Patent ID: 6532835
Filing Date: 2003-03-18
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An air sampler; wherein said air sampler is adapted to strip a target material from an air flow with a stripping liquid; wherein said air sampler comprises:a main body means comprising a main body, a main body inner surface and a main body air chamber; wherein said main body inner surface defines said main body air chamber; wherein said main body air chamber is located within said main body; wherein said air sampler further comprises an air inlet means for permitting said air flow to enter said main body air chamber; an air outlet means for permitting said air flow to exit said main body air chamber; a liquid inlet means for permitting said stripping liquid to enter said main body air chamber; a liquid outlet means for permitting said stripping liquid to exit said main body air chamber; and wherein, during operation of said air sampler, said main body means is for forming said air flow from said air inlet means into a main body air vortex within said main body air chamber, wherein said main body air vortex has a velocity with respect to a stripping portion of said main body inner surface that is selected to enable said main body air vortex to urge said stripping liquid from said liquid inlet means to form a thin liquid film on said stripping portion of said main body inner surface, wherein said thin liquid film strips a film-stripped part of said target material from said main body air vortex, and wherein said velocity of said main body air vortex is also selected to enable said main body air vortex to urge said thin liquid film and said film-stripped part of said target material to flow to said liquid outlet means.