Detection of toxic compounds by cavity ring-down spectroscopy
- Mississippi State Univ, Starkville, MS (United States). Diagnostic Instrumentation and Analysis Lab.
Sensitive detection of gaseous toxic compounds of environmental concern by cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) is demonstrated. In particular, CRDS is applied to the detection of nitrogen dioxide and four chlorinated aromatic volatile organic compounds. Detection limits in this feasibility study are in the parts-per-million range, but experimental improvements will enhance the sensitivity to the parts-per-billion range or better. For chlorinated aromatics, the sensitivity is found to be independent of the degree/site of chlorination. In this respect, it is superior to other laser-based methods such as laser-induced fluorescence and resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization that are quite strongly influenced by excited-state nonradiative decay induced by the presence of chlorine substituent(s). In addition, since CRDS is self-calibrating, fairly simple to implement and perfectly general, it promises to be a universal environmental toxic gas detector.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 355552
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 33, Issue 11; Other Information: PBD: 1 Jun 1999
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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