AE36 helps Air Quality specialists increase their understanding of particulate matter (PM) air pollution.
Gain insights into Black Carbon. Get accurate data you can trust, with less workload.
KEY FEATURES
7λ, 370 – 950 NM, REAL-TIME ANALYSIS
BC INDEX
DUALSPOT TECHNOLOGY
REAL-TIME SOURCE APPORTIONMENT
ROBUSTNESS TO RELATIVE HUMIDITY CHANGES
REAL-TIME DATA VISUALIZATION
SELF-CLEANING PROCEDURE
CONNECTIVITY
AUTOMATIC DATA VALIDATION
MEASUREMENT PRINCIPLE
The Aethalometer collects and analyzes aerosol particles continuously. The aerosol-laden air stream is drawn through a spot on a filter tape at a measured flow rate. Simultaneously, the tape is illuminated by light: sensitive detectors measure the intensities of light transmitted through an un-exposed portion of the tape, acting as a reference; versus the collecting spot. As optically absorbing material accumulates on the spot, the intensity of light transmitted through it gradually decreases. The decrease in light intensity from one measurement to the next is interpreted as an increase in collected material. This increased amount is divided by the known air-flow volume to calculate the concentration.
The real-time analysis is performed at 7 optical wavelengths from the near-ultraviolet (370 nm) to the near-infrared (950 nm), which enables source apportionment – see below – to separate traffic or diesel exhaust from biomass burning (woodsmoke, forest fires, cook stoves…), and Brown Carbon calculations.
ADVANTAGES
Receive accurate real-time data on Black Carbon, an important particulate matter component, that causes serious environmental and health-related risks. AE36 enables identification of Black Carbon sources and provides an assessment of air quality with the Black Carbon BC Index. Access AE36 and receive valid data remotely, without post-processing. AE36 with a new user interface is easy to use and can run unattended for almost a year. Built on four decades of scientific work and real-world experience for robust and reliable operation, ensuring data continuity for long-term trend analysis.
Benefits
- Data you can trust
- Easy to use
- Comprehensive data
- Low maintenance
- Decades of experience
APPLICATIONS
The Aethalometer AE36 provides real-time monitoring, quantitation, and speciation of Black and Brown Carbon and is the best instrument for:
- Ambient air quality monitoring
- Community monitoring
- Long-term stationary monitoring
- Fence line monitoring
- Near-road monitoring
- Black Carbon source apportionment
- Stationary source emissions
- Public and occupational health study
- Marine and air transport pollution monitoring
- Biomass, fossil fuel burning, forest fire smoke monitoring
- Wildfires monitoring
BC Index is a proprietary measure of air quality related specifically to Black Carbon concentrations. It helps organizations to monitor and communicate how polluted the air currently is with Black Carbon.
It also provides a convenient way to track air quality levels in real-time and can help make decisions about daily activities, such as exercising outdoors or take other measures to protect human health.
Furthermore, AE36 is the first instrument in the world that helps authorities to follow WHO 2021 recommendations in developing standards or targets for ambient Black Carbon concentrations.
And finally, BC Index is adjustable to accommodate to area specific Black Carbon concentration ranges.
AE36 is designed to run unattended for a very long time.
Self-cleaning procedure significantly reduces maintenance and ensures accurate readings over extended period. Using a proprietary technology to periodically clean the optical chamber and internal tubing, AE36 reduces buildup of dirt and other contaminants that may affect the data quality.
Furthermore, AE36 features 2-times longer filter tape, resulting in fewer site visits, and greater assurance data are of highest quality – with less workload.
AE36 is designed to be robust to relative humidity changes e.g., due to air conditioning, ensuring reliable and accurate performance in varying environments.
AE36 is designed to provide essential and insightful data, while requiring minimal resources, starting with an easy-to use redesigned graphical user interface.
Real-time data visualization provides a quick glance at the most important data for the last week.
New status control is implemented for automatic data validation, providing the best foundation for reliable and accurate data analysis and reporting.
AE36 is ready to be seamlessly connected wherever you are, using the RAS module in updated CAAT software.
Self-cleaning procedure gives you peace of mind by reducing buildup of dirt and other contaminants that may affect the data quality.
Several safety and diagnostic features make sure the instrument is running optimally while having complete control over instrument and quality of data.
PATENTED AUTOMATIC COMPENSATION FOR FILTER LOADING EFFECT
Sample collection and analysis is performed on two filter spots simultaneously at different flow rates. Mathematical combination of the data eliminates the filter loading effect and provides continuously corrected data in real time with no discontinuities at filter advances.
This compensation depends critically on the aerosol composition and properties. It must be determined in real time from the measurement data, as it cannot be predicted in advance.
The parameters derived from this analysis also offer additional insights into aerosol composition and aging.
The Aethalometer analyzes the sample at 7 optical wavelengths from the near-ultraviolet (370 nm) to the near-infrared (950 nm). Optical absorption by different aerosol components have different variations across the spectrum: most notably, the differences between diesel exhaust and emissions from biomass burning.
The 7-wavelength data allows for a separation of these components, providing a real-time speciation of the aerosol sources and a determination of their origins.
The Aethalometer® source apportionment algorithm uses filter loading compensated data (DualSpot) considering different loading effect across wavelengths, resulting in true and accurate real-time source apportionment.
AE36 can be combined with Total Carbon Analyzer TCA08 to Carbonaceous Aerosol Speciation System CASS: a revolutionary OC/EC analyzer that measures:
- Total Carbon Content (TC)
- Elemental Carbon content (EC)
- Organic Carbon content (OC)
- Black Carbon content (BC)
Furthermore, using the advanced TC/BC(λ) method CASS can be used to monitor a complete fingerprint of carbonaceous aerosols, including primary and secondary organic aerosols.
Data validation is an essential part of quality assurance and control (QA/QC). Auto data validation eliminates the need for manual data validation, which can be time-consuming and prone to human error. New status controls are implemented for Automatic data validation that provides the best foundation for reliable and accurate data analysis and reporting.
The optical performance of the Aethalometer may be validated by the Neutral Density Optical Filter Kit, consisting of four precision optical elements whose absorbance is traceable to fundamental standards. Software routines measure the optical intensities at all wavelengths and compare the analysis instantly with the original reference values. Other built-in test programs offer routine checks of stability and leakage. These features provide Quality Assurance that is essential both for routine monitoring and research use.
The Aethalometer is the instrument most-used in the world for real-time monitoring and speciation of Black Carbon, making it a globally established reference framework for assessing Black Carbon pollution.
Thousands of instruments have been installed on all seven continents. They significantly contribute to understanding air pollution with data that is comparable over time, providing best foundation for sustainable decision-making about human health.
Specifications
Proportional to time-base and sample flow rate settings: <10 ng/m3 @ 1 min, 5 LPM
- Detection limit (1 hour): <0.001 μg/m3
- Range: <0.01 to >100 μg/m3
- Black Carbon resolution: <1 ng/m3
Aerosol sample collected on reinforced glass-fiber/PTFE filter tape. Tape advances automatically on aerosol loading or at predefined times or intervals. Size selective inlets (impactor, cyclone) may be attached.
- Filter tape length: 20 m
- Time-base 1 min and 5 min, post-processing to any time resolution
- Flow-rate 2 and 5 LPM provided by internal pump
- Flow measured by two mass flow sensors and stabilized by closed-loop control
- Tape advances automatically on aerosol loading or at predefined times or time intervals
Display
10.1” color touch-screen (1280 x 800 px) with status indicator LED’s
Interface
• Graphical User Interface with basic data display and control, advanced screens for detailed reporting and parameter setup
• Charting of most relevant data (BC6, BB%, BCff, BCbb,, BrC) for advanced source apportionment
Remote management
Network ready for remote management and data transfer
RH sensitivity <1 ng BC/(%/min)
• Inlet RH sensor
• Tape compartment RH sensor
• Door sensor
Output
• Digital data via RS-232 COM port and Ethernet
4x USB, 1x USB (power only), 6x RS232, 1x Ethernet
Storage
• Database: 6 GB (30 years of 1 min data)
• All data are written to internal memory once every time-base period. Stored and autovalidated data may be transferred over a network or to a manually inserted USB drive
• Stability test
• Clean air test
• ND test for optical performance verification
• Flow verification
• Filter leakage test
• Inlet leakage test
• Flow calibration
• Tape sensor calibration
• Self cleaning procedure• Stability test
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 27 x 43 x 32 cm
- Weight: 17.5 kg
- Electrical power supply: AC: 100-230VAC, 50/60Hz (auto-switching)
- Power consumption: 30 W average
- Internal vacuum pump: dual diaphragm, brushless motor
- Modular hardware, constructed in a fully-enclosed 19” rack mount 6U chassis, hermetically sealed to be protected from external environmental conditions
- Temperature: 5°C – 55°C
- Rel. humidity: 5% – 95% (non-condensing)
- Operating altitude: up to 3000 m a.s.l.
(can be extended to 5000 m a.s.l. with an external air pump for high-altitude operation – optional accessory)
