panas, M.; Axson, J. L.P; Tirella, P. S.U; Kirpes, R. M.; Craig, R. L.G; Gunsch, M. J.; China, S.; Laskin, A.; Ault, A. P.*; Pratt, K. A.*Aerosol Emissions from Great Lakes Harmful Algal Blooms, Environmental Science & Technology, 2018, 52 (2), 397-405. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b03609