An air sampler having a fan; an air inlet tube; a main body having a
cyclonic cup, a stripping column and a demister; and fluidic circuitry
for inputting fluids to the main body and the air inlet tube, and for
outputting fluids from the main body. Air flow through the air sampler
may be generated by a fan that is either external or internal with
respect to the main body's cyclonic cup. A thin film of stripping liquid
and/or a fog of stripping liquid particles in the air inlet tube, the
cyclonic cup, the stripping column and/or the demister strip a target
material from the air flow through the air sampler. A passive fog
generating slot or a passive spiral fog generating nozzle may be placed
over the fluid input conduit in the center of the cyclonic cup. The air
sampler's main body and/or an air inlet tube may be integrally formed as
one part. The main body's inner surfaces may be selected to be
hydrophilic, for better flow of the thin film of stripping liquid across
them; and its intersecting internal surfaces may be provided with
smoothly curved fillets for better air and liquid flow over them. The air
sampler may be provided with a liquid level control that may have a
reservoir float monitored by external optical sensors; a flexible,
capacitive effect, dual electrode bearing substrate that is wrapped
around the exterior of the air sampler's stripping column; or an external
optical bubble sensor for the reservoir's output conduit. The air sampler
may be so small, light and low in energy consumption that it may be
battery powered and human-portable; and may be so efficient that it may
be used to strip target material that is present in the incoming air in
concentrations of only a few parts per trillion, or less.