Initial Development of a Personal Electrostatic Bioaerosol Sampler (PEBS)

Details

• Personal Author:
  Han T ; Mainelis G
• Description:
  The objective of this exploratory research is to develop a personal electrostatic bioaerosol sampler (PEBS) with high sample concentration rate. In this sampler, bioaerosols are drawn into an open channel collector, electrically charged and deposited onto a removable plate covered with a superhydrophobic substance. The new sampler will allow a more accurate monitoring of personal exposures to even low microorganism concentrations and thus improve the ability to identify the exposure risks and protect affected populations. Since this personal bioaerosol sampler will be light, self-contained and battery-operated, it will be easy to wear and apply for occupational and environmental studies and field deployments. The prototype of PEBS was designed and optimized using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. It has a shape of a cylinder of 1 inch in diameter and is made of static dissipative material (Delrin). The collection chamber is split in two by a stainless steel rectangle collection plate (1×1.75 inches) and each half has a charger (e.g., carbon fiber) located 0.75 inches downstream of the collection plate front; this configuration allows collection of dual samples. The sampler features a 3D-printed air blender positioned at its inlet to improve mixing of the incoming bioaerosol particles with ions. When the sampler was tested at different sampling flow rates (10 to 30 L/min) and collection/charging voltages (-3 to -5 kV) with 1 micron polystyrene latex particles, it showed collection efficiency as high as 90%. The sampler was also tested with biological particles and showed collection efficiencies in the 70-80% range. The samples were effectively removed from the collection plate and analyzed using adenosine triphosphate based bioluminescence. In the next stage, the sampler will be further modified to improve its performance at higher flow rates and then it will be challenged with multiple bacteria and fungi. Overall, the new sampler concept is showing good potential as a personal bioaerosol sampler. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Microbiology Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Airborne Particles Author Keywords: Bioaerosols Bioaerosols Electrostatic Collection Equipment Design Microorganisms Personal Sampler Samplers Sampling Equipment
• Publisher:
  Italian Aerosol Society
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  New Jersey ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20055283
• Citation:
  Proceedings of the 21st European Aerosol Conference (EAC 2015), September 6-11, 2015, Milan, Italy. Bologna, Italy: Italian Aerosol Society, 2015 Sep; :3IEH_P054
• Contact Point Address:
  G. Mainelis, Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers, The State university of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
• Email:
  mainelis@rutgers.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2015
• Performing Organization:
  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20140901
• Source Full Name:
  Proceedings of the 21st European Aerosol Conference (EAC 2015), September 6-11, 2015, Milan, Italy
• End Date:
  20180131
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:82782cb5556e8bc36e507095e2c149df01b36fa15d9b74b621ce8ff228b8b118b82f3e1fabd35c6e43454436f22d6c3ae6b4a476cecfd66c2c61499631df6872
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/217624/cdc_217624_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 105.97 KB ]