A Portable Electrospray-Based Air Sampler Incorporating a Fluorescent Assay

An electrospray-based air sampler incorporating a targeted fluorescent assay will be developed and commercialized. Electrospray ionization will be used to sample and ionize gas phase molecules and small particles and deliver them onto a collector forsubsequent analysis. A fluorescent marker will be incorporated into the electrospray solvent and delivered onto the collector with the sampled gas-phase species. The marker will be targeted to specifically toxic compounds to provide an early warning topossible exposure to such agents. The proposed air sampler/sensor described in this proposal will provide the government and private sector with a new technology with capabilities far surpassing existing instruments for local anaysis of air quality andpersonal exposure history. Applications include: personal and industrial dosimetry, battlespace awareness and homeland security.