Demonstration of soot particle resizing in an ethylene flame by small angle x-ray scattering

The size distribution of soot nanoparticles in an ethylene flame has been mapped in an in situ small angle x-ray scattering measurement at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. It has been seen that an abrupt size distribution change occurs at about a third of the flame’s visible height and this is believed to be due to the oxidation and dehydrogenation of the particles.