Volatility-resolved chemical characterization of airborne particles

An apparatus, comprising:

• a sample flow inlet;
• one or more condensational growth tubes coupled to the sample flow inlet, at least a portion of the one or more condensational growth tubes including a region of water vaper supersaturation;
• at least one vacuum valve;
• a collection and thermal desorption (CTD) cell adapted to receive an output of the one or more condensational growth tubes onto a surface of the CTD cell through an acceleration nozzle;
• a carrier gas source and an interface including a carrier gas valve configured to provide carrier gas into the CTD cell;
• a heater coupled to the CTD cell configured to selectively heat the CTD cell;
• a heated transport interface coupled between the CTD cell and one or more gas detectors or detector trains;
• and
• a controller coupled to the carrier gas and vacuum valves, the heater, the heated transport interface, the one or more condensational growth tubes, and the CTD cell, the controller configured to operate the valves, the controlled heater, the heated transport lines, the one or more condensational growth tubes, and the CTD cell in at least an in-situ sequential collection mode and analysis mode.