A collection apparatus collects a collection target in air in a target space. The collection apparatus includes an air passage having an inlet and an outlet, a carrier disposed in the air passage, and a plurality of collectors disposed in the air passage. The carrier carries the air. The plurality of carriers collects the collection target in the air carried by the carrier. The plurality of collectors collects different types of collection targets.

An open-cell foam structure that is used to detect and remove substances from water or air.

Methods for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring the treatment of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI), e.g., Clostridium difficile-Associated Diarrhea (CDAD). The methods can include detecting the presence of one or more volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a sample from ambient air or stool sample from subjects suspected of having a CDI, e.g., CDAD.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems for air sampling and emissions monitoring based on wind direction, including determining concentrations of air toxics, are contemplated. Some embodiments comprise detecting wind flowing in a first direction and a second direction, exposing a sample collection device to air in response to detecting the first direction and preventing exposure of the sample collection device to air in response to the second direction. Some apparatuses comprise a direction detector, an enclosure, and a sample preventer. Some embodiments comprise a purger configured to purge the sample collection device when preventing exposure of the sample collection device to air. In some embodiments, the sample collection device comprises a diffusive sorbent tube. In some embodiments, the diffusive sorbent tube is configured to collect samples of benzene. Some embodiments comprise a wind vane and sensor configured to provide indication of wind direction. Some embodiments comprise a data collector.

In a measuring method for measuring an atmospheric concentration of a compound, such as a volatile organic compound (VOC), an adsorptive element is provided within a target atmosphere for a period of time to allow adsorption of a compound of interest for measurement, and then removed from the target atmosphere, and placed within a closed measuring space. The adsorptive element is heated within the measuring space to cause de-adsorption of the compound into the closed measuring space, and a concentration of the de-adsorbed compound is measured. A concentration of the compound in the target atmosphere is determined based on the concentration of the compound within the closed measuring space. The adsorptive element may be formed of an adsorptive material such as carbon fibers, cellulose or other adsorptive materials, and a binder. The adsorptive element may be optimized for adsorption of a specific compound.

A device and method for testing a fiber-composite component, which is to be processed by means of bonding, for the presence of at least one substance out of a selection of possible contaminants. A surface heating device for regional heating of a part-zone of the fiber-composite component to be bonded is performed for desorption of contaminants. A sensor array with a plurality of sensors detects contaminants in the gas phase, and a control device ascertains and signals contaminations which are found. An extractor device can be employed to extract machining dust from the fiber-composite component to a desorption device.

The disclosed system and method concentrates and enriches a chemical sample while removing water and/or CO2 prior to analysis, improving detection limits and repeatability of quantitative chemical analysis without the need for cryogenic or sub-ambient cooling. The system can include a valve system, a dewpoint control zone, and a multi-capillary column trapping system (MCCTS). During a first time period, the valve system can couple the dewpoint control zone to the MCCTS. During a second time period, the valve system can couple the MCCTS to the chemical separation column such the dewpoint control zone is bypassed. Excess water included in the sample can condense in the dewpoint control zone as the sample transfers to the dewpoint control zone and MCCTS. When the sample is transferred from the MCCTS to the chemical separation column, the condensed water in the dewpoint control zone is not transferred to a chemical separation column.

A sample extraction device and a desorption device for use in gas chromatography (GC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS), liquid chromatography (LC), and/or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS) are disclosed. In some examples, the sample extraction device includes a lower chamber holding a sorbent. The sample extraction device can extract sample headspace gas from a sample vial by placing the sorbent inside the vial and creating a vacuum to increase recovery of low volatility compounds, for example. Once the sample has been collected, the sample extraction device can be inserted into a desorption device. The desorption device can control the flow of a carrier fluid (e.g., a liquid or a gas) through the sorbent containing the sample and into a pre-column and/or a primary column of a chemical analysis device for performing GC, GCMS, LC, LCMS, and/or some other chemical analysis process.

A device (1) for detecting a concentration of predetermined particles, particularly viruses, in air (3) with organic and/or inorganic aerosol particles, has a supply unit (10), an imaging unit (20), an image acquisition unit (40) and an evaluation unit (50). The supply unit (10) binds the aerosol particles as particles in a fluid (4). The imaging unit (20) operates on the functional principle of a scanning electron microscope in order to generate an enlarged image of the particles contained in the fluid (4). The image acquisition unit (40) acquires and transmits the image. The evaluation unit (50) evaluates the particles depicted in the image. The evaluation unit (50) automatically detects morphological properties of the particles depicted in the image and compares the detected morphological properties with morphological properties of the predetermined particles. Through the comparison, it determines a proportion and/or number of predetermined particles in the image and the concentration of the predetermined particles in the air (3).

An embodiment of a system is described that, comprises a containment assembly comprising a receptacle configured to hold a substrate, wherein the containment assembly is configured to extend the receptacle from a housing and retract receptacle into the housing; and an aerosol collector comprising a sample chamber, wherein the aerosol collector is configured to operatively couple to the containment assembly and receive the extended receptacle with the substrate in the sample compartment.