Filter Handling and Exchange
Pre-Sampling Filter Equilibration
3-2
Partisol 2000
i
and Partisol 2000
i
-D Instruction Manual
Thermo Fisher Scientific
use of Pallflex TX40 (Teflon coated glass fiber) filters, quartz fiber filters
and Teflon material for PM
10
sampling.
The Partisol 2000
i
-D is specifically designed for sampling PM
2.5
and
PM
coarse
and as such the use of 47-mm diameter, 2 m pore-size Teflon
filters must be used for U.S. EPA regulatory sampling for both the fine and
coarse samples. Other types of filters or filter materials may be used for
other types of sampling, or depending upon local regulations.
Ensure that your filters are clean and do not touch them with your fingers.
Filters should be stored at the laboratory in petri dishes or some other
protective housing, and should be transported to and from the sampling
site in the a filter cassette in the provided sample transport container.. Use
non-serrated forceps to handle the 47 mm filters.
Inspect each filter visually for integrity before use. Check for the following:
●
Pinholes
●
Chaff or flashing
●
Loose material
●
Discoloration
●
Non-uniformity
Use the following procedure to equilibrate the 47 mm filters before use.
Refer to the U.S. EPA 2.12
Quality Assurance Handbook
, Section 7 for
additional details on filter handling and equilibration. Use petri dishes to
store filters in the laboratory.
1.
Place a label on the cover of each petri dish and number each dish.
2.
Place the petri dish cover under
the bottom half of the dish.
3.
Place each inspected filter into a separate petri dish.
4.
Record the filter number, relative humidity, temperature, date and time
at the beginning of equilibration.
5.
Equilibrate each filter for at least
24 hours under the following
conditions:
The equilibration room must be held at a constant relative humidity
between 30% and 40% relative humidity, with a variability of not more
Pre-Sampling
Filter Equilibration
