Simple solution for aerosol liquid sampling from Metrohm
With increasing air pollution, monitoring the chemical composition of aerosols (particulate matter "PM") is becoming more and more important. With the AeRosol Sampler "Mars", Metrohm Process Analytics offers a simple solution for aerosol liquid sampling without the usual time-consuming filter membrane sampling procedures.
Conventional filter membrane sampling methods are time-consuming and labor-intensive, and the collected samples must be manually pre-treated. The usual sampling period is several days, which does not allow close monitoring of rapidly changing air pollution. Metrohm Process Analytics presents the Metrohm AeRosol Sampler "Mars." Mars is used to convert aerosols in a supersaturated water vapor phase into droplets within a short time. The aqueous phase thus obtained can be fed to an ion chromatograph - IC or to voltammetry - VA for further analysis. The principle of the aerosol collector is simple: air flows continuously through the Wet Rotating Denuder (WRD) into the Mars to remove interfering gases. The ambient air, freed of its gaseous, water-soluble components, enters the Steam Jet Aerosol Collector (SJAC). Supersaturated steam is introduced, causing the aerosols to grow into larger, heavier droplets. As the air progresses, it passes through a cyclone where the particles are separated by inertial separation in water. The resulting solution of dissolved ionic aerosols is continuously sampled at the bottom of the SJAC for further analysis - process monitoring at a whole new level.
The Mars can be used as a sample preparation technique for monitoring indoor or outdoor air in various industries (for example, pollutant monitoring inside buildings, stack emission determination, or even mobile use in aircraft). For the analysis of anions and cations in aerosols, an ion chromatograph (IC) can be connected directly to the Mars. When monitoring particles in ambient air with Mars IC, an internal standard can be added. This internal standard contains a known amount of lithium and bromide, which ensures continuous validation of results. On the other hand, heavy metals can also be analyzed by coupling Mars with a voltammetry system, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of your sample. Mars can also be remotely coupled to any analyzer system (ex. IC or VA) to ensure immediate evaluation of the results.