Methods for the selective sampling of diesel particulate in mine dust aerosols

This paper describes an investigation into time-integrated and real-time methods for determining the diesel exhaust particulate concentration in underground mines, particularly coal mines. The microorifice uniform deposit impactor is recommended for obtaining the time-integrated measurement of the size distribution. The mass concentration of diesel exhaust particles can be obtained from the particle size distribution of mine aerosols. On a mass basis, diesel exhaust particles are primarily in the submicrometer size range while coal dust particles are larger. Size distribution measurements made in the laboratory and in three underground coal mines exhibited two distinct modes with the diesel exhaust particles in the smaller particle mode and the coal particles in the larger particle mode.