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ABSTRACT
For rapid and effective detection of airborne microorganisms, it is preferable to remove dust particles during the air sampling process because they can reduce the detection accuracy of measurements. In this study, a methodology of real-time separation ofaerosolized Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) andpolystyrene latex (PSL) particles of similar size was investigated. These two species represent biological and non-biological particles, respectively. Due to their different relative permittivities, they grasp different numbers of air ions under corona discharge. After these charged particles enter a mobility analyzer with airflow, in which an electric field is applied perpendicular to the airflow, the S. epidermidis and PSL particles separate, due to the difference in their electric mobilities, and exit through two different outlets. Purities and recoveries for S. epidermidis and PSLat their respective outlets were determined with measurements of aerosol number concentrations and ATP bioluminescence intensities at the inlet and two outlets. The results were that purities for PSL and S. epidermidis were 70% and 80%, respectively. This methodology provides a rapid and simple way to increase the detection accuracy of bacterial agents in air.
Copyright © 2017 American Association for Aerosol Research
EDITOR:
Funding
This research was supported by Bio Nano Health-Guard Research Center funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (MSIP) of Korea as Global Frontier Project (HGUARD_2013M3A6B2078959), Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and future Planning (NRF-2015R1A2A1A01003890), and Korea Ministry of Environment (MOE) as the Technologies for Responding to Atmospheric Environment Policies Program.