Characterization of Truck-Mounted Atomization Equipment Typically Used in Vector Control

Abstract

The control of medically important arthropod vectors of human and animal disease is a high priority for both public health and military officials. Because droplet size of pesticide spray material is a critical factor affecting vector control applications, the droplet-size spectra produced by 11 sprayers and 3 spray formulations were evaluated. Droplet-size spectra were measured by a laser diffraction instrument, a hot-wire system, and rotating slides. There were considerable differences in the droplet-size spectra produced by the different sprayers tested. The volume median diameter (Dv0.5) for the water-based sprays ranged from 4.7 to 211 micrometers, depending on the sprayer, and the percent of spray volume contained in droplets less than 20 gm (%vol <20 gm) ranged between 0.5% and 98.9%. The Dv0.5 measurements for the oil-based sprays ranged from 9.4 to 125.3 gm and the %vol <20 micrometers ranged between 2.4% and 97.9%. The correlations between the Dv0. measured by the laser system (Dv0.-laser and the mass median diameter, Sauter diameter, and Dv0. measured by the AIMS probe were all significant. Generally, the slide Dv0.5s were numerically similar to the Dv0. from the laser system and the Sauter diameter from the Army Insecticide Measuring System probe. There was less consistent agreement between the % <32 micrometer values obtained from the slides and those from the other 2 samplers. The information presented can be used by applicators to select the sprayer that produces the droplet-size spectra needed for their particular application situation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADA498471

Entities

People

  • B. K. Fritz
  • D. E. Martin
  • D. Szumlas
  • J. A. Barber
  • T. Gwinn
  • T. W. Walker
  • V. L. Smith
  • W.c. Hoffmann
  • Y. Lan

Organizations

  • Texas A&M University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Atomization
  • Department Of Defense
  • Diameters
  • Health
  • Hot Wire
  • Insect Control
  • Insecticides
  • Internal Combustion Engines
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Pest Control
  • Pesticides
  • Physical Properties
  • Public Health
  • Surface Tension
  • Test Equipment
  • Test Methods

Fields of Study

  • Agricultural and Food sciences

Readers

  • Aerosol Science/Aerosol Physics
  • Vector-Borne Disease and Entomology

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy