ROLE OF ZETA POTENTIAL IN AEROSOL PARTICLE AGGREGATION AND DEPOSITION: IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Aerosol particles play an essential role in ambient air quality, climate change, and human environment especially on human health. This study therefore investigates particle size aggregation influence by zeta potential at pH activeness at its acidity, neutrality and basicity using optical particle counters, pH meter and stop watch in hourly interval for 8 hours at the Bayelsa State Ekeki intra-modern motor at random positions. The results show that, at total average of acidity, neutrality and basicity, the zeta potential and particle size aggregation were 22.9, 9.25, 30.5 mV and 4.83, 6.94. 3.0 μm respectively. On percentage, the total average zeta potential to pH total average acidity, neutrality and basicity were 36, 15, and 49 %, while acidity and basicity was 71 and 29 %. Similarly, the total average zeta potential to pH total average acidity, neutrality and basicity were 36, 15, and 49 %, while acidity and basicity records 71 and 29 %. Furthermore, the particle size aggregation to acidity, neutrality and basicity shows 33. 47 and 20 %, while acidity and basicity records 41 and 59 %. The results show that in the 8-hour investigation, zeta potential influences on the particle size aggregation were on basicity to neutrality to acidity which recorded as 3.0, 4.83 and 6.94 μm respectively, indicting possible deep penetration into the lungs as the particle size were less than 10 μm which can’t be filtered out by the nasal easily, therefore proves hazardous to personal exposures.