image: Now part of the Magee Scientific international product line, the all-new DRI Model 2015 Multiwavelength Laboratory Carbon Analyzer will allow scientists to quantify Black and Brown Carbon aerosol emissions. view more
Credit: DRI
RENO - The Desert Research Institute (DRI) has entered into agreement with Magee Scientific of Berkeley, California, and its European partner company Aerosol of Ljubljana, Slovenia, to manufacture and market the all-new DRI Model 2015 Multiwavelength Laboratory Carbon Analyzer.
Developed by atmospheric scientists at DRI, this instrument provides advanced analysis of Black Carbon, or soot, aerosol particles found in the atmosphere. These particles reduce visibility; adversely impact human health; and contribute to regional and global climate change.
Additionally, the new instrument allows scientists and laboratory technicians to quantify Brown Carbon as part of aerosol sample analysis. Recent studies have shown that Brown Carbon, which is emitted from smoldering fires and the conversion of hydrocarbon gases to particles in the atmosphere, also has significant climate forcing and human health impacts.
"DRI's new carbon analyzer nicely complements our existing product line that continuously quantifies particle light absorption across the spectrum," said Dr. Tony Hansen, President and Owner of Magee Scientific. "Our international presence in Asia, Europe, South America, and Africa, combined with the growing interest in the effects of Black and Brown Carbon particles on both climate change and public health impacts, should result in a large opportunity for the DRI analyzer over the next five to ten years."
The new DRI Model 2015 Multiwavelength Laboratory Carbon Analyzer incorporates several improvements that reduce the maintenance and operating costs compared to hardware currently in use in laboratories around the world.
Magee Scientific is the originator of the Aethalometer®, the most-widely-used instrument for the real-time measurement of Black Carbon aerosol particles in the atmosphere. Magee Scientific instruments are installed on all continents: from major urban cities in China to remote locations at the South Pole, from the Sahara Desert to the Amazon basin.
Dr. Judith Chow, who holds the Nazir and Mary Ansari Chair Research Professor in Entrepreneurialism and Science and leads DRI's Environmental Analysis Facility, explained that the new agreement between DRI and Magee Scientific will stimulate further development of this technology.
"We expect DRI to benefit greatly from Magee's proven engineering, sales, and maintenance expertise," she said, "and we hope to continuously add value on the interpretation of the light absorption spectra."
Dr. Chow estimates that more than 100,000 thermal/optical carbon analyses are performed annually worldwide for air quality monitoring networks - with more than half of these being performed at DRI's laboratory in Reno, Nevada.
"These analyses are used to identify emission sources in need of control to protect public health and to track air quality trends," she added.
Dr. Alan Gertler, DRI's Vice President for Research explained that the arrangement with Magee Scientific provides a unique, and innovative path forward for DRI's technology transfer and commercialization efforts.
"This collaborative approach provides an alternative to the typical 'hands-off' licensing of the technology that often results in some royalties to the developers, but does not support further innovation," Gertler explained. "We expect this relationship with Magee Scientific to result in closer collaboration between DRI and the private sector; as well as serve as a new model for other environmental monitoring innovations being produced by our faculty and students."
###
For more information on DRI's Environmental Analysis Facility and atmospheric science research program visit http://www.dri.edu
For more information on Magee Scientific instruments visit http://www.mageesci.com