Efficiency and loading characteristics of EPA's high-temperature quartz fiber filter media.

It was experimentally demonstrated that Gelman Type A and "Microquartz" filters are efficient collectors of nonvolatile particles at high temperatures. Submicron particles penetrated more than large particles, and most at the highest filtration velocity tested of 51 cm/sec. In all tests, however, aerosol penetration was never more than about 0.10%. Nonvolatile particles penetrated less with increasing temperature filter loading. Particles with vaporization points below the sampling temperature, including H2SO4, can vaporize, pass through the glass fiber filters, and then recondense when cooled below their dew points. Therefore, the definition of "particulate matter" must be based upon a prescribed temperature. Hot stack gases, sampled at different filter temperatures, should not necessarily be comparable. Particulate emission standards must involve a suitable reference temperature to allow proper enforcement. Filtration efficiencies calculated by theoretical equations change dramatically with small changes in assumed average filter fiber diameter and/or particle size (or size distribution) used in the calculations. Pinholes not visible to the naked eye do not appear to effect penetration of glass fiber filters enough to significantly alter stack sampling results. Effect of temperature on filtration of non-volatile particles simply resulted in an increasing collection of submicron particles with increasing temperature. The main problems encountered at elevated temperatures were vaporization of volatile particles and mechanical leakage of the filter holder.