A High-throughput, Turbulent-mixing, Condensation Aerosol Concentrator for Direct Aerosol Collection as a Liquid Suspension

Principal Investigator(s):  View help for Principal Investigator(s) United States Department of Health and Human Services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

Version:  View help for Version V1

Name File Type Size Last Modified
Data Dictionary_TCALC.pdf application/pdf 114.1 KB 06/19/2025 01:44:PM
Growth efficiency vs Saturator temperature.csv text/csv 780 bytes 06/19/2025 01:44:PM
Growth tube temperature.csv text/csv 366 bytes 06/19/2025 01:44:PM
Mass comparison.csv text/csv 494 bytes 06/19/2025 01:44:PM
Materials and Methods.pdf application/pdf 458.9 KB 06/19/2025 01:44:PM
Overview of the project.docx application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document 30.2 KB 06/19/2025 01:44:PM
Particle diameter.csv text/csv 722 bytes 06/19/2025 01:44:PM
Particle number concentration.csv text/csv 280 bytes 06/19/2025 01:44:PM
Relative humidity.csv text/csv 389 bytes 06/19/2025 01:44:PM
Saturation ratio and Kelvin diameter.csv text/csv 3.4 KB 06/19/2025 01:44:PM

Project Citation: 

United States Department of Health and Human Services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. A High-throughput, Turbulent-mixing, Condensation Aerosol Concentrator for Direct Aerosol Collection as a Liquid Suspension. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2025-06-19. https://doi.org/10.3886/E233571V1

Project Description

Project Title:  View help for Project Title A High-throughput, Turbulent-mixing, Condensation Aerosol Concentrator for Direct Aerosol Collection as a Liquid Suspension
Summary:  View help for Summary Trace measurement of aerosol chemical composition in workplace atmospheres requires the development of high-throughput aerosol collectors that are compact, hand-portable, and can be operated using personal pumps. We describe the design and characterization of a compact, high flow, Turbulent-mixing Condensation Aerosol-in-Liquid Concentrator (TCALC) that allows direct collection of aerosols as liquid suspensions, for off-line chemical, biological, or microscopy analysis. The TCALC unit, measuring approximately 12 × 16 × 18 cm, operates at an aerosol sample flowrate of up to 10 L min-1, using rapid mixing of a hot flow saturated with water vapor and a cold aerosol sample flow, thereby promoting condensational growth of aerosol particles. We investigated the effect of operating parameters such as vapor temperature, growth tube wall temperature, and aerosol sample flowrate, along with the effect of particle diameter, inlet humidity, aerosol concentration, and operation time on TCALC performance. Nanoparticles with an initial aerodynamic diameter ≥ 25 nm could grow to droplet diameters \u003e 1400 nm with an efficiency ≥ 80%. Good droplet growth efficiency was achieved for sampled aerosol relative humidity ≥ 9%. We measured complete aerosol collection for concentrations of ≤ 3×105 cm-3. The results showed good agreement between the particulate mass collected through the liquid collector and direct filter collection. The TCALC eliminates the need for sample preparation and filter digestion during chemical analysis, thereby increasing sample recovery and substantially improving the limit of detection and sensitivity of off-line trace analysis of collected liquid samples.
Original Distribution URL:  View help for Original Distribution URL https://data.cdc.gov/National-Institute-for-Occupational-Safety-and-Hea/A-High-throughput-Turbulent-mixing-Condensation-Ae/c75w-3h6e

Scope of Project

Subject Terms:  View help for Subject Terms NIOSH-rescue


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V1 [2025-06-19]

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