Air pollution is recognized as one of the main risk factors for premature deaths and hospital admissions worldwide. Particulate matter (PM) affects strongly the quality of the air both outdoors and indoors. An aerosol is defined in its simplest form as a collection of solid or liquid particles suspended in a gas. Aerosols are also referred to as suspended particulate matter, aerocolloidal systems, and disperse systems. These aerosols affect visibility, climate, and our health and quality of life. Once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects. Aerosols, solid or liquid particles suspended in the air, play important roles in atmospheric sciences and air pollution. Material synthesis can be carried out by means of aerosol reactors, i.e. systems in which particulates are made by gas phase chemical reactions. Bioaerosols are another important area of application for aerosol technology, covering disease transmission. Nanotechnologies rely on instrumentation able to produce, sample, control and control airborne nanoparticles. This course covers aerosol mechanical, optical and electrical properties, and measurement and control technologies and their relationship with air quality.

The students understand the effects of airborne particulate on outdoor and indoor air quality. The students gain fundamental knowledge on laws governing mechanical, optical and electrical properties of aerosols. Aerosol behaviors including diffusion, coagulation, condensation, charging and evaporation are discussed. The students understand basic principles to generate, sample, measure and control airborne particles. The students learn state-of-the-art instruments for air-borne particles from micrometer to nanometer size range. The students learn about non-exhaust vehicle emissions and their impact on urban atmospheric pollution and on human health. The students learn how to model indoor particulate matter concentration and its control.

Basic concepts of Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics as obtained in the bachelor's degree program. Mandatory precedence of Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer courses

PART A (15 hours) Aerosol fundamentals Gas and particle motion Particle size statistics Coagulation Condensation and evaporation Optical properties Electrical properties Laboratory (3 hours) PART B (9 hours) Sampling and measurement of concentration Mass concentration and single particle analysis Respiratory deposition Laboratory (3 hours) PART C (9 hours) Air quality guidelines and data Classes of air contaminants Vehicle non-exhaust emissions (brakes, tires, batteries) Air quality in subway systems PART D (15 hours) Particulate Matter Control Separation devices Electrostatic precipitators Fibrous filters Measurement of the performance of air cleaning devices Choice criteria Laboratory (6 hours) PART E (12 hours) Indoor air quality Airborne particulate contaminants found in indoor environments and their impact on human health Model for indoor PM control Laboratory (3 hours)

Students will be given the opportunity to develop a hands-on project about particulate matter monitoring or measurement.

Experimental activities will support theoretical lectures and application exercises related to the focus of the students’ study plan. Laboratory practice will help learn measurement techniques of airborne particles and understand mechanism of particle generation, transport and loss. The students will understand control technologies of airborne pollutants and learn how to choose among them. The students in teams will develop a research project related to an aerosol technology topic, with focus on air quality assessment and control. Students will develop a technical research report describing their motivation, literature review, methods, and results, and will summarize their research with a classroom presentation at the end of the semester. A guided visit to a measuring station and to a manufacturing facility will be carried out during the course.

Hinds W.C., Aerosol Technology: Properties, Behavior, and Measurement of Airborne Particles, Wiley, 1999. Seinfeld J.H., Pandis S.N., Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics - from Air Pollution to Climate Change, Wiley, 2006. Lecture notes.

Modalità di esame: Prova orale obbligatoria; Elaborato scritto prodotto in gruppo;

With reference to the above-mentioned project, students are expected to perform a detailed analysis and format their report as a formal research article/conference paper. As part of the exam, students will complete a final report (approximately one week in advance) and give a final presentation at the end of the semester. That includes also answering questions and clarifying doubts. The final mark is based on the quality of the outcome of the project and of its discussion (50% of the final mark). This part is intended to assess the student's ability to understand and put into practice the knowledge provided by the lectures and the laboratories. Two other specific questions about their experimental activities and the theoretical aspects presented throughout the semester will contribute to determine the final mark. This part has the purpose of evaluating the knowledge assimilated that cannot be evaluated through the project and its presentation.

Modalità di esame: Prova orale obbligatoria; Elaborato scritto prodotto in gruppo;

With reference to the above-mentioned project, students are expected to perform a detailed analysis and format their report as a formal research article/conference paper. As part of the exam, students will complete a final report (approximately one week in advance) and give a final presentation at the end of the semester. That includes also answering questions and clarifying doubts. The final mark is based on the quality of the outcome of the project and of its discussion (50% of the final mark). This part is intended to assess the student's ability to understand and put into practice the knowledge provided by the lectures and the laboratories. Two other specific questions about their experimental activities and the theoretical aspects presented throughout the semester will contribute to determine the final mark. This part has the purpose of evaluating the knowledge assimilated that cannot be evaluated through the project and its presentation.