Investigation of a New Electrostatic Sampler for Concentrating Biological and Non-Biological Aerosol Particles

Abstract

The detection of airborne pathogens is becoming a subject of great concern in modern day society. Recent studies have shown that electrostatic samplers are suitable for collecting microorganisms as well as preserving their viability. In most of these studies, flow rates were lower than 12.5 L/min or required a concentration stage to increase the flow rate to 100 L/min. In the present study, a single stage electrostatic sampler was developed for an efficient collection of microorganisms at 100 L/min. The design is based on the positive DC corona between coaxial cylinders to continuously create charged particles as they pass through the sampler. The physical collection efficiency of the device was investigated by sampling the ambient air particles. The efficiency in collecting live biological samples was determined by sampling live bacterial spores with the collector situated inside an aerosol chamber. It is shown that particles of 0.3-0.35 µm are captured with an efficiency of about 86%, whereas cultivable spores of Bacillus thuringiensis are collected with an efficiency of about 94%. Results are compared with an analytical predictive model. The experimental results are similar to the efficiencies previously reported in the literature; however, the current sampler design features a higher flow rate which enables the device to be used as an alarm trigger in a shorter period of time.

Rapid, Affordable, Collection and Analysis of Bioaerosol Viral Pathogen (Begomoviruses and Whitefly Vectors)

“…Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungal spores, and viruses carried by air movements are referred to as bioaerosols (Harper 1961; Killingley et al, 2013; Kumar et al, 2018). While most research on bioaerosol sampling has focused primarily on human and animal pathogens (Belser et al, 2013; 2016; Gustin et al, 2013; Kormunth et al, 2018; Mitchell et al, 2003; Roux et al, 2013; Suresh and Ricke 2002; Yamamoto et al, 2010). This study applied this emerging technology to the detection of insect-transmitted plant pathogens, specifically the whitefly-transmitted Begomoviruses that threaten many of the subsistence crops worldwide (Czosnek et al, 2017; Moffat 1999: Polston and Andersen 1997: Rosario, et al, 2014).…”

“…This study applied this emerging technology to the detection of insect-transmitted plant pathogens, specifically the whitefly-transmitted Begomoviruses that threaten many of the subsistence crops worldwide (Czosnek et al, 2017; Moffat 1999: Polston and Andersen 1997: Rosario, et al, 2014). Some of the advantages being realized are the ability to capture and detect diseases as bioaerosols, thus reducing the time and costs associated with monitoring disease presences or spread (Roux et al, 2013). Reducing costs and time in detection are critical components in the management of viral pathogens in humans (Cowling et al, 2013; Kormunth et al, 2018; Paynter 2015), but also when trying to manage and detect pathogens in urban or agricultural settings (Brodie et al, 2007).…”

Development and laboratory evaluation of a compact swirling aerosol sampler (SAS) for collection of atmospheric bioaerosols

“…Different types of samplers have been developed to overcome the limitations of previous systems, such as the 3-nozzle swirling aerosol collector which collects particles at 12.5 Lpm flow rate by combining impaction and centrifugal motion, called the SKC BioSampler . Roux et al (2013) reported the design of an electrostatic sampler to concentrate biosample for more efficient collection. McFarland et al (2010) designed a high flow rate sampler of 1 250 L/min with wetted cyclone.…”

Computational and experimental study on ion wind scheme based aerosol sampling for biomedical applications

“…In principle, a traditional Bio-aerosol Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP) is configured by one discharge electrode and one counter electrode in typical wire-tocylinder [3] where discharge electrode is to generate unipolar charge while the counter one is to define the electric field in parallel with or normal to the aerosol flow and also acted as the sampling electrode to collect particles. Since the conventional ESP creates considerably high charge, it is not suitable for bio-sampling.…”