Characterization of tandem aerosol classifiers for selecting particles: implication for eliminating the multiple charging effect

Abstract. Accurate particle classification plays a vital role in aerosol studies. Differential mobility analyzers (DMAs), centrifugal mass (CPMAs) and aerodynamic classifiers (AACs) are commonly used to select particles with specific diameter, diameter or mass, respectively. However, multiple charging effects cannot be entirely avoided when using either individual techniques tandem systems such as DMA–CPMA, especially selecting soot fractal structures. In this study, we calculate the transfer functions of DMA–CPMA DMA–AAC static configurations for flame-generated particles. We propose an equation that constrains resolutions DMA CPMA eliminate effect certain mass–mobility relationship system. The system is also derived. For configuration, our results show ability remove multiply charged mainly depends on morphology resolution settings CPMA. Using measurements from experiments literature data, general trend appearance decreasing size aspherical observed. As charges related classifiers. most cases, configuration can regardless morphology, but will selected AAC. potential influence should considered estimating size- mass-resolved optical properties field lab experiments.