Particle Deposition Testing

Aerosol Science

Gravimetric and HPLC / GC tracer methods quantify deposited mass, while imaging heat-map software documents spatial coverage and uniformity for each study.

Purpose & when to use

Particle Deposition Testing measures how much aerosol deposits on a surface and where it lands. Coupons collect deposited material for gravimetric mass measurement or HPLC / GC tracer quantitation, while imaging software maps spatial patterns. Results are reported as deposited mass per area (mg/m²). ISO 17025 accreditation covers the analytical workflow. Use this service when delivered mass-per-area, overspray, or coverage uniformity drives the decision:

Nozzle, pump, or sprayer comparison using ASTM-aligned surface deposition mapping — outputs support disinfectant development and consumer-aerosol product claims under EPA registration programs.
Deposition quantification on coupons or anatomical models for antimicrobial spray products — HPLC / GC tracer methods link deposited mass to EPA efficacy endpoints.
Overspray and drift characterization for fogging systems — spatial maps and deposited-mass data inform containment and mitigation under EPA and OSHA guidance.
Coverage uniformity assessment on complex or shaped targets — imaging heat maps and location-specific coupon data support design optimization under ASTM E3133 method framing.

Use particle deposition testing when deposited mass-per-area or spatial coverage is the decision variable. Typical applications include disinfectant programs, overspray mitigation, fixture optimization, and other cases where surface loading is tied directly to a performance or safety claim.

Built for disinfectant, consumer, and occupational aerosol applications

Particle deposition testing spans device and product categories where surface loading and spatial coverage drive the regulatory or commercial decision — from disinfectant sprayers to room fogging systems and consumer aerosol products.

Spray disinfectantPump and trigger sprayers
Fogging systemRoom-applied aerosol foggers
Consumer aerosolPressurized spray products
Room air deviceWhole-room aerosol sources

Instrumentation & measurement ranges

We select the platform based on aerosol type, expected mass loading, and required sensitivity. Each instrument and method combination is defined during study planning and documented in the report.

1 – 10000 mm²surface-area

Deposition plates and coupons

Defined-area collection targets — flat coupons, panels, or shaped substrates that provide documented surface area for mass-per-area calculations.

0.01 – 500 mgmass-gain

Analytical balance (gravimetric)

Pre- and post-exposure weighing on calibrated analytical balances — suitable for moderate-to-high mass loadings where selectivity for the active is not required.

0.001 – 100 µgtracer-mass

Tracer quantitation (HPLC / GC)

Extraction followed by HPLC or GC assay — higher sensitivity and selectivity for complex matrices where gravimetry alone cannot resolve the active from background.

0.1 – 100 %coverage-area

Imaging and heat-map software

Digital imaging and spatial-mapping software to quantify coverage fraction, center-to-edge gradients, and coefficient of variation across the collection surface.

Test method options

Method	Strengths	Tradeoff	Aligned with
ASTM-aligned surface deposition mapping (coupon array)	Standardized structure under ASTM E2647 / E3133 — comparable outputs for disinfectant and antimicrobial registration packages. Supports predicate comparisons and nozzle-to-nozzle benchmarking with documented controls under ASTM method framing.	Requires purpose-built fixtures and replicate controls to match your use case — setup overhead increases for complex geometries.	ASTM E2647ASTM E3133
Tracer-based deposition quantification (HPLC / GC)	High analytical sensitivity and matrix selectivity — resolves active or tracer against background where gravimetry cannot distinguish deposited mass. Recovery-verified extraction workflow supports EPA registration and disinfectant efficacy submissions requiring traceable deposited-dose data.	Requires tracer selection, extraction optimization, and recovery verification before the campaign — adds setup time relative to gravimetry.	EPA overspray
Gravimetric deposition screening (mass balance)	Fast, low-cost screening for design iterations — no assay development needed when mass loading is sufficient for balance resolution. Directly yields deposited mass per coupon in a single weighing step — straightforward uncertainty budget with calibrated balance traceability.	Less selective than tracer chemistry — unsuitable at very low mass loadings or when the active cannot be separated from non-specific deposits.	—
Imaging-first spatial uniformity study (coverage mapping)	Rapid visualization of spatial coverage, edge effects, and hot spots — identifies non-uniform deposition before committing to full replicate studies. Imaging heat maps support design-team iteration under ASTM E3133 spatial uniformity framing when paired with coupon controls.	Requires validated image-to-mass correlation before imaging can support mass claims; imaging is not a substitute for gravimetric or tracer quantitation.	ASTM E3133
Drift and overspray characterization (fit for purpose)	Directly maps spatial deposition patterns outside the target zone — data supports mitigation strategies and EPA overspray documentation. Configurable for indoor or outdoor scenarios with controlled or characterized airflow — outputs feed containment-design decisions.	Results depend on airflow, room geometry, and source placement — interpret against documented environmental conditions only, not as universal predictions.	EPA overspray

Setup configurations

Study configuration is matched to the aerosol source, target surface, and regulatory frame. The setup combines controlled collection - including defined coupon area, replicated exposure events, and traceable environmental conditions - with the practical geometry of the device and intended use case. During study planning, we set the dimensions and operating variables listed below:

Fixtures and targets

Flat coupons, panels, deposition plates, or anatomical models — geometry and surface material selected to replicate target surfaces from the intended use condition.

Environmental controls

Airflow velocity, relative humidity, temperature, and source placement controlled or characterized per the study plan — documented for each exposure event.

Exposure profile

Continuous or pulsed aerosolization, single or repeated exposure events, and defined application duration — matched to the intended use condition and study objective.

Sample numbers

Duplicate or triplicate coupons per location and condition — replicate plan sized to expected variability across surface area and plume dynamics.

Chain of custody

Documented labeling, storage, and tracking for all coupons and extracts from exposure through analysis and reporting.

Methods anchored to the standards that matter

A documented quality system governs each deposition study and aligns with the applicable measurement, antimicrobial, and overspray regulatory frameworks. The four anchors below define the quality and reporting requirements carried through to the §7 outputs.

ISO 17025AccreditedTesting-laboratory competence — documented methods, calibration traceability, and uncertainty contributors.
ASTM E2647AlignedStandardized quantitative carrier disk deposition and surface-recovery test for antimicrobial products.
ASTM E3133AlignedQuantitative surface-deposition method for aerosolized antimicrobials applied across a room.
EPA oversprayAlignedEPA disinfectant overspray guidance — deposition evidence supporting pesticide registration packages.

Key data outputs & reporting

A particle deposition study reports deposited mass per area, spatial coverage data, and replicate statistics. The standard report includes primary metrics, QA / QC controls, and uncertainty contributors formatted for regulatory packages, disinfectant programs, or design decisions. For extended studies that connect deposition results with antimicrobial endpoints or predicate comparisons, the study plan defines the additional supporting artifacts.

Primary outputs

Deposited mass per area (mg/m²) by condition and coupon location, with mean, SD, and CV across replicates.
Spatial heat maps and uniformity metrics — center-to-edge gradients and coefficient of variation across the collection surface.
Percent deposition to target vs. non-target zones where target geometry is defined.
Uncertainty contributors including coupon area, balance performance, extraction recovery, and assay calibration.

Deliverables

#	Format	Contents
01	PDF report	Methods, controls, replicate statistics, and uncertainty contributors.
02	CSV / XLSX datasets	Per-coupon and per-condition deposited-mass tables and statistics.
03	Annotated images	Heat-map exports and annotated spatial-coverage figures for review or submission.

Extended deliverables · multi-arm comparability · stability · predicate studies

Deposition-to-efficacy appendix — Deposited-mass data linked to antimicrobial endpoints for EPA registration or efficacy claim support.
Predicate comparison pack — Side-by-side deposition overlays and statistical framing for nozzle or formulation changes under EPA or ASTM documentation.

QA / QC & data integrity

The QA / QC framework is sized to the deposition method plan and documented for each study. Controls address the collection chemistry, analytical assay, and decision the data will support. Verifications run alongside exposure and are audited under our ISO 17025 quality system, with calibration records traceable from coupon receipt through the final result. Tracer-chemistry methods also include recovery and suitability checks.

Blanks (unexposed coupons) and field blanks run alongside every exposure set — confirms background and fixture contamination are within acceptance limits.

Duplicate or triplicate coupons per location and condition — quantifies between-replicate precision and identifies outlier positions.

Spike-recovery checks on extraction method — ensures tracer or active recovery is within predefined acceptance limits for HPLC / GC methods.

Calibration verification for analytical balances and analytical instruments before each campaign and between condition blocks.

Chain of custody records for all coupons and extracts from exposure through analysis and reporting.

Why ARE Labs

ARE Labs connects technical topics to practical study design, method selection, controlled aerosol work, and reportable evidence without turning technical pages into sales pages.

Reviewed byJamie Balarashti (25 yrs - cascade & inhalation methods) - Weston Schaper (7 yrs - real-time sizing & nanoparticle work)

17025Accredited testing

900+Studies Performed

17+Years in operation

300+Clients supported

Common questions

Study planning often starts with the same questions from antimicrobial, disinfectant, consumer-aerosol, and industrial spray teams. The topics include method selection, sensitivity, spatial mapping, sample counts, and deliverables. The answers below provide a practical starting point. If your aerosol source, target surface, or regulatory frame differs from these examples, contact us; most deposition studies require at least one configuration choice specific to the application.

Q.What is the difference between gravimetric and tracer-based deposition measurement?

A.Gravimetry measures the total mass gained by a coupon. It is fast and low-cost, but non-selective. HPLC / GC tracer chemistry measures a specific compound, providing greater sensitivity and selectivity when background mass in a complex matrix cannot be separated from the active.

Q.Can you map deposition on complex or shaped surfaces?

A.Yes. We use shaped targets or anatomical models, then combine location-specific coupons with imaging software to map spatial patterns across the full collection surface, including coverage fractions, gradients, and hot spots.

Q.How many samples are needed for a deposition study?

A.It depends on variability among locations and exposure conditions. We typically recommend duplicate or triplicate coupons at each position, along with blanks and recovery controls. The final sample plan is sized to the decision and the expected coefficient of variation.

Q.What drives project timeline?

A.The main schedule drivers are fixture complexity, the number of conditions and replicate sets, and whether HPLC / GC assay development is required. Once the scope is defined, we estimate the timeline during study planning.

Q.What do you deliver at the end of the study?

A.Deliverables include a PDF report covering methods, controls, replicate statistics, and uncertainty contributors; CSV / XLSX datasets with per-coupon deposited-mass data; and annotated heat-map images for internal review or inclusion in EPA submission packages.

Standards & guidance

ARE Labs aligns particle deposition studies with the regulatory and consensus standards governing surface deposition measurement, antimicrobial spray testing, and overspray documentation. Methods covered by ARE Labs' third-party ISO 17025 accreditation are documented as accredited. When a standard is followed without formal accreditation, the method is described as aligned or conformant where applicable. The cards below identify the standards most relevant to deposition programs.

QA & Regulatory - Accredited

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