Heated Inlet Sampling System for Removing Carbonaceous Aerosol

A method for separating airborne particles made of refractory materials from ambient aerosol particles has been developed. A heated inlet device was fabricated from a tube furnace and tested using aerosol produced in the laboratory and found in the ambient outdoor environment. By removing interfering particulate matter, this heated inlet increases the efficiency for microanalysis of small refractory particles. Areas of application include the analysis of mineral particles (ambient crustal dusts, asbestos, etc.) and particles from nuclear accidents