Feasibility Study of 3D Printed Materials for an Ammonia Emission Passive Sampler

Abstract

Ammonia (NH3) emission accounts for a loss of 10 to 60% of the total nitrogen input in rice fields. NH3 in the air reacts with sulphuric acid, nitric acid and hydrochloric acid to form ammonium salt, which increases the concentration of PM2.5 particles in the atmosphere. These fine particles can cause respiratory problems. A reliable NH3 sampler is important in order to quantify the NH3 emission. The objective of this study is to evaluate the suitability of three 3D printed materials, namely acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polylactic acid (PLA) and polypropylene (PP) compared to stainless steel and glass, as the interior material of an NH3 passive sampler for use with the chemical-trap approach; Stainless steel and glass are typically used for construction of the NH3 passive sampler. The sample plates were coated with acetone with 3% oxalic acid and tested in closed static chambers with three different NH3 sources. ABS, PP and PLA tolerated the acetone solution with PP being the least reactive. However, PP heavily warped during 3D-printing resulting in a deformed shape. Performance of coated ABS plates in trapping NH3 is similar to stainless steel and glass plates.

Keywords

• Ammonia volatilization
• passive sampler
• 3D printing