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Assessment of a Low-Power Active Bioaerosol Sampler Performance
SYDONIA MANIBUSAN, Gediminas Mainelis, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Abstract Number: 220
Working Group: Bioaerosols
Abstract
Bioaerosol samplers are increasingly important for understanding the biological component of our air, given their potential to cause negative health effects such as disease transmission or exacerbation of respiratory diseases. REPS-Active is an active sampler which collects bioaerosols using overlapping ferroelectric polymer film to capture particles onto the film by electrostatic forces. This is based on the technology established by the Rutgers Electrostatic Passive Sampler (REPS).
Physical collection efficiency for REPS-Active was determined in three environments (e.g., residence, laboratory, and outdoors) using an optical particle counter and condensation particle counter by comparing concentrations with and without REPS-Active in the sampling stream at different operational flow rates (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 L/min). The flow rate of 1.0 L/min had the most efficient capture of particles per sample time and efficiencies of 22.0 ± 4.2% by particle number concentration and 35.8 ± 8.5% by mass concentration for particles 0.02 – 20 µm in diameter. This particle diameter range includes fungal spore, bacteria, and viral sizes. This confirms that REPS-Active captures particles within our target size ranges.
Demonstration of bioaerosol collection of REPS-Active was conducted in 24-hour tests in two environments (e.g., residence and outdoor). REPS-Active was collocated with active reference samplers for comparison: the SAS Super 180 Air Sampler and IOM Sampler. Initial findings show that REPS-Active captured 134.6 ± 97.7% of culturable bacteria compared to the IOM sampler indoors.
Given the current pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus, it is essential to have versatile and low-cost sampling tools capable of collecting representative bioaerosol samples over long sampling times. These results demonstrate the REPS-Active sampler’s potential as a novel tool for bioaerosol investigation. The open flow design of REPS-Active operates at low flow rates with little to no pressure drop, which allows for portable, extended sampling with battery-powered air movers.