Low Density Foam Utilized as a Bioaerosol Collector

This proposal addresses the need for a method of bioaerosol sampling which uses low power and achieves high collection efficiencies. The method involves the development of a high surface area hydrophilic foam that will entrap particles in the nanometer range. At the same time, the hydrophilc foam will have a low affinity for proteins, suggesting a rapid release of the biological material into aqueous solution. The foam will be utilized as a filtering material in filtration or impaction collection, and will not need the large potentials for operation required by electrostatic methods. The objectives of the project are to synthesize a hydrophilic, low density foam that can be shown to entrap 10,000 particles from the ambient two minute time frame. The foan can be synthesized from methacrylate monomers in polar solvents with appropriate amounts of crosslinker and catalysts. Final processing with supercritical fluids will maintain the microstructure of the material while removing solvent.