Why is the Aerosol particle distribution lognormal?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the bias in aerosol particle diameter during production, suggesting that the size distribution tends to favor larger particles. This bias may be attributed to two primary mechanisms: larger particles can serve as sources for smaller particles, as seen in soot that starts large and diminishes in size through combustion, or smaller particles may agglomerate due to their zeta potential, leading to a predominance of larger sizes. This topic presents an intriguing opportunity for further research into aerosol production processes.
ILogtheNormal
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I understand this is primarily a phenomenological law from observations, but is there are reasoning why certain diameters are biased in the aerosol production process? What mechanisms are possible culprits for this biasing?

Thanks!
 
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Your guess is as good as mine but you might consider that an aerosol's size distribution is skewed toward bigger sizes because either the larger sizes are the source of the smaller particles (soot starts out large and burns up to reach a final size) or that the zeta potential of the smallest particles causes a preferential agglomeration into the larger sizes. Sounds like an interesting project for study.
 
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