KASC facility offers possibility for the holistic approach to tackle the relevant questions on anthropogenic emissions, their formation and aging and interaction with biogenic emissions, atmospheric processes and finally the adverse health effects. The facility comprises: 1) KASC1: 9 m3 FEP Teflon chamber with UV lights and humidification systems & ozone generators, can be connected to plant enclosures; 2) ILMARI chamber: an air conditioned 29 m3 FEP Teflon chamber with  UV lights and humidification systems & ozone generators, 3) ILMARI emission sources connected to the chamber with dilution systems, 4) PEAR flow tube offers a possibility for photochemical processing of aerosol samples at high flow rates, 5) ILMARI Toxicological unit: on-line air-liquid interface cell exposure unit and analysis methods for health-related toxicological effects, including inflammation, oxidative stress, genotoxicity and cytotoxicity. These analyses are performed with state-of-the-art analysis equipment for detailed gas and aerosol phase chemical and physical characterisation. 

HELIOS is one of the most advanced and largest outdoor atmospheric simulation chambers in Europe and is especially suited to investigate the chemical processes under realistic atmospheric conditions. HELIOS is positioned on the top of ICARE-CNRS building in Orléans (47°50’18.39N; 1°56’40.03E). The chamber is made of FEP film ensuring more than 90 % solar light transmission. The available large range of complementary and highly sensitive instruments (in-situ FTIR, PTR-ToF-MS (Ionicon 8000), Aerodyne ToF-CIMS, ATD-GC-MS, UHPLC, IC, SMPS, Lopap, HCHO (Aerolaser), Spectroradiometer, O3, NO and NO2 Analysers, and CIMS for OH and CRDS for NO3 radicals measurements when needed) enables investigating the radical chemistry, gas phase processes and aerosol formation under realistic atmospheric conditions. HELIOS is dedicated mainly to the investigation of the gas phase processes and radical chemistry under different conditions (sunlight and dark). HELIOS has the capabilities for intercomparison and tests of instruments and development. HELIOS is associated with the Observatoire des Sciences de l’Univers en région Centre (Orléans University, INSU-CNRS). 

SAPHIR provides a platform for reproducible studies of the atmospheric degradation of biogenic and anthropogenic trace gases and the build-up of secondary particles and pollutants. The large outdoor chamber is of cylindrical shape (volume 270m3) and has a shutter system that can be quickly opened and closed to expose the air mixtures to natural sunlight. The high purity of the air supply and the large volume to surface ratio allows running experiments at low, atmospheric concentrations of trace gases with only minor influences of chamber wall interactions, so that the chemical transformation of trace gases and aerosol can be observed over a long period up to several days. Either artificial trace gas mixtures can be added or emissions from plants that are housed in a separate plant chamber (SAPHIR-PLUS). The SAPHIR chamber is equipped with a comprehensive, unique set of sensitive state-of-the-art instruments for radicals, traces gases, aerosols, and physical parameters. Many trace gases are detected using two independent measurements techniques to be able to identify potential measurement artefacts. The chamber is also ideal for instrument testing and comparisons under realistic conditions.

IASC is a custom-built atmospheric simulation chamber specially designed for investigating atmospheric processes, as well as testing and developing new atmospheric measurement techniques. The 27m³ chamber is a FEP Teflon foil cuboid supported in a frame and surrounded by UV-visible lamps in a temperature-controlled housing. The chamber is fitted with various ports and valves, as well as an access door which allows items to be positioned inside the chamber. The comprehensive range of instruments includes: i) Unique custom-built spectroscopy system for in situ measurements of gases, radicals and particles. ii) State-of-the-art mass spectrometer for monitoring gases and particles at atmospherically relevant concentrations. iii) Continuous online measurements of gases and particles. iv) Two instruments that are unique within the consortium are also available: Single particle mass spectrometer for online measurements of aerosol composition and Wideband integrated bioaerosol sensor for measurements of biological particles.

ChAMBRe has been designed for bioaerosol studies. The stainless steel chamber has a volume of 2.23 m³. The aerosol lifetime varies from 20 to 2 hour. A fan favours the mixing of gaseous and aerosol species. Particle and reactive gases concentration are continuously monitored. Parts of the facility are the equipment and the procedures to grow, inject and extract bacteria strains inside the chamber while preserving their viability. Bacteria and/or other bioaerosol in liquid solution can be injected in ChAMBRe by nebulizers, specifically designed to preserve the viability of microorganisms for aerobiology research. Bioaerosol can be extracted/collected from/in the chamber both by a set of impingers and petri dishes with culture media. A bio-aerosol on-line spectrometer will be installed in summer 2020.

Services offered at ESC-Q-UAIC 

The environmental simulation chamber (ESC-Q-UAIC) consists of three quartz tubes connected by flanges with a total length of 4.2 m, has an inner diameter of 0.48 m and a volume of about 780 L. Sampling lines are appropriately disposed for on-line/off-line measurements of various chemical parameters. Both actinic and black-light lamps, evenly spaced around the reaction vessel, can be used to undertake photolysis processes under simulated solar light conditions. The chamber is equipped with a White type multiple-reflection mirror with a base length of (4.1 ± 0.1) m and a total optical path length of (492 ± 0.2) m for sensitive in situ long path absorption monitoring of reactants and products. The IR spectra are recorded with a spectral resolution of 0.1 cm-1 using a Vertex 80v FTIR spectrometer. State-of-the-art instruments and conventional analytical can be used for off- and on-line analyses. Upon our knowledge these facilities are unique in Romania and in Eastern Europe.

The Manchester aerosol chamber (MAC) has been designed to study atmospheric processes of multicomponent aerosols under controlled conditions. MAC is coupled to a very wide range of instrumentation for online determination of particle composition, size), hygroscopicity and cloud droplet activation, with in situ multi-pass extinction measurements of aerosol. The variable geometry 18m3 Teflon chamber uses computer-controlled fill-flush cycling for cleaning and operation and the entire chamber can be rapidly evacuated through a filter for offline analysis. A rapid cleaning regime allows a high duty cycle of clean experiments. Carefully monitored and controlled (arc and halogen) illumination is used to replicate the solar spectrum. Precise high flow conditioning of the air outside the chamber allows tight RH and temperature control. MAC is frequently coupled to real emission sources (plant chamber, engine, woodburner, cookstoves) to study systems of real-world complexity.