GRIMM - Model 5523-Ni -Aerosol Neutralizer

The GRIMM 5523-Ni aerosol neutralizer is based on the radioactive decay of Ni-63, that produces a bipolar ionic atmosphere by β- radiation. Irregularly charged particles (from ambient or lab generated) are brought into a defined stationary-state charge distribution, regardless of their initial charging state. Aerosol neutralizers based on radioactive sources are nearly maintenance free and well proven. The use and transport are however subject to legal restrictions and requires tedious bureaucracy. These efforts can be avoided by using the isotope Ni-63 with its extraordinary high radionuclide specific exemption limit of 100 MBq as it is a low energy beta emitter with low biological hazardousness. Therefore, no handling license is required1) for the GRIMM 5523-Ni with its nominal activity of 95MBq. In instrument inter-comparisons, the GRIMM 5523-Ni features good comparability with Kr-85 reference neutralizers.