MCAC - Handix Scientific Inc.

Mixing Condensation Aerosol Collector

Series MCAC700 Aerosol Sampler

Purpose

The Mixing Condensation Aerosol Collector (MCAC700) uses turbulent water-vapor mixing to grow aerosol particles ranging from 10 nm to 10 µm into enlarged droplets, enabling efficient, focused deposition onto a small collection area.

Applications:

Environmental Monitoring
Aerosol Chemistry and Spectroscopy
Bioaerosol Research

Features

Specifications

High Flow Sample Collection: Efficient collection operating in a range of 4-10LPM.

High Aerosol Collection Efficiency: Enables activation, growth, and capture of nanoparticles as small as 10nm into droplets that are captured with very high (>90%) efficiency.

Focused Minuscule Spot Deposition: Converging aerosol beam focuses grown droplets into an approximately 1.4mm diameter dry spot sample.

Enhanced Analytical Sensitivity: Concentrates aerosol mass onto tiny surface areas to lower limits of detection (LOD/LOQ) for spectroscopic and microscopic analysis.

Compact & Portable Form Factor: Compact module design suitable for portable system packages.

Collection Substrate	SEM Stubs or custom liquid petri dishes
Particle Size Range & Collection Efficiency	10nm-10µm>95% @ 4LPM 10nm-10µm >90% @ 6LPM Additional conditions mid-testing, contact Handix Scientific for more information
Particle Concentration Range	0 to 10^5 #/cc
Condensing Fluid	Water, distilled or higher purity
Sample Flow Rate Range	Liquid Sampling: up to 4 LPM Solid Sampling: 4-10 LPM Collection efficiency curve varies with flow rate, contact Handix Scientific for exact information.
Sampled Aerosol Conditions	0-45C, 25-95%RH
Environmental Operating Conditions	5-35 C
Dimensions	Height 9”, Width 8”, Depth 15”
Weight	11 pounds

Specifications subject to change without notice. Aerosol particle collector technology is licensed from NIOSH/CDC
(Zervaki and Kulkarni, Patent Application #US20250130140A1)

References

Zervaki O., Dionysiou D. D., & Kulkarni P. (2024). Compact, high-flow, water-based, turbulent-mixing, condensation aerosol concentrator for collection of spot samples. Aerosol Science and Technology, 58(8), 889–901. https://doi.org/10.1080/02786826.2024.2361050

Zervaki O., Dionysiou D. D., & Kulkarni P. (2024). A High-Throughput, Turbulent-Mixing, Condensation Aerosol Concentrator for Direct Aerosol Collection as a Liquid Suspension. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208350

How does it work?

The MCAC utilizes a compact, mixing-type condensation growth system to enlarge fine particles into droplets for direct spot deposition onto a collection surface. Particle-free air passes through a heated saturator to generate a hot, water-vapor-saturated stream.

In the mixing section, this hot vapor stream mixes with the cold incoming aerosol-laden flow. This turbulent mixing and adiabatic expansion into a cooled section creates water vapor supersaturation.

As the mixture travels through the cooled growth section, water vapor condenses onto activated nanoparticles down to 10nm, growing them into micrometer-sized droplets. The enlarged droplet stream then passes through a converging nozzle that deposits the sample onto a solid or liquid substrate.