A Novel, Low Power, High Throughput, High Efficiency, Scalable Electrostatic Bioaerosol Sampler

Current bioaerosol monitoring strategies rely on inertia-based sampling and suffer from high power consumption and low efficiency limitations. In contrast, our overall objective is to design and demonstrate a novel electrostatic sampler that provides dramatic improvements including low power requirement (90% for 1-10mm), high viability (>80%), scalability for varying threat scenarios, low noise, and concentration of particles in liquid buffer. In an additional unique feature, our device will be able to discriminate desired size range, e.g., respirable fraction, from atmospheric background. The proposed technology will leverage on ongoing efforts at CFDRC to develop a personal-sized biosensor-sampler. Our main challenge is to increase throughput to 1000L/min while maintaining high efficiencies and minimizing losses. We will extend our existing technology by using a judicious combination of multiphysics analysis and experimentation. In Phase I, we will design, fabricate and test an electrostatic collector with innovative electrode design, along with charge modulation to maximize efficiency. Phase II will involve scale-up, system integration, and testing with class-based simulants and agents.