Characteristics and Sampling Efficiencies of Portable High Throughput Liquid-Assisted Aerosol Sampler Model APAS-2 (PHTLAAS-APAS-2)

摘要

Characteristics and aerosol sampling efficiencies of a Portable High Throughput Liquid-Assisted Air Sampler Model APAS-2 (PHTLAAS-APAS-2) (Zaromb Research Corp., Hinsdale, IL) were determined at the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC). The PHTLAAS-APAS-2 is a portable, battery- operated bioaerosol sampler designed to collect 0.5- to 10-micrometers particles into a buffer solution to preserve the viability of bio-organisms. Sampling efficiency tests were conducted with 1- and 3-micrometers polystyrene latex microspheres and 3-, 5-, and 8-micrometers fluorescent oleic acid particles. The results show that the sampler has a high (>55%) sampling efficiency for the particle sizes tested with a peak sampling efficiency of 87.7 plus or minus 3.8% for 3-micrometers particles. The sample collection liquid (25 microLiters) was placed in the cyclone before each sampling. After 10 min of sampling, the average sample output was 18.1 plus or minus 1.0 microLiters. The measured air flowrate using a hot wire anemometer was 305.9 Lpm at the inlet. A previous version, the PHTLAAS, was also tested at ECBC, and the results show that the PHTLAAS-APAS-2 is smaller, lighter, and has a slightly higher sampling efficiency for larger size (>5 micrometers) particles compared to the PHTLAAS (its predecessor).