Wetted Wall Cyclones for Bioaerosol Sampling

A wetted wall bioaerosol sampling cyclone with an aerosol sampling flow rate of 1250 L/min and a continuous liquid outflow rate of about 1 mL/min was developed by upgrading an existing system. The aerosol-to-hydrosol collection efficiency curve for the upgraded device was shown to have a cutpoint of 1.2 mu m aerodynamic diameter (AD) and an average collection efficiency of 90% over the size range of 2 to 10.2 mu m AD. Tests with near-monodisperse cells and clusters of Bacillus atrophaeus (aka BG) spores showed an average aerosol-to-hydrosol collection efficiency of 98% over the size range from 1.7 to 9.8 mu m AD. Pressure drop across the cyclone, which is also the ideal specific power, was 5.5 kPa (22 inches H(2)O). Stokes scaling was used to design geometrically similar cyclones with nominal air sampling flow rates of 100 and 300 L/min. Extensive tests were performed with the 100 L/min unit and check tests with the 300 L/min. Results with the scaled units showed similar, although somewhat lower collection efficiencies than the 1250 L/min device, but with lower consumption of liquid and lower pressure losses. For the 100 L/min cyclone, the cutpoint of the aerosol-to-hydrosol efficiency curve was 1.2 mu m AD, and the average collection efficiency for single cells and clusters of BG spores was 86% over a size range of 1.2 to 8.3 mu m AD. Also, for the 100 L/min cyclone, typical output liquid flow rates were 100 mu L/min, and the pressure loss was 1.6 kPa (6.4 inches H(2)O).