Disclosed are a mine dust real-time detection system based on double-photoacoustic spectrometry and a detection method. The mine dust real-time detection system based on double-photoacoustic spectrometry includes a first sampling unit, a first photoacoustic detection cavity, a second sampling unit, a second photoacoustic detection cavity, a signal unit and a processing unit; the first sampling unit is used for sampling in respective, the first photoacoustic detection cavity provides a photoacoustic effect field to substances sampled by the first sampling unit, the second sampling unit is used for sampling in respective, the second photoacoustic detection cavity provides the photoacoustic effect field to substances sampled by the second sampling unit, the signal unit is used for providing a laser signal, and the processing unit is used for collecting and processing a photoacoustic signal.

A particle concentrator system for the concentration of particulate material is described. The particle concentrator system comprises a prefilter module comprising a first inertial classifier configured to retain a flow in which particles smaller than a predetermined cut point size tend to segregate differentially; and a concentrator module comprising at least one second inertial classifier, and optionally more than one fluidly in series, configured to retain a flow in which particles larger than a predetermined cut point size tend to segregate differentially. The inertial classifiers are preferably virtual impactors. A gas sampler system, a gas sampler, concentrator and collection system, a method for the collection of a sample of aerosolised particulate material using such systems are also described.

Various implementations, systems and methods are disclosed for continuous, near real-time, hands-off sampling of airborne particulate matter, and qualification and/or quantification of biomolecules in the sample representative for biologic or microbial contamination. The systems and methods may utilize an electrostatic precipitator for sampling the matter; and a measurement assembly configured to illuminate, excite, or breakdown the sampled matter by electromagnetic radiation, and to detect a spectrum, or one or more wavelength bands of the scatter emitted by the sample. In an exemplary implementation, a sputter deposition process is employed to configure the sample for an enhanced plasmon resonance. The measurement data may be transferred via wireless communication means for cloud storage and signal processing.

A method of determining a presence, concentration or change in concentration of a first or second material in an environment is disclosed. The method comprises measuring a response of a first sensor to the first and second material, wherein the first sensor is one of a metal oxide sensor, an electrochemical sensor, a photoionisation sensor, an infrared sensor, a pellistor sensor, an optical particle monitor, a quartz crystal microbalance sensor, a surface acoustic wave sensor, a cavity ring-down spectroscopy sensor, or a biosensor. The method further comprises measuring a response of a second sensor to the first and second material, wherein the second sensor is another one of a metal oxide sensor, an electrochemical sensor, a photoionisation sensor, an infrared sensor, a pellistor sensor, an optical particle monitor, a quartz crystal microbalance sensor, a surface acoustic wave sensor, a cavity ring-down spectroscopy sensor, a biosensor or a field effect transistor sensor. The method further comprises determining from first and second sensor measurements, a presence, concentration or change in concentration of the first or second material.

Techniques for detecting cannabinoid, opioid, and virus aerosols in an exhaled breath are provided. An example method of identifying a virus-containing aerosol in exhaled breath includes capturing a breath input in an aerosol filter cartridge, disposing the aerosol filter cartridge in an optical path in a spectroscopy system, detecting one or more infrared spectral features of the breath input with the spectroscopy system, and identifying the virus-containing aerosol based on the one or more infrared spectral features.

An environmental sampling chamber for sampling the particulates and substances emitted from a test sample when the surface of the sample is ablated. The sampling chamber avoids the need for clean rooms and other expensive testing apparatus and can be used to test a variety of materials in accordance with standard measurement procedures. Use of the testing chamber and methods assists with safety and risk evaluation in applications such as painting and removal of coatings.

A method of atmospheric inorganic and organic nitrogen quantification is disclosed. The ambient air is sampled by drawing it through an inlet followed by a denuder to reduce positive artifacts. After artifact removal, the air sample is collected onto a filter. The filter is subjected to thermal evolution under stepwise temperature program to generate a gaseous product mixture. In the presence of oxygen-containing carrier gas, the gaseous product mixture is oxidized to form oxidized gaseous products of CO.sub.2 and nitrogen oxides. Then, the nitrogen oxides products are processed to form an NO product and reacted with ozone to form an excited NO.sub.2* molecule. By quantifying the intensity of fluorescence, the concentration of NO.sub.2* molecule is measured, which determines the nitrogen content in the aerosol sample. The differentiation of inorganic and organic nitrogen is achieved through processing the thermally evolved carbon and nitrogen signals using multivariate curve resolution data treatment.

A second device includes a first surface, a second surface in contact with a first device, and a first hole extending through and between the first and second surfaces and being continuous with a groove on the first device. A third device includes a third surface in contact with the first surface, a second hole open in the third surface and continuous with the first hole, and a flow path continuous with the second hole and open in the third surface. As viewed in a first direction from the first to second surfaces, the second hole has a diameter greater than a width of the flow path. The first hole has a greater diameter than the second hole. The second hole has a center surrounded by the first hole. The flow path intersects with the first hole at not more than one point or does not intersect with it.

A sampling device is provided for concentrating a liquid specimen sample, including a filtration assembly, which includes a tubular container and a plunger. The plunger includes a plunger head and a plunger rod that is shaped so as to define an internal plunger space having a plunger-space proximal opening through a proximal end of the plunger rod. The sampling device is configured such that a filter is removable from the tubular container via the plunger-space proximal opening while the plunger head is within the tubular container. Other embodiments are also described.

Techniques for detecting cannabinoid, opioid, and virus aerosols in an exhaled breath are provided. An example method for analyzing exhaled breath includes receiving an aerosol breath sample, concentrating the aerosol breath sample onto an infrared-transparent coupon with an electrostatic precipitator, disposing the infrared-transparent coupon in an optical path of a spectroscopy system, detecting one or more infrared spectral features of the concentrated aerosol breath sample with the spectroscopy system, and analyzing the aerosol breath sample based on the one or more infrared spectral features.