Real-time chemical composition monitor for fine airborne
This technology is an instrument that automatically collects microscopic airborne particles, grows them larger using water vapor so they're easier to handle, deposits them onto a surface, and then heats that surface in a controlled way to release and identify their chemical components. By ramping up temperature gradually, different chemicals vaporize at different points, allowing the system to distinguish what compounds are present based on when they evaporate — a technique called thermal desorption. The whole process runs in sequence without human intervention, meaning it can continuously monitor air quality in near-real time. It's essentially an automated chemical fingerprinting system for air pollution particles.
What you could build
A continuous, field-deployable air quality monitor that provides chemical composition data on fine particulate matter — useful for environmental regulators, industrial facility operators, and research agencies needing to identify pollution sources or track hazardous aerosols without sending filters to a lab.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia environmental monitoring agencies, federal contractors supporting EPA or DoD air quality programs, and energy or defense facilities in the Hampton Roads or NoVA corridor with air emissions compliance obligations.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Gabriel Isaacman-VanWertz, Nathan M. Kreisberg, Susanne V. Hering
- Granted
- August 22, 2023
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 11733148
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.