Method and apparatus for airborne particle collection

An apparatus for collecting airborne particles from an air sample comprising;

• a hollow tube adapted for pumping a liquid through an interior volume of said hollow tube to an outer surface of said hollow tube, wherein said hollow tube is formed of a porous material;
• a collection surface disposed on said outer surface and adapted for collecting said airborne particles from said air sample;
• and
• a charging mechanism adapted for charging said airborne particles such that said airborne particles are deflected toward said collection surface.

An apparatus for collecting airborne particles from an air sample comprising;

• a hollow tube adapted for pumping a liquid through an interior volume of said hollow tube to an outer surface of said hollow tube;
• a collection surface disposed on said outer surface and adapted for collecting said airborne particles from said air sample, wherein said collection surface comprises a layer of conductive material;
• and
• a charging mechanism adapted for charging said airborne particles such that said airborne particles are deflected toward said collection surface, wherein said charging mechanism comprises;
• a first electrode formed by said layer of conductive material and a second electrode adapted for cooperating with said first electrode to create an electrostatic field therebetween, and wherein said second electrode is at least one array of corona tips.

An apparatus for collecting airborne particles from an air sample comprising;

• a hollow tube adapted for pumping a liquid through an interior volume of said hollow tube to an outer surface of said hollow tube;
• a collection surface disposed on said outer surface and adapted for collecting said airborne particles from said air sample, wherein said collection surface comprises a layer of conductive material, and said layer of conductive material forms a first electrode that is adapted for cooperating with a second electrode to create an electrokinetic pump when said first electrode and said second electrode are separated by a dielectric material;
• and
• a charging mechanism adapted for charging said airborne particles such that said airborne particles are deflected toward said collection surface.

An apparatus for collecting airborne particles from an air sample comprising;

• a hollow tube adapted for pumping a liquid through an interior volume of said hollow tube to an outer surface of said hollow tube;
• a collection surface disposed on said outer surface and adapted for collecting said airborne particles from said air sample, wherein said collection surface is a rotatable disk positioned at an end of said hollow tube;
• and
• a charging mechanism adapted for charging said airborne particles such that said airborne particles are deflected toward said collection surface.

A system for analyzing airborne particles in an air sample comprising:

• an air intake assembly for drawing said air sample into said system;
• a hollow tube adapted for pumping a liquid through an interior volume of said hollow tube to an outer surface of said hollow tube, where said hollow tube further comprises a collection surface disposed on said outer surface and adapted for collecting said airborne particles from said air sample;
• a charging mechanism adapted for charging said airborne particles such that said airborne particles are deflected toward said collection surface, wherein the charging mechanism comprises a corona array;
• and
• an outlet adapted for transporting said liquid from said collection surface.

A method for collecting airborne particles from an air sample, said method comprising:

• providing said air sample;
• directing said air sample toward a hollow tube having a first end and a second end;
• and
• applying a charge to said airborne particles such that said airborne particles are deflected toward an outer surface of said hollow tube, such that said airborne particles are charged and collected in a single stage, wherein the charge is applied by a corona array.

A method for collecting airborne particles from an air sample, said method comprising;

• providing said air sample;
• directing said air sample toward a hollow tube having a first end and a second end;
• pumping a liquid through an interior volume of said hollow tube from said first end to said second end, such that said liquid exits onto an outer surface of said hollow tube, wherein said pumping is performed electrokinetically;
• and
• applying a charge to said airborne particles such that said airborne particles are deflected toward an outer surface of said hollow tube, such that said airborne particles are charged and collected in a single stage.

A method for collecting airborne particles from an air sample, said method comprising;

• providing said air sample;
• directing said air sample toward a hollow tube having a first end and a second end;
• pumping a liquid through an interior volume of said hollow tube from said first end to said second end, such that said liquid exits onto an outer surface of said hollow tube wherein said pumping comprises:
• pumping said liquid through a plurality of pores in said hollow tube;
• and
• applying a charge to said airborne particles such that said airborne particles are deflected toward an outer surface of said hollow tube, such that said airborne particles are charged and collected in a single stage.

A method for collecting airborne particles from an air sample, said method comprising:

• providing said air sample;
• directing said air sample toward a hollow tube having a first end and a second end;
• pumping a liquid through an interior volume of said hollow tube from said first end to said second end, such that said liquid exits onto an outer surface of said hollow tube, wherein said pumping comprises;
• pumping said liquid through said second end of said hollow tube, where said second end is open and wherein said pumping further comprises;
• pumping the liquid through a port in a flat surface of a disk, where said disk is positioned at second end of said hollow tube such that a rotational axis of said disk is orientated substantially coaxially with a longitudinal axis of said hollow tube;
• and
• applying a charge to said airborne particles such that said airborne particles are deflected toward an outer surface of said hollow tube, such that said airborne particles are charged and collected in a single stage.