On detection of nanoparticles below the sooting threshold

The focus of the current communication is on examining the detection efficiency of nanosized particles by means of commercial SMPS in order to assess the current limits of this technique in estimating the particles' concentration in nonsooting flames. The effect of diffusion losses in SMPS, in the probe, and in the sampling line on the analysis of nanoparticles is evaluated. Furthermore, the necessity of reducing the lower diameter detection limit of instruments below 3 nm in order to measure particles produced under nonsooting conditions is discussed.