Size-Selection Aerosol Characterization Instrument

We propose to develop anew monitor that provides composition information of particles in the ultrafine (10-100 nm) fine (100 nm– 2.5 µm) and coarse (2.5 – 10 µm) size modes in near real time. Particle monitoring technologies are important for better characterization of the environmental, health and visibility effects of both anthropogenic and biogenic aerosol particles. Current monitoring technologies either provideno chemical information or require extensive post-processing chemical analysis. Based in part on previous EPA SBIR support, we developed, field tested, and commercialized the Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ACSM) to provide an affordable instrument to measure particle composition in near realtime. As assign of its relevance to the monitoring community, we have already made 42 sales of the ACSM, totaling more then $6NM in revenue. Here, we propose modifications of the ACSM that will upgrade its performance to provide size resolution in the ultrafine, fine and coarse modes and integratean optical particle sizer to provide size resolution for the coarse mode. Based on our deep knowledge of the aerosol monitoring community, we are confident that these modifications will: 1) make the ACSM more responsive to EPA’s mission objectives, and 2) amplify instrument sales, both to new and existing customers. Crucially, Phase I yielded three important breakthroughs that make feasible the ACSM upgrade: 1) identification of a design modification to the aerosol inlet that extends its range beyond 1,000 nm without sacrificing its ability to detect particles smaller than 100 nm, 2) implemented a new design to obtain size particle size resolution while achieving at least 10-fold increase in sensitivity, and 3) demonstrated a new light scattering module that can determine particle size for particles larger than 1,000nm. The Phase II Commercialization Option will be a long-term (6-12 months) field demonstration of the ACMS that will signal its utility to the aerosol characterization market as a robust and cost effective alternative to filter based measurements that lack time resolution and require substantial labor to implement.