BioCascade: A Planar Cascade Impactor

What it does:

BioCascade collects viable bioaerosol samples through gentle impaction into user-chosen liquid media. Three distinct size fractions are collected to characterize coarse aerosols.

How it works:

The BioCascade is a planar cascade impactor targeting the collection of coarse airborne particles using multi-stage size-classification and particle collection by gentle impaction into liquid media. It combines established guidelines for impaction on solid surfaces while maintaining low-enough flow velocities to avoid unstable air jet-liquid interfaces that can lead to sample re-entrainment. Developed using 3D fluid dynamics modeling and laboratory tested using inert and viable biological aerosols.

Aerosol samples are collected into three different particle size fractions by sequential impaction stages of decreasing size cut-points (D50) of 10 μm, 4 μm and 1.5 μm.

For collection of particles smaller than 1.4 μm, the unit can be placed upstream of a filter or other sampler, for example, BioSpot-VIVAS, BioSpot-GEM, Spot Sampler (Handix), or the Biosampler (SKC).

BioCascade flow schematic (first two stages shown in section view).

Features:

  • Made of aluminum for easy cleaning and disinfection.

  • Dimensions: 17cm × 15cm × 6.4cm (6.5” × 6.0” × 2.5”) Weight: 4 kg

  • Nominal flow rates available with interchangeable nozzle sets: 1.5, 4, 8 and 12 Lpm

  • Collection platform: 35 mm generic Petri dish (sits inside sealed chamber)

  • Collection medium: water, broth, PBS, user specified

  • Standard volume: 2 mL liquid, accessories available for larger volumes: 3mL and 4 mL

  • Optional sample temperature control: cooling and/or heating platform

  • Optional individual stage water injection system for evaporation compensation

Complete Bioaerosol Collection:

The BioCascade coarse particle collector is easily paired with the Biospot-VIVAS fine bioaerosol collection system to extend viable sample collection down to 5 nm. Combined system package sold exclusively through Handix Scientific (www.handixscientic.com).

 

Publications

Chen et al. (2024), “The BioCascade Impactor: A novel device for direct collection of size-fractionated bioaerosols into liquid medium”, Aerosol Sci. Technol., 58(3):264-275. doi: 10.1080/02786826.2024.2301941.  

Shankar et al. (2023), “The BioCascade-VIVAS system for collection and delivery of virus-laden size-fractionated airborne particles”, J. Aerosol Sci., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaerosci.2023.106263.