PurpleAir

Commercially available sensor for monitoring of airborne concentrations of PM2.5Particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. Also referred to as fine particles. More and VOCsVolatile Organic Compounds More.

Customer link and technical handbooks

Category

Commercial low- and medium-cost sensors.

Environmental matrix

Air

Parameters analysed

PM2.5Particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. Also referred to as fine particles. More, VOCsVolatile Organic Compounds More equivalents

Detection limits

PM2.5Particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. Also referred to as fine particles. More: ± 10 µg/m3 (for readings between 0 – 100 µg/m3)
VOCsVolatile Organic Compounds More: not specified in website

Sensor functionalities

PM2.5Particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. Also referred to as fine particles. More: laser particle counter (PMS 1003, 5003, or 1003) 71
VOCsVolatile Organic Compounds More: metal oxide sensor (BME688)

Costs

Low cost (200 – 300€)

Advantages

It is a well-established device for PM2.5Particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. Also referred to as fine particles. More monitoring (although corrections are needed for research-quality data).
Data is shared in real time on a global map and is openly available to the public.

Limitations

VOCs detection is available only in PurpleAir Zen, Touch, and Flex.

Other technical specifications

All products include temperature, relative humidity, and pressure sensors and send data to the PurpleAir platform map via WiFi. Some products change color depending on overall air quality. Some sensors have a double set of laser particle counters to help determine the sensors’ health.

Applicability

It is a popular choice for citizen-led air quality monitoring.