Aerosol particle separation and collection

Abstract

A contactor is positioned coaxially with and substantially within at least one separator, and otherwise is configured to receive aerosolized target particles of interest as a sample. The use of a plurality of separators that are coaxial with each other and the contactor increases the number of separations involving target particles and other constituents of air at a sampling point, whereby in some embodiments the separators are rotatably configurable relative to each other and to the contactor.

1 . A particle separation and collection method, comprising:
 arranging a contactor coaxially with at least one separator, wherein at least one separator surrounds the contactor;   transferring constituents from a sampling point to the at least one separator in fluid communication with the sampling point;   establishing, within the contactor and the at least one separator, a rotational gas movement pattern;   separating a first fraction of constituents from a second fraction of constituents wherein the first fraction passes into the contactor through a contactor opening and the second fraction of constituents does not pass through the contactor opening; and   contacting constituents from the first fraction with a carrier liquid inside the contactor.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating a pressure gradient between the sampling point and at least one separator. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of arranging a contactor with at least one separator includes arranging two or more separators, and comprises arranging an outermost separator coaxially with at least one interior separator, and the at least one interior separator has an opening for receiving constituents. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising setting an alignment configuration between the outermost separator and at least one interior separator or between the contactor and at least one separator. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein constituents are transferred in a conduit, and further comprising arranging a conduit and a conduit opening tangentially to a central axis of the at least one separator. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising configuring a reservoir to deliver carrier liquid to the contactor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising maintaining a volume of carrier liquid in the contactor at a level higher than the contactor opening. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising transferring constituents and carrier liquid to a collection vessel.