Researchers at the Institute of Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Zabrze conducted a study on the effect of filter cutting on the accuracy of particulate matter (PM) analysis. They used advanced measurement techniques, including gravimetric weighing, Karl Fischer (KF) titration and ion chromatography. One of the key tools used in the study was the MYA 5.5Y.F1 Microbalance, which provides extremely accurate mass measurements of even the smallest samples.

Purpose of the Study

The aim of the study was to determine to what extent filter cutting affects the accuracy of PM analysis and thus the reliability of measurement results. Samples were taken at an urban background pollution site in Zabrze, collecting PM1 and PM2.5 fractions. After exposure, the filters were weighed under controlled conditions and further analysed.

Results and Key Findings

The use of the MYA 5.5Y.F1 Microbalance made it possible to accurately determine the mass loss resulting from filter cutting. It turned out that this process leads to significant material losses:

• For PM1 filters, the average loss was 0.060 ± 0.073 mg, corresponding to a loss of approximately 3.34-3.54% of the deposited dust mass
• For PM2.5 filters, the loss was higher, reaching 0.192 ± 0.142 mg, corresponding to a loss of 5.96-9.65%.

In addition, analysis of the variation in the water content of the samples showed that it is the moisture content that has a greater influence on the accuracy of the measurements than the filter cut itself.

Significance of the Results

The study showed that filter cutting can lead to significant material loss, which in turn can affect the accuracy of the particulate mass assessment. This is why it is so important to use top-of-the-range measuring equipment that allows precise analysis of even minimal mass differences. The MYA 5.5Y.F1 Microbalance proved to be an indispensable tool, as it enabled a reliable assessment of mass loss during the analysis of environmental samples.

The results of this study represent an important step towards improving both PM analysis methods and filter cutting procedures in order to minimise measurement errors.

The article, co-authored by: Dmytro Chyzhykov, Kamila Widziewicz-Rzońca and Barbara Mathews was published in “Chemosphere”, Volume 374, April 2025, 144177, and can be read in full here.