

Training	Online Store	Rentals	Sales & Service	Contact SKC

Headlines:	Oil Spill Response		Green Building Testing	Nanoparticle Measurement	Anasorb CMS Status

Deal of the Month. Special pricing Click Here

Sioutas Cascade Impactor

Separates Coarse, Fine, and Ultrafine Particles

Precise particle separation

Particle size cut-points: 2.5 µm, 1.0 µm, 0.50 µm, and 0.25 µm
The only personal impactor that efficiently samples coarse, fine, and ultrafine particles simultaneously
Maintains high collection efficiency even at high particle concentrations

Optimized at 9 L/min flow rate with low pressure drop for 24-hour sampling

Maintains specified 50% cut-points
Improves analytical sensitivity
Minimizes non-detectable samples

Preserves unstable compounds

Chemically inert collection substrate
No impaction grease to contaminate sample

Minimal particle bounce and internal wall losses
Suitable for indoor and outdoor* sampling
Size-fractionated samples can be analyzed gravimetrically, chemically, and microscopically
Small and lightweight

Suitable for personal or area sampling
5.6 ounces (159 grams)

Sioutas Cascade Impactor Operating Instructions (PDF)

Sioutas Cascade Impactor Spec. Sheet (PDF)

EPA IP-10A Method Update: Determination of Fine Particulate Matter in Indoor Air Using Size-Specific Impaction (PDF)

Sioutas Cascade Impactor
The patented^† personal-size Sioutas* Cascade Impactor separates and collects airborne particles in five size ranges: > 2.5 µm, 1.0 to 2.5 µm, 0.50 to 1.0 µm, 0.25 to 0.50 µm, and < 0.25 µm. When used with PTFE collection filters, the Sioutas Impactor is highly efficient at collecting particles without the use of impaction grease or substrate coatings and at retaining unstable compounds for size-fractionated chemical analysis.

^†	U.S. Patent No. 6,786,105
*	Developed by Dr. Constantinos Sioutas of the University of Southern California in partnership with the Mickey Leland National Urban Air Toxics Research Center (NUATRC). See reference below.
*	Requires special provisions, see operating instructions.

Sioutas Impactor and Leland Legacy Pump Are Powerful Partners

The Sioutas Impactor and SKC Leland Legacy Sample Pump operated at 9 L/min are powerful partners that ensure precise particle separation at the specified cut-points and sample collection on the filters at each stage. The Sioutas Impactor is simply clipped to a worker's collar or lapel for personal sampling and is also suitable for area sampling.

Sioutas Impactor and Leland Legacy Receive ETV Verification
U.S. EPA Environmental Technology Verification (EPA-ETV) is a program that furthers environmental protection by accelerating acceptance and use of improved, cost-effective technologies through performance verification. EPA-ETV recently tested the SKC Leland Legacy Sample Pump with the Sioutas Impactor and released its report. For a verification report on the Leland Legacy and Sioutas performance, visit the AMS Center at www.epa.gov/nrmrl/std/etv/vtams.html.

Why Use the Sioutas Personal Impactor?
PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) has been linked to an increase in respiratory symptoms and related hospital visits, aggravated asthma, chronic bronchitis, and premature death. Indoor concentrations of PM are often higher than outdoor concentrations. Studies show that the traditional stationary monitors used for ambient PM measurement are poor estimators of personal PM exposures; they do not assess the effects of PM on vulnerable individuals. The new approach to sampling fine PM includes:

Sampling of microenvironments, i.e., personal sampling
Sampling of vulnerable persons
Measuring the mass of exposure
Measuring particle size
Evaluating particle chemistry

Only the new miniature Sioutas Cascade Impactor meets the new approach to sampling fine PM. The Sioutas Impactor collects personal samples and separates the sample into five size ranges that can be analyzed for particle mass exposure, particle size, and particle chemistry. Analysis of Sioutas Impactor samples can provide data on the relationship between outdoor/indoor PM levels and personal exposures.

Sioutas Impactor Applications

Industrial hygiene studies

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) studies

Air pollution studies

Inhalation toxicology and epidemiological studies

Aerosol research

Pharmaceutical studies

Outdoor ambient sampling (requires special provisions, see operating instructions).

Performance Profile

Flow Rate	9 L/min 50% cut-point of each stage at 9 L/min Stage A: 2.5 µm Stage B: 1.0 µm Stage C: 0.50 µm Stage D: 0.25 µm
Recommended After-filter Type	37-mm, 2.0-µm PTFE filter•† (Cat. No. 225-1709)
Recommended Collection Filter for Stages	25-mm, 0.5-µm PTFE with laminated PTFE support (Cat. No. 225-2708)•
Wind Velocity	< 5 mph
Operating Temperature	Maximum operating temperature of PTFE Filters with the PMP support ring is 464 F ( 240 C)
Maximum Particle Load	Varies per stage ‡
Construction Material	Stages are anodized aluminum; O-rings are Buna-N (Nitrile); filter retainers are acrylic
Inlet and Outlet Diameters	Inlet: 3/8-in OD and 1/4-in ID Outlet: 3/8-in OD and 1/4-in ID
Dimensions	3.4 x 2.2 in (8.6 x 5.5 cm)
Weight	5.6 oz (159 gm)

•	Back pressure on PTFE filters can vary within the same lot.
†	The maximum operating temperature for PTFE filters with PMP support ring is 464 F (240 C).
‡	See NUATRC Report No. 2 at http://www.sph.uth.tmc.edu/mleland/attachments/MLeland_Sioutas2.pdf.

Sioutas FAQs

Filters for the Sioutas Impactor
Four 25-mm filters and one 37-mm filter are required for sampling the fractions specified. The 25-mm filters act as collection substrate and the 37-mm filter is the final collection filter (after-filter) for particles below 0.25 µm. SKC recommends using PTFE filters• in the Sioutas Impactor to minimize particle bounce and to preserve unstable compounds. Coated collection substrate may be used if desired, however, a coating is not necessary and can interfere with chemical analysis. See Ordering Information for recommended filters.

• Back pressure on PTFE filters can vary within the same lot.

Ordering Information

Description		Cat. No.
Sioutas Personal Cascade Impactor		225-370
Accessories
Leland Legacy Pump with Li-Ion battery pack, requires charger Use in non-explosive environments only; not UL Listed for intrinsic safety; CE marked. Contains Li-ion batteries and is subject to special shipping, see Leland Legacy Pump page for more information		100-3002
Defender 510 Primary Standard Calibrator includes lead-acid battery, multi-plug charger (100-240 V), Optimizer Collect Light Software, and 39-inch (1-meter) serial cable Software requires Windows 2000 (SP3), XP (SP2), or Vista and available COM port.		717-510H
Sioutas Replacement Parts
Replacement Collector Plates, set of 4		P55016
Retainer Rings only, pk/4		P20151
Replacement O-ring, Retainer, and Spacer Set for Sioutas Impactor includes 4 filter retainer rings, 9 O-rings, and 1 PTFE spacer ring		P51917
Recommended Filter for Sioutas Impactor
After-filter, 37-mm PTFE•†, 2.0 µm, optional		225-1709
Collection Substrate (filter for 4 stages), 25-mm, PTFE•, 25 mm, 0.5-µm pore, required		225-2708

•	Back pressure on PTFE filters can vary within the same lot.
†	The maximum operating temperature for PTFE filters with PMP support ring is 464 F (240 C).

Reference:
Misra, C., Singh, M., Shen, S., Sioutas, C., Hall, P., "Development and Evaluation of a Personal Cascade Impactor Sampler (PCIS)," Journal of Aerosol Science, 33, 2002, pp. 1027-1047.

Singh, M., Misra, C., Sioutas, C., "Field Evaluation of a Personal Cascade Impactor Sampler (PCIS)," Atmospheric Environment, 37, 2003, pp. 4781-4793.

Sioutas, C., "Development of New Generation Personal Monitors for Fine Particulate Matter (PM) and its Metal Content," NUATRC Research Report No 2, 2004, http://www.sph.uth.tmc.edu/mleland/attachments/MLeland_Sioutas2.pdf.

Sioutas Cascade Impactor Operating Instructions (PDF)

Sioutas Cascade Impactor Spec. Sheet (PDF)

EPA IP-10A Method Update: Determination of Fine Particulate Matter in Indoor Air Using Size-Specific Impaction (PDF)

This page was last modified April 20, 2010

About SKC

Site Map

Ordering Information