Investigation of optical characteristics and particle-size distribution of wood-smoke aerosols

The microstructure and optical characteristics of wood-smoke aerosols are studied as a function of the combustion regime, smoke-formation intensity, “aging” with time, artificial change in the relative air humidity, and particle temperature by the methods of polarization nephelometry, photoelectric counting, and electron microscopy. A three-fractional model of the particle-size distribution is proposed, and the role of each fraction in the stages of smoke formation and further changes is justified. It is shown that the governing factor for the formation of strongly absorbing particles (black-carbon content) is a combustion regime. The absorption parameters and the content of volatile components in black-carbon particles are estimated.