Parallel Particle Impactor
Size-selective Samplers for Thoracic or Respirable PM

• Collection efficiency precisely matches PM criteria


• Use with a sample pump at 2 L/min
  
  
• Economical and reusable
– Uses any suitable 37-mm filter


• Disposable pre-oiled impaction substrates reduce particle bounce and buildup effects on sampling accuracy
– Sampling efficiency is not dependent on collected particle type


• Only 3.3 ounces (94 grams) — ideal for personal or area sampling
  
  
• Thoracic model with a 10-µm cut-point is ideal for NIOSH Method 5524 and compounds with ACGIH® thoracic TLVs®
  
  
• Respirable model with a 4-µm cut-point also available
  

Parallel Particle Impactor Spec. Sheet (PDF)

Parallel Particle Impactor Operating Instructions (PDF)

* U.S. Patent No. 7,073,402

PPI — How it works The PPI contains four impactors arranged in parallel, each with a different 50% cut point that targets a specific segment of the selected convention. A personal sample pump provides a 2 L/min flow to operate each impactor simultaneously, but independently. The sample collects on a single 37-mm filter and is analyzed gravimetrically to provide a respirable or thoracic result that is closer to the entire range of the selected convention than any other sampler available. PPI models are available for thoracic (10-µm cut-point) or respirable (4-µm cut-point) sampling at 2 L/min.

Data in Figures 1 and 2 indicate performance of the Respirable PPI and Thoracic PPI are in agreement with their respective ACGIH/CEN/ISO conventions. Experiments revealed that a load of approximately 6.4 mg of coal mine dust on the sampler substrates (impaction plates) did not adversely affect performance of the PPIs.

Figure 1 (Click to enlarge)

Figure 1. Comparison of penetration characteristics measured for the respirable PPI Sampler and Higgins-Dewell Cyclone using PST test particles

Figure 2 (Click to enlarge)

Figure 2. Comparison of penetration characteristics measured for the thoracic PPI Sampler, PEM 10 Sampler, and GK2.69 Cyclone using PST test particles

Performance Profile

• 1 filter
• 1 support
• 4 impaction substrates

All items are available separately.

Ordering Information

References

Trakumas, S., Hall, P., Personal Respirable Sampler Containing Four Impactors Arranged in Parallel, Abstracts of 23rd Annual AAAR Conference, Atlanta, GA, 2004, p. 78

Trakumas, S., Salter, E., "Parallel Particle Impactor - Novel Size-selective Particle Sampler for Accurate Fractioning of Inhalable Particles," Journal of Physics: Conference Series 151 (2009), 16 pp., 012060

The link in Reference 2 is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article accepted for publication in the Journal of Physics: Conference Series 151. IOP Publishing Ltd. is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it. The definitive publisher authenticated version is available online. Go to http://dx.doi.org, enter doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/151/1/012060.

Parallel Particle Impactor Spec. Sheet (PDF)

Parallel Particle Impactor Operating Instructions (PDF)