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Laser Irradiation As A Novel Alternative To Detach Intact Particulate Matter Collected On Air Filters, Seyed-Mohammadreza Samaee, Rahim Molaei, Robert A. Yokel, Hedieh Pazokian

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Airborne particulate matter (PM) is collected on specific filters. For subsequent testing, the PM should be detached intact from the filter. Liquid extraction (LE), the standard method to detach PM from air filter surfaces, is challenging and can be tedious. Laser irradiation has been used to characterize PM on filters, but not to detach PM from filters for subsequent testing. A feasibility study was conducted to assess the potential of laser irradiation to detach PM from air filters. Laser-detached PM was deposited on a pre-weighed glass plate. PM detachment and collection were conducted in a single step. PM-coated air filters …