AAAR 35th Annual Conference October 17 - October 21, 2016 Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract View
Outdoor Field Testing of a Passive Bioaerosol Sampler Based on Polarized, Ferroelectric Polymer Films
JENNIFER THERKORN, Nirmala Thomas, Jerry Scheinbeim, Gediminas Mainelis, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Abstract Number: 212 Working Group: Bioaerosols
Abstract A passive bioaerosol sampler can reduce logistical burdens and costs of active bioaerosol sampling. Here, we report on field testing of a passive bioaerosol sampler developed using parallel layers of a polarized, ferroelectric polymer (polyvinylidene fluoride, PVDF), or Rutgers Electrostatic Passive Sampler (REPS). We have shown that PVDF which has been permanently polarized by application of an external electric field enhances electrostatic capture of microorganism-sized biological particles from 15 nm to 5000 nm. Four 10 day long outdoor field test campaigns were conducted in highly varied conditions (-2 to 33°C, 17 to 98% RH) to compare collection efficiencies of REPS to an active control (Button Aerosol Samplers) and passive controls (PTFE settling filters and agar settling plates). Total bacteria and fungi were counted by Acridine Orange staining/microscopy each day for the Button Samplers and at the end of each field campaign for passive samplers. Culturable bacteria and fungi were determined daily by plating aliquots of extracted Button Sampler filter suspension and via agar settling plates, and at the end of campaigns for passive samplers. Compared to passive PTFE filters, REPS enhanced passive deposition of total microorganisms by 7-fold. REPS also significantly enhanced passive capture of culturable bacteria and fungi by 82% and 77%, respectively, and collected 65% of the culturable bacteria that the active Button Samplers collected. Since the Buttons operated at 4 L/min, REPS had an average equivalent flow rate of 2.6 L/min and 1.2 L/min for culturable bacteria, and total bacteria and fungi, respectively. These results suggest that REPS passively collects microorganisms comparably to an active sampler over long sampling durations, especially for culturable bacteria. This is most likely due to better preservation of culturability in the absence of a desiccating flow rate. Future tests will include indoor testing and development of a personal passive sampler.