Method and system for detecting and recording submicron sized particles

An apparatus for detecting the presence of submicron size particles in a sample taken from the environment, comprising:

• (a) a collecting means for collecting a sample from the environment;
• (b) filter means connected to the collecting means for separating the particles in the collected sample based on the size of the particles;
• and
• (c) detecting means connected to the filter means for detecting the separated particles, the detecting means comprising:
• an electrospray assembly for receiving the separated particles and for placing a charge on the separated particles, a differential mobility analyzer which receives the output from the electrospray assembly for separating the charged particles based on the size of the charged particles, and a condensation particle device for counting the number of separated charged particles received from the differential mobility analyzer.

An apparatus for detecting the presence of submicron size particles in a sample taken from the environment, comprising:

• (a) a collecting means for collecting a sample from the environment;
• (b) means for concentrating the submicron size particles in the sample;
• and
• (c) detecting means connected to the concentrating means for detecting the concentrated submicron size particles, the detecting means comprising:
• an electrospray assembly for receiving the concentrated submicron size particles and for placing a charge on the concentrated submicron size particles introduced into the electrospray assembly, a differential mobility analyzer which receives the output from the electrospray assembly for separating the charged submicron size particles according to the size of the charged submicron size particles, and a condensation particle device for counting the number of separated submicron size particles received from the differential mobility analyzer.

An apparatus for detecting the presence of submicron size particles in a sample taken from the environment, comprising:

• (a) a collecting means for collecting a sample from the environment;
• (b) means for purifying the submicron size particles in the sample;
• and
• (c) detecting means connected to the concentrating means for detecting the purified submicron size particles, the detecting means comprising:
• an electrospray assembly for receiving the purified submicron size particles and for placing a charge on the purified submicron size particles introduced into the electrospray assembly, a differential mobility analyzer which receives the output from the electrospray assembly for separating the charged purified submicron size particles according to the size of the charged purified submicron size particles, and a condensation particle device for counting the number of separated charged purified submicron size particles received from the differential mobility analyzer.

An apparatus for detecting the presence of submicron sized particles in a sample taken from the environment, comprising:

• (a) a collecting means for collecting a sample containing the particles from the environment;
• (b) means for separating the particles in the collected sample by separating the particles based on size;
• (c) means for detecting the separated particles, wherein the detecting means comprises:
• an electrospray assembly for receiving the separated particles and for placing a charge on the separated particles introduced into the electrospray assembly, a differential mobility analyzer which receives the output from the electrospray assembly for separating the charged particles according to the size of the charged particles, and a condensation particle device for counting the number of separated particles received from the differential mobility analyzer;
• and
• (d) valve means connected to the collecting means, the separating means, and the detecting means, the valve means includes a means for selectively feeding the collected sample containing the particles either to the separating means or the detecting means.

A method for detecting the presence of submicron sized particles in a sample taken from the environment, comprising:

• (a) collecting a sample from the environment;
• (b) separating the submicron size particles in the sample based on the size of the submicron size particles;
• and
• (c) detecting the separated particles by placing a charge on the separated particles, separating the charged submicron size particles based on the size of the charged submicron size particles;
• and counting the number of separated charged submicron size particles.

A method for detecting the presence of submicron sized particles in a sample taken from the environment, comprising:

• (a) collecting a sample containing the particles from the environment;
• (b) purifying and concentrating the particles in the sample based on size;
• and
• (c) detecting the purified and concentrated particles with a detecting means comprising an electrospray assembly, the assembly having an electrospray capillary which receives the output from the purifying and concentrating means, a differential mobility analyzer which receives the output from the capillary, and a condensation particle device for counting the number of purified and concentrated particles that pass through the differential mobility analyzer.

A method for detecting the presence of submicron sized particles in a sample taken from the environment, comprising:

• (a) collecting a sample from the environment;
• (b) concentrating the particles in the sample based on the size of the particles;
• and
• (c) detecting the concentrated particles by placing a charge on the concentrated particles, separating the charged particles based on the size of the charged particles;
• and counting the number of separated charged particles.

A method for detecting the presence of submicron sized particles in a sample taken from the environment, comprising:

• (a) collecting a sample from the environment;
• (b) purifying the particles in the sample based on the size of the particles in the sample;
• and
• (c) detecting the purified particles by placing a charge on the purified particles, separating the charged particles based on the size of the charged particles;
• and counting the number of separated charged particles.