VSI - Model AS-100 -Whole Air Sampler
Automatic air samplers are devices used for collecting air samples from the atmosphere - both from ambient air and experimental Teflon chambers or PMMA chambers used for gas flux measurements. Measuring the gas and volatile composition and/or isotopic signature of air reveals crucial information about water use, carbon balance, greenhouse gas emissions or other pollutants in natural or managed ecosystems or urban environments, and generally plant and/or soil interactions with the athmosphere. To support cost-effective air sampling campaigns in the laboratory and field, we developed the VSI AS-100 Whole Air Sampler to automatically sample ambient air into evacuated vacuum tubes, i.e. vials, exetainer.
VSI AS-100 Whole Air Vial Sampler Lab. The VSI AS-100 air sampler is both lab and field operable (12V) for highest versatility in a large range of experimental settings. For example, the whole air sampler system is mountable on (eddy flux) towers, in tree canopies and on the ground. Automatic sampling can be triggered according to a predefined time schedule for 24/7 measurements, or sampling can be triggered remotely - avoiding e.g. contamination by exhaled human breath. With the systems, air samples are stored in 12 pre-evacuated, vacuum vials for later routine analyses of gas composition (with a gas chromatograph, mass spectrometer). Sample collection from the immediate vicinity occurs via needle puncture through a septum, minimising contamination. Optional, a ventilation system for circulating air over longer distances, thus allowing for several sampling points at distance to the device, can be added. The suitability of the sampling system to measure e.g. isotopic signatures at relevant concentration of CO2 in ambient air samples has been confirmed. Our whole air samplers are easy to use and require minimal training.
An automatic vial evacuator (VSI EV-101) to evacuate/reuse vials (incl. e.g. helium flushing and a strong vacuum pump) is available as option, allowing to easily prepare vacuum tubes both in the lab (220V) and the field (12V).