Portable aerosol sampler with liquid phase for collection of biopathogens at subzero temperatures

Aerosol samplers with a recirculating liquid film are promising devices for remote biological monitoring. The presence of the liquid film provides a high survival rate for biological objects. The relatively simpler design allows portability to the sampler, which will make it possible to conduct tests outside the laboratory. In this study an analytical expression, describing the capturing efficiency of aerosol particles in the water film, taking into account the friction forces arising from interaction of water and air in a cyclone-based aerosol collector, was obtained. A new element, took over from the theory of centrifugal sprayers - a vortex chamber, was added to the theory and design of the collector. It allows increasing the initial angular moment of the elements of air volume entering the collector, which leads in appropriately an increase of maximal height of rising liquid film and particle capturing efficiency. To analyze the obtained expressions, graphs of particle capturing efficiency on basic parameters of modified cyclone collector and volumetric air flow were calculated. The graphs made it possible to determine the optimal geometric parameters for the portable cyclone-based collector. The introduced dependence on viscosity made it possible to estimate more accurately the efficiency of the device at various temperatures (including negative temperatures). For the selected parameters, graphs particle capturing efficiency were plotted. Water-alcohol solution and Novec 1230 fluid were used as fluids capable of operating at subzero temperatures. To check the operability of the sampler, tests were carried out to collect samples of sprayed inactivated adenovirus in a microbiological safety box at the Gamaleya Institute. The results of tests are discussed.