The measurement of airborne particles is important for environmental and exposure monitoring. Microfluidic technologies present potential advantages for aerosol monitoring but have been applied very little to the handling of airborne particles. In this paper, we examine the flow focusing and cross-streamline diffusion of aerosols in straight microchannels, and the size-based lateral displacement of aerosols caused by centrifugal forces in a curved channel. We present calculations, simulations, and experimental results verifying the models: measurements of the focusing and diffusion of 0.2 μm and 0.75 μm particles in straight channels and of the size-dependent lateral displacement of particles between 0.2 μm and 2 μm in curved channels are demonstrated and shown to match well with the simulations. We observe lateral dispersion of the particles: particles closer to the top and bottom wall of the channel experience less lateral displacement than particles near the center due to the flow velocity distribution across the channel cross section. These results confirm that the microchannel techniques presented are a viable method for the size-based manipulation of airborne particles.

Real-time monitoring of airbo aerosols, is important for protecting hu conserving earth's environment. To this end, selective aerosol sensor, including a centrif microfluidics device for real-time aerosol siz have achieved separation of bidisperse mix polystyrene latex particles in the range of 0.7 This is the first time microchannels have been aerosols by size using mechanical principles system responds to the test particles at co above and below the regulatory limits. Th detection systems together will form a portab for continuous monitoring of aerosols.

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