On-line gas chromatographic analysis of airborne particles

US8088627B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Aerosol Dynamics Inc. · US
• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Susanne Vera Hering · Berkeley, US
• Allen H. Goldstein · Orinda, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 10, 2004
• Grant date: Jan 3, 2012
• Expiry date: Aug 12, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2030/128
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the in-situ, chemical analysis of an aerosol. The method may include the steps of: collecting an aerosol; thermally desorbing the aerosol into a carrier gas to provide desorbed aerosol material; transporting the desorbed aerosol material onto the head of a gas chromatography column; analyzing the aerosol material using a gas chromatograph, and quantizing the aerosol material as it evolves from the gas chromatography column. The apparatus includes a collection and thermal desorption cell, a gas chromatograph including a gas chromatography column, heated transport lines coupling the cell and the column; and a quantization detector for aerosol material evolving from the gas chromatography column.