ELECTROSTATIC COLLECTION DEVICE

1 . A collection device for collecting particles from a gas, the device comprising:

at least one electrical field for charging particles, wherein the particles are in a gas;

at least one collection surface for collecting charged particles; and

at least one heating element for heating the at least one collection surface to vaporize the collected particles.

2 . The collection device of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one electrical fields is a corona charging zone.

3 . The collection device of claim 2 , wherein each of the corona charging zones is formed by a plurality of electrodes.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are radially spaced substantially equal angular distances within a duct forming a primary air passage.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one collection surface is a post located within the primary air passage.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are linearly spaced along a wall that helps form an air passage.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein each of the electrical fields is created between each of the electrodes and the at least one collection surface.

8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one collection surface is the surface of the wall.

9 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

an air mover for drawing air into the collection device and through the at least one electrical field.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the charged particles are forced onto the at least one collection surface.

11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one collection surface is coated with a chemical adsorbent.

12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the collected particles are biological organisms that pyrolize when the at least one collection surface is heated.

13 . A collection device for collecting particles from a gas, the device comprising:

at least one passage defined by a wall;

at least one electrical field in the at least one passage for charging particles, wherein the particles are in a gas;

at least one collection post for collecting charged particles, wherein the at least one collection post is located within the at least one passage; and

at least one heating element for heating the at least one collection post to vaporize the collected particles.

14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the at least one collection post is nonperforated.

15 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the at least one collection post is perforated.

16 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the at least one collection post is removable from the at least one passage.

17 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the vaporized particles are drawn through the perforated post to be removed from the device.

18 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the collected particles are biological organisms that pyrolize when the at least one collection surface is heated.

19 . A method of extracting impurities from a gas, said method comprising:

providing at least one air passage defined by a wall;

providing at least one electrical field within the at least one air passage;

passing gas having particles through the at least one electrical field to charge the particles in the gas;

collecting at least some of the charged particles onto at least one collection surface; and

heating the at least one collection surface to vaporize at least some of the collected particles.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the collection surface is heated by one of an internal cartridge heater, coil heating, contact heating and laser ablation of particles on collection surface.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the collection surface is heated continuously during and after the collection of the charged particles.

22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the collection surface is heated after the collection of the charged particles.

23 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the collection surface is heated in stages after the collection of the charged particles

24 . The device of claim 19 , wherein the collected particles are biological organisms that pyrolize when the at least one collection surface is heated.

25 . A method for visual examination of impurities from a gas, the method comprising:

providing at least one air passage defined by a wall;

providing at least one electrical field within the at least one air passage;

passing gas having particles through the at least one electrical field to charge the particles in the gas;

collecting at least some of the charged particles onto at least one collection surface; and

performing visual inspection of the at least some charged particles collected on the at least one collection surface.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the visual inspection is aided by use of a microscope.