Particle-size analysis of aeolian dusts, soils and sediments in very small quantities using a Coulter Multisizer

Abstract

The Coulter Multisizer has clearly defined strengths and weaknesses as a particle-sizing instrument. It is easier to operate than its Coulter predecessors, though less so than several of its competitors. The Multisizer is best suited to handle very small samples with a narrow particle-size range, such as aeolian dusts and other sediments available only in small quantities. For such samples, Multisizer analysis times are short, resolution is very high (256 size classes) and reproducibility is good. The Multisizer is less well suited to soils and other samples available in large quantities and with a broad particle-size range. For soil particle-size analyses a composite method is proposed involving: Multisizer (2-75 µm), Pipette (<2 µm) and Sieve (>75 µm).

Effects of soil moisture and dried raindroplet crust on saltation and dust emission

“… Shao [2001] showed this phenomenon accounted for p m ( D ). Figures 13 and 14 show p m ( D ) and p f ( D ) as determined by the Coulter Multisizer particle counter method [ McTainsh et al , 1997] at different times (on 12 and 13 March). The maximum particle size was set at 1000 μ m. The samples were collected from 0 to 0.5 cm depth from the eroded uncrusted surface before precipitation r 1 on 12 March (labeled A in Figure 5) and from the weakly crusted surface after precipitation r 4 on 13 March (labeled B in Figure 5).…”

“…Minimally dispersed measurement is an excellent technique to measure the undisturbed, in situ PSD formed aggregates or coat the sand particles and to identify changes in the finer particle range. This was measured with a Coulter Multisizer particle counter, which analyze the PSD with high resolution and classifies the sample according to 256 particle size classes from 1 μ m to the size range of the top class (500–1200 μ m) depending on the experimental setting [ McTainsh et al , 1997]. The PSD of the parent soil at the size was bimodal with population peaks at 173 and 570 μ m as determined by the MIX curve fitting method [ Leys et al , 2005].…”

Soil abrasion and eolian dust production: Implications for iron partitioning and solubility

“…Figure 1 and section 2.2 give an overview of some of the abrasion processes. Particle Size Distributions (PSDs) were determined by dry sieving and by Coulter Multisizer [after McTainsh et al , 1997]. Minimally dispersed PSDs are produced by suspending samples in an electrolyte solution alone and measure particles and stable aggregates.…”

Predictive Soil Provenancing (PSP): An Innovative Forensic Soil Provenance Analysis Tool

“…Data from often‐small evidentiary (forensic) samples need to match the selected attributes discussed above. Soil total N can be determined on as little as 1 mg of sample (modified Pregl–Dumas method), total P requires 0.6 g of sample (fusion X‐ray fluorescence), soil pH can be determined on <0.1 g of sample (colorimetry or microelectrode potentiometry), and soil texture requires <0.2 g of sample (Coulter counter/Multisizer method) . Thus, a minimum sample size of 1 g is sufficient to provide a determination of the selected properties, though a larger amount would allow replicates to be analyzed, thus improving precision.…”