Abstract: The mass of particulate matter in a particle laden gas stream is measured using a single mass detector. The particle laden gas stream and a substantially identical but particle-free gas stream alternately engage the mass detector during successive measurement time periods. A difference between a reading provided by the mass detector for a current measurement time period and a reading provided by the mass detector for a consecutive measurement time period is determined. This difference intrinsically corrects for volatilization losses occurring during the current measurement time period. A measure of the mass or concentration of particulate matter in the particulate laden gas stream is determined from this difference.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting the presence of submicron sized particles in a sample taken from the environment includes a collecting a sample from the environment and purifying and concentrating the submicron particles in a sample based on the size of the particles. The purified and concentrated particles are detected with an apparatus which includes an electrospray assembly having an electrospray capillary, a differential mobility analyzer which receives the output from the capillary, and a condensation particle device for counting the number of particles that pass through the differential mobility analyzer. The system is intended to collect a sample containing submicron size particles having a size from about 10 to about 350 nanometers and include submicron size particles selected from the group consisting of viruses, prions, macromolecules, proteins, satellites, and virus fragments. Automated controls can be utilized to control the flow of the sample through the system.

Abstract: A system for detecting the presence of different size groups of submicron size particles in a fluid sample collected from the environment includes apparatus for collecting the environment. The collected a liquid sample containing submicron size particles selected from the group of viruses, prions, macromolecules, proteins and satellites, is directed to an electrospray assembly having an electrospray capillary for ejecting droplets of the fluid sample under the influence of an electric field. The ejected droplets from the electrospray assembly are directed to a differential mobility analyzer which passes the ejected droplets through an electric field, and the particles are then directed to a condensation particle device for counting the number of particles that pass through the electric field.

Abstract: An aerosol lab-on-a-chip (ALOC) integrates one or more of a variety of aerosol collection, classification, concentration (enrichment), and characterization processes onto a single substrate or layered stack of such substrates. By taking advantage of modern micro-machining capabilities, an entire suite of discrete laboratory aerosol handling and characterization techniques can be combined in a single portable device that can provide a wealth of data on the aerosol being sampled. The ALOC offers parallel characterization techniques and close proximity of the various characterization modules helps ensure that the same aerosol is available to all devices (dramatically reducing sampling and transport errors). Micro-machine fabrication of the ALOC significantly reduces unit costs relative to existing technology, and enables the fabrication of small, portable ALOC devices, as well as the potential for rugged design to allow operation in harsh environments.

Abstract: A method for continuous monitoring the presence of entrained catalyst in a regenerator flue gas stream of a fluidized catalytic cracking unit is provided. The method has the following steps: (a) passing the regenerator gas stream through a separation system to remove a portion of the catalyst fines and to create a cleaner regenerator gas stream; (b) collecting a sample portion of the cleaner regenerator gas stream and directing the sample portion of the cleaner regenerator gas stream through an inertial separating device to separate entrained catalyst from the sample portion of the cleaner regenerator gas stream; (c) collecting any separated catalyst from the inertial separating device; and (d) monitoring the efficiency of the separation system by analyzing at least the amount of the collected separated catalyst or the particle size of the collected separated catalyst.