Aerosol sampler for analysis of fine and ultrafine aerosols.

A new aerosol sampler based on the original version of Aerosol Counterflow Two-Jets Unit (ACTJU) is described. The ACTJU collector, connected with a water-based Condensation Growth Unit (CGU) placed upstream of the ACTJU, accomplished the quantitative collection of fine and ultrafine aerosol particles down to a few nanometers in diameter. Condensation of water vapor in the CGU enlarges nanometer sized particles to larger sizes in the supermicrometer range and the formed droplets are then collected into water in the ACTJU collector. The continuous collection of aerosols with the CGU-ACTJU sampler allows for the time-resolved measurement of changes in the concentration of particulate constituents. Coupling of the CGU-ACTJU sampler with on-line detection devices allows in-situ automated analysis of water-soluble aerosol components with high time resolution of 1 s (e.g., FIA detection for nitrite or nitrate) or 1 h (e.g., IC detection with preconcentration step for inorganic anions). Under the optimum conditions (the air flow rate of 10 L min and water flow rate of 1.5 mL min), the limit of detection (IC including the preconcentration) for particulate fluoride, chloride, nitrite, nitrate, sulphate and phosphate is 2.53, 6.64, 24.2, 16.8, 0.12 and 5.03 ng m, respectively. The apparatus is sufficiently robust for its application at routine monitoring of aerosol composition in real-time.