The iron lung: A device for the continuous delivery of fine particulate matter

In aerosol research, bag-sampling techniques are commonly used for temporary storage of aerosols. They have been used for aging studies and to integrate over fluctuations in aerosol properties and concentrations. Here, we describe the design and operation of an iron lung aerosol sampler consisting of a large volume (∼277 l) drum and a conductive drum liner. This iron lung is used for the continuous delivery of fine particulate matter. Its performance for storage and sampling of fine particulate matter has been evaluated with soot from a kerosene lamp by characterizing the change of particle number and size distribution as function of time with a scanning mobility particle sizer. Changes in these properties have been shown to be smooth, demonstrating the utility of the iron lung described here.