The Dry Aerosol Deposition Device (DADD): An Instrument for Depositing Microbial Aerosols onto Surfaces

Abstract

The advent -- 60 years after the concept was first proposed -- of practical self-decontaminating materials coincides with international efforts to prepare for global viral epidemics to highlight a need for a method to rapidly and reproducibly contaminate surfaces with pathogenic bioaerosol particles and representative surrogates. Slow rotation of a single collection stage in a cascade impactor downstream of a Collison nebulizer is demonstrated to deposit by impaction a rotationally symmetric distribution of particles containing a single spore of Bacillus globigii or vegetative Staphylococcus aureus bacterium. The coefficient of variation observed for deposition on glass plates was approx. 14%, significantly less than the acceptance criterion of 20%, and deposition time is approx. 20 min. Particle size distribution can be manipulated -- by changing the nozzle in the Collison, by changing the concentration of inert organics added to the atomization mixture, or both -- suggesting a possibility of selectively depositing larger particles containing multiple organisms.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA502105

Entities

People

  • Brian K. Heimbuch
  • Joseph D. Wander
  • Kimberly R. Kinney
  • Robert K. Nichols

Organizations

  • Applied Research Associates (United States)

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerosol Generators
  • Aerosols
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Biological Aerosols
  • Materials
  • Microbiology
  • Microorganisms
  • Particle Size
  • Particles
  • Standards
  • Staphylococcus Aureus
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Methods

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aerosol Science/Aerosol Physics
  • Military/Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technology
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology