Particle Instruments

Technologies designed by Aerodyne scientists to pursue the advancement of our understanding of the changing environment.

Particle Instruments

A wide array of Mass Spectrometric based instruments for real-time aerosol size and chemistry, optical particle instruments for aerosol extinction and single scattering albedo measurements. This array of products includes research grade instruments as well as smaller monitoring-based instruments.

Aerosol Mass Spectrometer

A research grade instrument capable of providing size and chemical mass loading information for non-refractory sub-micron aerosol particles into a single real-time measurement system.

AMS systems are used worldwide in research laboratories, and deployed in field campaigns at fixed sites, in mobile laboratories, and on ship and aircraft platforms. With the addition our optional soot particle (SP) module, the AMS can also measure refractory aerosol particles containing absorbing material such as black carbon and certain metals.

There are three versions of the Aerodyne AMS instrument. The HTOF-AMS, LTOF-AMS, and the Mini-AMS. These instruments differ in performance, size and weight.

Click on a model in the table to learn more

Mass Spectrometer System	Detection Limit (µg/m³)	Data Rate (M/ΔM)	Mass Range (m/z)	Length x Depth x Height	Weight
HTOF-AMS	0.03 – 0.003	5000 – 2500	1-1200	41” x 24” x 50” 104 cm x 61 cm x 127 cm	320lbs 145 kg
LTOF-AMS	0.04	7000	1-1000	55” x 24” x 27” 140 cm x 61 cm x 69 cm	275lbs 125 kg
Mini AMS	0.025	600	1-400	25.6” x 20.1”x 23.6” 65 cm x 51 cm x 60 cm	165lbs 75 kg

Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor

AEROSOL CHEMICAL SPECIATION MONITOR

ACSM instruments use the same technology as our AMS series. Smaller, lower cost, more robust, and simpler to operate than our AMS instruments, the ACSM is designed for long-term unattended deployment and routine monitoring applications.

There are three ACSM models available: quadrupole, time-of-flight, or time-of-flight with eXtended resolution. ACSM can be configured for either a PM 1 or a PM 2.5 lens, as well as a standard or a capture vaporizer. Each model provides mass concentrations of organic sulfate, nitrate, chloride and ammonium with different limits of detection and time responses.

ACSM Model	Resolving Power M/ ΔM	Data Rate (min)	Particle Size Range Standard lens \| PM 2.5	Length x Depth x Height	Weight
Q-ACSM	UMR	30	70-700 \|110-3500	21” x 19.5” x 34” 53 cm x 50 cm x 86 cm	140 lbs 64 kg
TOF ACSM	UMR	10	70-700 \|110-3500	25.6” x 20.1” x 23.6” 65 cm x 51 cm x 60 cm	165 lbs 75 kg
TOF ACSM-X	Up to 2000	10	70-700 \|110-3500	26” x 20” x 24” 65 cm x 51 cm x 60 cm	210 lbs 95 kg

*Specifications depend on instrument settings and are subject to change without notice.

*Resolving Power: UMR = Unit Mass Resolution

CAPS Particle Optical Properties Monitor

CAPS Particle Optical Properties

Research grade instrumentation for particle optical extinction & single scattering albedo measurements using our patented Cavity Attenuated Phase Shift (CAPS) technique.

Aerodyne’s Cavity Attenuated Phase Shift (CAPS) instruments are based on fixed wavelength(s) over the visible spectral range particle based optical extinction, or optical extinction and single scattering albedo (SSA).

CAPS Measurement Specification	Extinction & Scattering	SSA
Range	0-3,000 Mm^-1	0-1
Resolution	0.01 Mm^-1	0.01
Precision (2σ, 1 s) (2σ, 60 s)	1.5 Mm^-1 0.3 Mm^-1	— 0.03
Time Response (10-90%)	1-2 s	—
Baseline Drift	Baselines Taken as Often as Required
Linearity	± 10 Mm^-1 at 1000 Mm^-1	—
Flow Rate (lpm)	0.85	—
Dimensions (L x W x H)	65 cm x 43 cm x 23 cm [19” rack mount, 5U, 24” deep]
Weight	14 Kg
Power	< 40 W

Vocus

Vocus Advantages

Bipolar ion detection
Interchangeable ionization sources for selective detection of different chemical classes
Quantitative response with broad dynamic range
Sub pptv gas-phase limits of detection
Molecular identification and elemental speciation
High-speed data acquisition
Low power, field portable assembly