ALPES — Aerosol-to-Liquid
Particle Extraction System

collects deadly agents for quick identification

ALPES — Aerosol-to-Liquid
Particle Extraction System
The Aerosol-to-Liquid Particle Extraction System (ALPES) is designed to collect chemical agents; radioactive particles;
microorganisms such as spores, bacteria, and fungi; and molecules associated with explosives. The device uses electrostatic precipitation to collect and concentrate
airborne agents in a liquid sample for immediate onsite or subsequent
laboratory analysis.

Market Assessment
Agents that could be used in chemical and biological warfare tend to disperse widely when released. Quickly collecting a concentrated sample of these agents is critical to detecting them before they reach harmful dose levels in the air.

Other collection devices using wet cyclone designs are larger and heavier, have higher power demands, and are noisy, thereby precluding unobtrusive uses.

The briefcase-size ALPES can be easily deployed to the battlefield or in strategic public venues such as hospitals, post
offices, convention centers, and stadiums.

Patent Status
U.S. patent number 6,955,075 has been allowed on this invention.

Stage of Development
A prototype ALPES has collected spores of the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis 200 meters from their source.

Contact
Joseph Dugan, Licensing Associate
(803) 725-0848
joseph.dugan@srnl.doe.gov

For More Information
See tech brief.