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Title: Investigations into the chemical structure based selectivity of the microfabricated nitrogen-phosphorus detector

Journal Article · · Sensors and Actuators. B, Chemical
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [2]
  1. Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States); Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  2. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
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Nitrogen and phosphorus atoms are constituents of some of the most toxic chemical vapors. Nitrogen-phosphorus gas chromatograph detectors (NPDs) rely on selective ionization of such compounds using ionization temperatures typically greater than 600 °C. NPDs have previously been reported to be 7 × 104× and 105× more sensitive for nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively, than for carbon. Presented here is an investigation of the structure-based selectivity of a microfabricated nitrogen-phosphorus detector (μNPD). The μNPD presented here is smaller than a dime and can be placed in a system that is 1/100th the size of a commercial NPD. Comparison of responses of such devices to homologous anilines (p-methoxyaniline, p-fluoroaniline, and aniline) revealed that detection selectivity, determined by the ratio of μNPD to nonselective flame ionization detector (FID) peak areas, is correlated with acid disassociation pKa values for the respective analine. Selectivity was determined to be greatest for p-methoxyaniline, followed by p-fluoroaniline, with aniline having the smallest response. The limit of detection for a nitrogen containing chemical, p-methoxyaniline, using the μNPD was determined to be 0.29 ng compared to 59 ng for a carbon chemical containing no nitrogen or phosphorus, 1,3,5-trimethybenzene. Furthermore, the μNPD presented here has increased detection for nitrogen and phosphorus compared to the FID and with a slight increase in detection of carbon compounds compared to commercial NPD's sensitivity to nitrogen and carbon.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
1236476
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1397321; OSTI ID: 1512903
Report Number(s):
SAND-2015-2012J; SAND-2015-10395J; PII: S0925400515304974
Journal Information:
Sensors and Actuators. B, Chemical, Vol. 224, Issue C; ISSN 0925-4005
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 1 work
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

Figures / Tables (8)

Fig. 1(p. 2)figure Fig. 1
Fig. 2(p. 3)figure Fig. 2
Fig. 3(p. 3)figure Fig. 3
Fig. 4(p. 4)figure Fig. 4
Fig. 5(p. 4)figure Fig. 5
Fig. 6(p. 5)figure Fig. 6
Fig. 7(p. 5)figure Fig. 7
Table 1(p. 5)table Table 1

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pKa
aniline
nitrogen
phosphorus
chemical detector
Acid disassociation constant (pKa)