State of the art and a few perspectives of particle aerosolization testing in view of release prevention
Résumé
The use of particulate systems requires the development of tools enabling studying the risks to consumer, worker and the environment respectively. Recent developments have focused on addressing particulate systems, mainly constituting of nanoobjects. Investigating the exposure of consumers, workers and the environment must be based on the relationship between a precise release principle and a situation encountered in the respective field. Considering dustiness testing as an example, till date, the methods of aerosolization are based on known principles such as fall of powder, rotation of a cylinder and agitation of a tube. Major techniques, for studying both powders and nanopowders will be presented in this communication. A major focus will be on the vortex shaker method, which is one of the emerging and promising techniques dedicated to nanopowder studies. Few physical parameters, linked to the shaker function, appear to fundamentally influence the aerosolization process. Furthermore, the potential of the vortex shaker will be discussed for determining the dustiness of a powder as well as an atmosphere generating tool for experimental toxicology. Lastly, an emerging concept that the dustiness testing could support safe-by-design of powder will be discussed on the basis of new results in the field of nanopowders.