The Aerosol Fluorescence Sensor (AFS) measures the intrinsic fluorescence of aerosols and can be used as a stand-alone instrument or combined with the Aspect Aerosol Size and Shape Analyser (see also ASPECT PLUS in related products tab).

The AFS stand alone version comes complete with an external pump and ASAS+ software.

Biral's Aerosol Fluorescence Sensor (AFS) continuously measures the fluorescence from a volume of aerosol in two detection channels covering the UV and visual spectral bands.

Making the measurement on a volume of aerosol means that there is no limit to the particle size of the material that can be detected.

As well as being compatible with the Aspect aerosol size and shape analyser the AFS can be fitted with an aerosol concentrator for use when the target is dilute.


APPLICATIONS

Measuring intrinsic fluorescence from aerosol particles exposed to UV light has been developed, primarily, as a means of detecting biological weapons. A by-product of the work done in this area has revealed the potential for this technique to be used for other objectives. The most obvious of these is the detection of biological organisms for other purposes such as:

Research into transmission of diseases
Transmission of diseases such as SARS and new strains of flu are obvious examples where aerosols are known to be an important route of infection. Detection of these aerosols, particularly in venues where large numbers of people may be exposed, could be a valuable tool in controlling a potentially devastating pandemic.

Detection of atmospheric pollutants
A number of other components of the atmospheric aerosol, particularly pollutants such as fuel oils and other natural organic materials, also fluoresce. They may often be distinguishable from micro-organisms and other biological materials in terms of the parts of the spectrum in which they fluoresce and the specific intensity of that fluorescence.

Fluorescence of organic aerosols including ultrafines
One of the advantages of this Aerosol Fluorescence Sensor is that it can detect aerosols with particles much smaller than is possible with single particle fluorescence instruments.

The Aspect Aerosol Size and Shape Analyser is unique. It is the only commercially available aerosol characterisation system that simultaneously measures the shape of an airborne particle in real time, as well as its size and total particle concentration.


SHAPE MEASUREMENTS
Many particle characterisation instruments measure only particle size and base their measurements on the assumption that the particles are perfect spheres. Both natural and man-made particles have a very wide variety of shapes and this can be a powerful parameter in classifying them. The Aspect particle analyser uses Biral’s ASAS technology to simultaneously measure the size and shape of single particles at a high output rate.

Using proprietary ASAS (Aerosol Size and Shape) Technology in a compact, flexible mechanical design with easy to use software, the Aspect is a very powerful tool for a broad range of applications in research, development and process control including:


    Aerosol research
    Climate change research, cloud formation studies
    Environmental monitoring, pollution concentrations
    Source apportionment
    Pharmaceuticals, particle formulation, particle morphology
    Biodetection, monitoring of bioaerosol levels
    Powder processes, particle discrimination



KEY FEATURES

A key feature of the Aspect is its high sensitivity which enables subtle changes in aerosol population to be detected. This is particularly useful for:

    Identifying subtle differences between aerosol or powder samples.Even when particle populations have continuous size and shape distributions, Aspect has the sensitivity to spot very small changes in size and shape characteristics.

    Discriminating particle types within aerosol or powder mixtures.Aspect can discriminate discrete particle classes within a mixture by characterising particle shape. As a result, separate size or shape distributions can be generated and the ratio of particle species can be calculated.

Typical applilcations:

• Public Health Monitoring
• Occupational Health
• Environmental Monitoring
• Aerobiology
• Aerosol Research
• Agriculture and Animal Health

NB for military biodetection and civil defence applications see BWWC
 

The Biral Aerosol Particle Collector (Biral APC) uses wetted wall cyclone technology to collect
aerosol particles from a large volume of air into a small volume of liquid, to enable direct sample transfer to biological or chemical analysis systems.

The Biral Aerosol Particle Collector can be used for any application where particles are required to be in aqueous suspension for the analysis process.

It is ideally suited for collecting particles of biological origin and also has many applications for the collection of inorganic particles.

It is particularly appropriate to applications that require continuous, time-resolved analysis using automated instruments as it can provide a sample continuously for many hours, limited only by the capacity of the reservoir.

Wetted wall cyclones (WWC) were originally developed as “gentle” samplers for bioaerosols when the normal analysis techniques required the growth of colonies from the collected material. It was found that the WWC retained viability in a much higher proportion of fragile
organisms than other available techniques such as surface impaction. This association with
bioaerosol sampling resulted in its development as a collector for military biodetection systems, although the need to retain viability is often no longer a requirement for modern analysis techniques.

• Higher air to liquid concentration ratios (>106 times concentration)
• Higher collection efficiency at low particle sizes (1 μm: 49%   and   3.2 μm: 84%)
• Input for connection to local trigger devices
• Operates autonomously for extended periods
• More automatic features - automated blockage removal and cleaning cycles
• Local operator display and controls
• Remote control and monitoring via Ethernet
• Rapid and safe access to reservoirs
• Choice of sampling modes
• Continuously samples for many hours
• Tamper proof design
• Simple to use and maintain
• Range of accessories and pre-filled consumables