Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and associated method for tagging insects and arthropods. According to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, an electrosprayer is provided including a nozzle cartridge, a spray chamber removably attached to the nozzle cartridge and a power supply operatively connected to the nozzle cartridge and a grounding plate within the spray chamber to electrically charge droplets expelled from the nozzle which coat one or more insects contained in the spray chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and associated method for tagging insects and arthropods. According to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, an electrosprayer is provided including a nozzle cartridge, a spray chamber removably attached to the nozzle cartridge and a power supply operatively connected to the nozzle cartridge and a grounding plate within the spray chamber to electrically charge droplets expelled from the nozzle which coat one or more insects contained in the spray chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and associated method for tagging insects and arthropods. According to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, an electrosprayer is provided including a nozzle cartridge, a spray chamber removably attached to the nozzle cartridge and a power supply operatively connected to the nozzle cartridge and a grounding plate within the spray chamber to electrically charge droplets expelled from the nozzle which coat one or more insects contained in the spray chamber.

Abstract: A device having an air sampler, an electrospray apparatus, and a fluorescence excitation and detection system. The air sampler is capable of moving air suspected of containing a biological or chemical aerosol particle into a chamber. The electrospray apparatus is capable of spraying a charged solution into the chamber to coat the aerosol particles with a coating. The solution has a fluorescent-labeled biological or chemical marker capable of specific binding to the aerosol particle. The fluorescence system is capable of detecting fluorescence of the fluorescent label in the coating. A method of detecting the aerosol particle by: moving air suspected of containing the aerosol particle into a chamber; spraying the charged solution into the chamber with an electrospray apparatus, such that a coating of the solution is formed around the particle; exciting the fluorescent label; and detecting fluorescence of the fluorescent label.

Abstract: Aerosol particle analyzer (APA) for measuring an analyte in airborne particle is described. Airborne particles are first given an electrical charge and then drawn in air past an oppositely charged volume of an analysis liquid that exposed to the air at a small hole in a container, such as a capillary, that holds that analysis liquid. Electrostatic forces enhance the rate that the airborne particles collide with the small exposed volume of the analysis liquid in the hole. If the particles that collide with the analysis liquid contain the analyte, an optical property of the analysis liquid, such as the fluorescence, varies according to the amount of the analyte in the particles. This optical property is measured and the amount of analyte in the particles is determined from the measured optical property.

Abstract: An aerosol-into-liquid collector (ALC) for collecting gas-borne particles from a large volume of gas such as air into a small volume of liquid is described. The ALC uses a linear quadrupole to concentrate particles flowing in a gas and to help direct these concentrated particles toward a small volume of collection liquid so that these particles tend to combine with a small volume of collection liquid that can then be drawn from the ACL for further analysis. The particles in the gas are typically given a charge that is opposite to that of the charge imparted to the volume of collection liquid so that electrostatic forces help draw particles from the flowing gas into the small volume of liquid. The linear quadrupole focuses toward it axis particles that have the charge, mass and mobility to be stable in the linear quadrupole.

Abstract: An aerosol-into-liquid collector (ALC) for collecting gas-borne particles from a large volume of gas such as air into a small volume of liquid is described. The ALC uses a linear quadrupole to concentrate particles flowing in a gas and to help direct these concentrated particles toward a small volume of collection liquid so that these particles tend to combine with a small volume of collection liquid that can then be drawn from the ACL for further analysis. The particles in the gas are typically given a charge that is opposite to that of the charge imparted to the volume of collection liquid so that electrostatic forces help draw particles from the flowing gas into the small volume of liquid. The linear quadrupole focuses toward it axis particles that have the charge, mass and mobility to be stable in the linear quadrupole.

Abstract: Aerosol particle analyzer (APA) for measuring an analyte in airborne particle is described. Airborne particles are first given an electrical charge and then drawn in air past an oppositely charged volume of an analysis liquid that exposed to the air at a small hole in a container, such as a capillary, that holds that analysis liquid. Electrostatic forces enhance the rate that the airborne particles collide with the small exposed volume of the analysis liquid in the hole. If the particles that collide with the analysis liquid contain the analyte, an optical property of the analysis liquid, such as the fluorescence, varies according to the amount of the analyte in the particles. This optical property is measured and the amount of analyte in the particles is determined from the measured optical property.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the absorption spectra, and other properties, of aerosol particles. A heating beam source provides a beam of electromagnetic energy which is scanned through the region of the spectrum which is of interest. Particles exposed to the heating beam which have absorption bands within the band width of the heating beam absorb energy from the beam. The particles are also illuminated by light of a wave length such that the light is scattered by the particles. The absorption spectra of the particles can thus be determined from an analysis of the scattered light since the absorption of energy by the particles will affect the way the light is scattered. Preferably the heating beam is modulated to simplify the analysis of the scattered light. In one embodiment the heating beam is intensity modulated so that the scattered light will also be intensity modulated when the particles absorb energy.