Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a hydrothermal reactor, such as a downflow hydrothermal reactor and methods of using the same. Also disclosed herein are system embodiments comprising the hydrothermal reactor. Method embodiments disclosed herein facilitate determining operation parameters for the hydrothermal reactor that give rise to efficient feedstock conversion to products while maintaining integrity of the reactor (e.g., avoiding corrosion) and providing safe operating conditions. The disclosed reactor and system embodiments facilitate situations where small scale and/or remote destruction of feedstocks (e.g., chemical warfare agents and/or environmental toxins) is needed.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally relates to methods and systems useful for continuous synthesis of materials in super-critical carbon dioxide (sCO2). More particularly, this disclosure relates to methods and systems useful for continuous synthesis of coordination polymers, such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and/or covalent organic frameworks (COFs), in sCO2.

Abstract: A method includes receiving input indicating at least two of: (a) a coefficient of first sensitivity of an optical particle sizer (OPS) to a real part of a complex refractive index (CRI); (b) a coefficient of second sensitivity of the OPS to an imaginary part of the CRI; (c) a coefficient of a degree of monotonicity between intensity and particle size; (d) a coefficient of a dynamic range of the OPS; or (e) a coefficient of a limit of detection (LOD) of the OPS; determining ratings for the OPS using the at least two of (a)-(e) and at least two of (i) the first sensitivity, (ii) the second sensitivity, (iii) the degree of monotonicity, (iv) the dynamic range, or (v) the LOD; identifying an angle that corresponds to a maximum or minimum rating; and providing an OPS having a detection angle that is within 5 degrees of the identified angle.

Abstract: A non-contact aerodynamic sampling tool for collecting particles and vapors from the surfaces. Opposing planar jets or planar jet arrays are used to liberate material from surfaces so that particulate matter and vapors can be collected for analysis in real time. High-speed valves may be triggered to create pressure waveforms for high velocity pressurized planar jet bursts, or continuously operated opposing wall jets may be angularly directed toward a target surface, permitting sampling from large standoff distances. The wall jets traverse the surface and exhibit significant drag forces to lift particles into a suction intake. Unlike axisymmetric jets, the wall jets sustain the flow momentum over the target surface for a greater distance, dislodging particles submerged in the boundary layer and significantly improving particle resuspension and vapor collection.

Abstract: A method includes receiving input indicating at least two of: (a) a coefficient of first sensitivity of an optical particle sizer (OPS) to a real part of a complex refractive index (CRI); (b) a coefficient of second sensitivity of the OPS to an imaginary part of the CRI; (c) a coefficient of a degree of monotonicity between intensity and particle size; (d) a coefficient of a dynamic range of the OPS; or (e) a coefficient of a limit of detection (LOD) of the OPS; determining ratings for the OPS using the at least two of (a)-(e) and at least two of (i) the first sensitivity, (ii) the second sensitivity, (iii) the degree of monotonicity, (iv) the dynamic range, or (v) the LOD; identifying an angle that corresponds to a maximum or minimum rating; and providing an OPS having a detection angle that is within 5 degrees of the identified angle.

Abstract: A non-contact aerodynamic sampling tool for collecting particles and vapors from the surfaces. Opposing planar jets or planar jet arrays are used to liberate material from surfaces so that particulate matter and vapors can be collected for analysis in real time. High-speed valves may be triggered to create pressure waveforms for high velocity pressurized planar jet bursts, or continuously operated opposing wall jets may be angularly directed toward a target surface, permitting sampling from large standoff distances. The wall jets traverse the surface and exhibit significant drag forces to lift particles into a suction intake. Unlike axisymmetric jets, the wall jets sustain the flow momentum over the target surface for a greater distance, dislodging particles submerged in the boundary layer and significantly improving particle resuspension and vapor collection.

Abstract: A non-contacting aerodynamic jet tool for collecting particles and vapors associated with surfaces. Opposing planar jets or planar jet arrays are used to liberate material from surfaces so that resuspended particulate matter and vapors can be collected for analysis. In operation, high-speed valves are triggered to create waveforms of high velocity pressurized planar jet bursts. The wall jets that traverse the surfaces exhibit unexpectedly high wall surface stress with velocity spikes characteristic of a chain of shock waves. Unlike axisymmetric jets, the wall jet tool flows over the target surface for a greater distance with wall shear stress having sufficient momentum to dislodge particles submerged in the boundary layer, dramatically improving sampling efficiency by lifting the particles and vapors from the boundary layer into a sampling intake for downstream analysis.

Abstract: An inspection lens, including a lens tube having a central longitudinal axis and a plurality of axially aligned optical elements, including an outermost element. A sheath surrounding the lens tube and defining there between an annular air flow channel. The sheath has a diversion nozzle at a distal end, terminating in a lens tip. The diversion nozzle is configured to divert the air flow in the annular channel inward toward the longitudinal axis and at a slight reverse angle of between 0-18 degrees relative to a plane normal to the axis and back toward the outermost element creating a reverse oblique impinging jet inside said lens tip that minimizes any recirculation zone in front of the outermost element.

Abstract: Devices, apparatus and methods are disclosed for non-contact pneumatic sampling and sampling of surfaces, persons, articles of clothing, buildings, furnishings, vehicles, baggage, packages, mail, and the like, for contaminating aerosols indicative of a hazard or a benefit, where the contaminating aerosols are chemical, radiological, biological, toxic, or infectious in character. In a first device, a central orifice for pulling a suction gas stream is surrounded by a peripheral array of convergingly-directed gas jets, forming a virtual sampling chamber. The gas jets are configured to deliver millisecond pneumatic pulses that erode particles from solid surfaces at a distance.

Abstract: An apparatus or device for collecting aerosol particles from a gas stream, having a collector body enclosing a collector channel, a particle trap in the collector channel, and an injection duct for injecting a discrete microdroplet of an elution reagent. The particle trap may be a centrifugal impactor, a bluff body impactor, or an electrostatic impactor. Aerosol particles are deposited on the surface during collection and are subsequently eluted with a microdroplet or a series of microdroplets as a concentrated liquid sample so that the sample can be analyzed in situ or conveyed to a detector for analysis. The collector serves as an aerosol-to-liquid conversion module as part of an apparatus for detecting and analyzing aerosol particles, and may be used in an integrated environmental threat assessment system, for example for characterization of aerosolized chemical and biological weapons, or for industrial or environmental monitoring.

Abstract: An aerosol sampling intake configured to exclude particles generally greater than 20 microns AD and capture particles of less than about 10 microns AD with high efficiency, independent of weather conditions, through which air is sampled by suction. The intake combines an omnidirectional horizontal segment with diffuser and elbow, the elbow transitioning flow to a vertical segment, the vertical segment with overhanging lip, the centrifugal impactor for self-cleaning operation, thus relieving the dual problems of re-entrainment of particles bouncing from the impactor surface and fouling by particles sticking to the impactor surface. The device is adapted for use on moving vehicles, for sampling at increased windspeeds, or for sampling in rain.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for non-contact pneumatic sampling of surfaces, persons, articles of clothing, buildings, furnishings, vehicles, baggage, packages, mail, and the like, for aerosols or vapor residues indicative of a hazard or a benefit, where the residues are chemical, radiological, biological, toxic, or infectious in character. A central orifice for pulling a vacuum is surrounded by an array of convergingly-directed gas jets, forming a “virtual sampling chamber”. The gas jets are configured to deliver millisecond pneumatic pulses that erode particles and vapors from solid surfaces at a distance. A curtain wall flow encloses the sampling area during pulse retrieval.

Abstract: The lifetime of aerosol monitoring, concentration and collection equipment is extended by acoustic cleaning of accreted particle deposits from internal surfaces where fouling occurs by application of acoustic energy to the particle accretion surface, optionally in combination with a liquid wash or sampling volume. In one application, acoustic cleaning or sampling of particle deposits for analysis is triggered by a signal indicating changes in gas flow associated with particle loading. In another application, electro-acoustic transducers may be used to prevent particle buildup without interruption of particle monitoring.

Abstract: Improved centrifugal particle traps for aerosol particle collection and sampling characterized by a curved, progressively tapered impactor channel operable over a incompressible or compressible flow regime, or a flow regime transitioning from incompressible to compressible over the length of the particle trap. Mixtures of particles in a flowing gas stream are impactingly captured and separated by size. The particle traps can be operated to collect submicron particles without blockage, have lower pressure drops to reduce overall power requirements, and surprisingly, viability of biological particles captured in the particle traps of the invention is increased. Also disclosed are systems and methods combining these improved particle traps with in-line particle concentrators and with aerosol sample or liquid sample processing and analysis systems.

Abstract: An aerosol sampling intake configured to exclude particles generally greater than 20 microns AD and capture particles of less than about 10 microns AD with high efficiency, independent of weather conditions, through which air is sampled by suction. The intake combines an omnidirectional horizontal segment with diffuser and elbow, the elbow transitioning flow to a vertical segment, the vertical segment with overhanging lip, the centrifugal impactor for self-cleaning operation, thus relieving the dual problems of re-entrainment of particles bouncing from the impactor surface and fouling by particles sticking to the impactor surface. The device is adapted for use on moving vehicles, for sampling at increased windspeeds, or for sampling in rain.

Abstract: Devices, apparatus and methods are disclosed for non-contact pneumatic sampling and sampling of surfaces, persons, articles of clothing, buildings, furnishings, vehicles, baggage, packages, mail, and the like, for contaminating aerosols or vapors indicative of a hazard or a benefit, where the contaminating aerosols or vapors are chemical, radiological, biological, toxic, or infectious in character. In a first device, a central orifice for pulling a suction gas stream is surrounded by a peripheral array of convergingly-directed gas jets, forming a virtual sampling chamber. The gas jets are configured to deliver millisecond pneumatic pulses that erode particles and vapors from solid surfaces at a distance.

Abstract: Devices, apparatus and methods are disclosed for non-contact pneumatic sampling and sampling of surfaces, persons, articles of clothing, buildings, furnishings, vehicles, baggage, packages, mail, and the like, for contaminating aerosols indicative of a hazard or a benefit, where the contaminating aerosols are chemical, radiological, biological, toxic, or infectious in character. In a first device, a central orifice for pulling a suction gas stream is surrounded by a peripheral array of convergingly-directed gas jets, forming a virtual sampling chamber. The gas jets are configured to deliver millisecond pneumatic pulses that erode particles from solid surfaces at a distance.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for non-contact pneumatic sampling of surfaces, persons, articles of clothing, buildings, furnishings, vehicles, baggage, packages, mail, and the like, for aerosols or vapor residues indicative of a hazard or a benefit, where the residues are chemical, radiological, biological, toxic, or infectious in character. A central orifice for pulling a vacuum is surrounded by an array of convergingly-directed gas jets, forming a “virtual sampling chamber”. The gas jets are configured to deliver millisecond pneumatic pulses that erode particles and vapors from solid surfaces at a distance. A curtain wall flow encloses the sampling area during pulse retrieval.

Abstract: Skimmer devices for concentrating an aerosol from a flowing gas stream, said skimmers having an inlet with inlet aperture and inlet raceway, an outlet with virtual impactor void and collector channel, and a bulk flow divertor positioned axisymmetrically on the long axis of flow, further characterized in that the downstream surface of the bulk flow divertor is curved for contactingly diverting the streamlines of the bulk flow by greater than 90 degrees away from the long axis of flow without wall separation or instability. Also described are combinations of slot-type and annular-type skimmers with upstream focusing elements such as aerodynamic lenses, and uses thereof.

Abstract: A skimmer device for concentrating an aerosol from a flowing gas stream, having an inlet with inlet aperture and inlet raceway, an outlet with virtual impact void and collector channel, and bulk flow divertors symmetrically disposed on either side of the long axis of flow, further characterized in that the downstream walls of the bulk flow divertors are concavedly curved and reverse the direction of bulk flow. In section, the four channels or passages of the “skimmer” thus form a “crossed tee” with concavedly contoured lateral arms curving back around. The lateral flow channels are for diverting the bulk flow into exhaust chimney spaces, and the chimney spaces are positioned proximate to the inlet element and anterior to the collection channel. In operation, the bulk flow streamlines are thereby folded more than 90 degrees away from the long axis of flow on the laterally disposed concave walls of the bulk flow channels.