Aerosol Collection into Small Amounts of Fluid

The optically-cued electrospray aerosol selector (OCEAS), as proposed by MicroStructure Technologies (MicroST), and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), provide an innovative solution to achieving the challenging goals set by DHS. The goal of this project is to integrate an OCEAS design with a particle extraction module. Central to the OCEAS system approach is a fully automated particle sorting and novel particle extraction system from a dry collection surface. This project will build upon the success of the BIAD Sample Enrichment program by focusing on three major objectives. First, a 100 liter per minute (LPM) low maintenance axisymmetric virtual impactor concentrator (AxiVIC) will be refined and developed to support the fielding and maintenance program requirements required by DHS. Second, the bioaerosol particle sorting system or OCEAS will minimize the presence of background clutter and place selected aerosols onto a microstructured array. The particle sorting element further reduces OCEAS system maintenance by performing dry collection. More important to the program is the elimination of background clutter reduces the amount of fluid needed for extraction. Finally, MicroST will develop a particle extraction module where the particles will be extracted from a microstructured array into much less than 300 microliters of fluid.