New air quality standard notified by Govt. of India where measurement of PM10 and PM2.5 dust is required simultaneously with other pollutants to decide status of air pollution. So far samplers developed in India do not have provision for simultaneous sampling of PM10 and PM2.5 dust. Thus two samplers need to be operated simultaneously to know prevailing concentration of these pollutants in ambient air. This results measurement of these parameters expensive and cumbersome as significant efforts are required in transportation and operation of two sampler at one place simultaneously.

Ecotech realizes these limitations and took lead to develop impactors based Combo Sampler for simultaneous sampling of PM10 & PM2.5 dust using single instrument.

Single stage impactor matching to European Union designs incorporated in the Combo Sampler for PM10 measurement. This impactor removes dust greater than 10 microns from ambient air when sucked through it at constant flow rate of 2.3 m3/hr .

For sampling of 2.5 micron dust two stage impactors based on the USEPA standard designs have been incorporated in AAS 271.This impactor removes dust greater than 2.5 microns from ambient air in two stages( first in PM10 impactor and second in WINS impactor fitted in series ) Air is sucked through it at constant flow rate of 1.0 m3/hr.

Ecotech AAS 271 is fitted with one of the best brushless and noiseless non pulsating pumps of adequate capacities to generate needed sampling rates for PM10& PM2.5 streams. Constant flow rates in both air stream are maintained through out sampling duration with the help of critical orifices. Pump assembly is equipped with heavy duty induction motor which ensures that sampling rate are not affected due to input voltage fluctuations.

AAS 271 is equipped with two flow meter which continuously display sampling flow rates of two streams controlled by orifice.

Glass Microfibre filters of 47mm dia is used for PM10 sampling while PTFE membrane are used for PM2.5 sampling. All components of Impactor are made up of corrosion free metals fabricated with the help of CNC machines to ensure desired precision.

Modular design of sampler, tubing and other fitments made this sampler simple easy to transport & operate can be used successfully in harsh Indian climatic conditions

Performance of Combo Sampler has been evaluated by operating it in parallel of two FRM USEPA certified reference samplers ( one operated for PM10 & another operated for PM2.5 ) at National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) Nagpur. The results given by combo sampler and FRM sampler are comparable. Thus the PM10 & PM2.5 values given by Combo sampler are reliable and approved by NEERI Nagpur.

IIT Kanpur has also evaluated performance of Combo Sampler where it was operated for one year. Observed results are found comparable with certified reference sampler