Effects of alcoholic solvents on particle size distribution of e-cigarette aerosol

The aim of this study is to compare particle size distribution (PSD) of electronic cigarettes (E-cigarette) aerosol with different alcoholic solvents, including alcohol, n-propanol, n-butanol, ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,2-butanediol, glycerol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG200), and polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400). Effects of ratio of the most popular alcoholic solvents, propylene glycol and glycerol, in mixed liquid were also studied. Measurements were conducted by electrical low pressure impactor (ELPI) under same voltage during puffing. Results showed that: 1) The particle number concentration of alcohol, n-propanol, n-butanol, ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,2-butanediol showed a single peak curve with the range of 0.02-0.05μm, and the peak value was in the order: alcohol≤ n-propanol <n-butanol, ethylene glycol<1,2-propanediol