Teng Guofeng^1，2， Yu Tongzhu¹， Gui Huaqiao^1，2， Yang Yixin^1，2， Dong Leyuan²， Wang Huanqin¹， Wang Jian²

1.Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics， Hefei Institutes of Physical Science， Chinese Academy of Sciences， Hefei 230031， China； 2.Institute of Environment， Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center， Hefei 230088， China

Abstract

Significance This study aims to review international and domestic research progress on techniques for measuring atmospheric aerosol particle mass concentration， summarize the major sources of error and their control methods， and analyze the applicable ranges and future development trends of each method.

Progress Recent research has shifted from evaluating the performance of individual instruments or measurement components to analyzing measurement biases caused by sampling processes， particle properties， and long-term operating conditions. Research on the filter-based gravimetric method has expanded from evaluating separator performance， sampling flow control， and filter weighing to investigating errors caused by adsorption， volatilization， and water uptake during sampling. Research on the tapered element oscillating microbalance method has primarily focused on losses of semi-volatile components caused by heated inlets and compensation for these losses， while maintenance costs remain high. Research on the beta attenuation method mainly addresses measurement biases under high humidity， at low concentrations， and when the sampling inlet is contaminated. Humidity control and sampling flow calibration are used to reduce these errors. Research on light scattering methods has progressed from calibrating individual instruments to correcting humidity effects， evaluating the applicability of calibration relationships across sites and seasons， establishing quality control procedures for monitoring networks， and measuring special particle sources such as coal dust， construction dust， and dust storms.

Conclusions and Prospects Filter-based gravimetric method remains the basis for reference measurements because it directly determines collected mass， supports traceability and uncertainty evaluation， and preserves samples for chemical analysis. Its long sampling period， however， limits the characterization of short-term concentration variations. The tapered element oscillating microbalance method and beta attenuation method provide continuous measurements and are suitable for routine ambient monitoring， provided that heating， humidity， low-loading response， flow stability， and instrument condition are controlled. Light scattering instruments offer rapid response， portability， and economical multi-site deployment， but their indirect mass estimates require local or source-specific calibration. Therefore， method selection should reflect the required temporal resolution， concentration range， aerosol type， environmental conditions， and purpose of the observations.

Keywords： atmospheric aerosol； mass concentration； gravimetric method； beta attenuation method； tapered element oscillating microbalance method； light scattering method

Get Citation:Teng Guofeng， Yu Tongzhu， Gui Huaqiao， et al. Research progress on measurement technologies for atmospheric aerosol particle mass concentration［J］. China Powder Science and Technology， 2027， 33（2）： 1-14.

Funding： This research was supported by the National Science and Technology Major Project for Integrated Environmental Improvement in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region (Grant No. 2025ZD1201200), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 42577118), and the Research Team Development Project of the Institute of Environment, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center (Grant No. HYKYTD2024006).