Ai1-CAS develops the first field-ready, all-in-one carbon analysis system for aerosols by coupling Rapid Multi-Wavelength Thermal-Optical Carbon Analysis (RMλ-TOCA) with a multi-ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometer (RainbowMS). This unique hyphenated instrument delivers continuous, online “deep fingerprinting” of carbonaceous aerosols—linking bulk (EC/OC) and optical properties with molecular-level chemistry in real time.
What makes Ai1-CAS different is its clean, continuous sampling and parallel analytics: seven-wavelength reflectance/transmittance during thermal steps, plus three complementary ionisation modes—EI, SPI and REMPI—on the same evolving sample, acquired within seconds. The result is unprecedented bulk-to-molecular resolution in the field, overcoming long-standing sample handling, contamination and time-resolution limits of offline methods.
The consortium brings together Aerosol d.o.o. (lead, Slovenia), Photonion GmbH (Germany) and the University of Rostock (Germany). Alongside the coupled Ai1-CAS, the project delivers two stand-alone products—RMλ-TOCA (Aerosol) and RainbowMS (Photonion)—each a disruptive innovation in its niche and designed for both joint and independent use.
Ai1-CAS enables significantly improved source apportionment and the detection/quantification of health-relevant organics (e.g., PAHs) while strengthening climate-relevant aerosol characterisation. High-resolution, continuous sampling (up to ~4 samples per hour) and soft-ionisation MS open new possibilities for understanding secondary aerosol formation and for enriching existing monitoring networks with targeted, periodic deep analyses.
From a pathway-to-market perspective, RMλ-TOCA is planned for commercialisation ~18 months after project end; RainbowMS and the coupled Ai1-CAS follow at ~24 months. Prototypes are demonstrated at project close, then refined with “champion users,” alongside open scientific dissemination to build adoption in the aerosol research and monitoring communities.
“Eurostars is part of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs. The partnership is co-funded by the European Union through Horizon Europe.”
Project coordinator: Aerosol d.o.o.
Project partners:
Total value of the project: 1.320.258,00 EUR
Aerosol d.o.o.
Kamniška 39A
1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia, Europe
+386 1 4391 700
Aerosol USA Corp.
10157 SW Barbur Blvd Suite 100C
Portland, OR 97219 USA
+1 510 646 1600