Application of laser photoacoustic spectroscopy for the detection of water vapor near 1.38 μm

Laser photoacoustic (PA) spectroscopy is applied for the determination of the trace content of water vapor using a differential Helmholtz resonant (DHR) cell and a narrow bandwidth diode laser operating near 1380 nm. The PA spectroscopy revealed a rich absorption spectra in this wavelength region and the observed result was compared with the HITRAN database. A multipass optical system was also developed by adopting one aluminum-coated flat mirror with a small uncoated spot for the laser introduction to the detection chamber and one aluminum-coated concave mirror. The multipass optical system enabled the enhancement of the PA signal up to eight times when compared to the single pass case. The calibration curve was plotted by measuring PA signals for various pressures of the water vapor. The sensitivity of the PA detection system is estimated as 7.3×10¹² molecules cm⁻³ with a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 1.     

Application of laser photoacoustic spectroscopy for the detection of water vapor near 1.38 μm

Laser photoacoustic (PA) spectroscopy is applied for the determination of the trace content of water vapor using a differential Helmholtz resonant (DHR) cell and a narrow bandwidth diode laser operating near 1380 nm. The PA spectroscopy revealed a rich absorption spectra in this wavelength region and the observed result was compared with the HITRAN database. A multipass optical system was also developed by adopting one aluminum-coated flat mirror with a small uncoated spot for the laser introduction to the detection chamber and one aluminum-coated concave mirror. The multipass optical system enabled the enhancement of the PA signal up to eight times when compared to the single pass case. The calibration curve was plotted by measuring PA signals for various pressures of the water vapor. The sensitivity of the PA detection system is estimated as 7.3×10¹² molecules cm⁻³ with a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 1.     

光化学蒸气发生方法用于水样中汞的可视化检测

汞与碘化亚铜的络合显色反应已被广泛应用于汞的可视化检测。然而,样品中高盐、强酸或强碱性的复杂基质对碘化亚铜及络合物的稳定性影响较大,可视化测定受到了严重干扰。光化学蒸气发生是一种绿色、高效的样品引入技术,可实现待测离子与样品基质的有效分离,并且在蒸气发生过程中不需要添加有毒、强还原性试剂。因此,本实验建立了一种光化学蒸气发生和自制碘化亚铜试纸结合用于可视化检测水样中汞的方法,对反应时间、低分子量有机酸浓度等条件进行了考察。在最优的条件下实现了1 ng·mL^-1～1μg·mL^-1浓度范围内水样中汞的可视化半定量分析,并通过原子荧光光谱法对分析结果进行了验证。     

Starch-iodine films respond to water vapor

Starch-iodine indicator films were found to have useful spectroscopic properties for the detection of water vapor. The large colorimetric response of these easily prepared films was easily detected by the absorption of 632.8 nm HeNe laser light, using a planar integrated optical waveguide (IOW) platform. The detection limit of a prototype sensor was found to be below 5% relative humidity (RH), with response times of the order of seconds.     

Free volume and water vapor permeability of dense segmented polyurethane membrane

This paper presented micro-structure, free volume and water vapor permeability of dense segmented polyurethane (SPU) membrane. Wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques were employed to investigate the micro-structure. Free volume was measured by positron annihilation life spectroscopy (PALS). WAXD and DSC results indicated microcrystalline structure presents in the polymer membrane. Percent crystallinity of SPU would depend on the types of polyol used. The microphase-separated structure of copolymers was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Extent of phase separation was depended on the type and composition of polyol used. Free volume hole sizes are different for SPU samples due to the interaction between the polymer chains and packing of polymer chains due to the different compositions. The influences of temperature and chemical compositions on the free volume and water vapor permeability have been discussed. Experimental results revealed that the water vapor permeability can be controlled by free volume, which would depend on the chemical composition of SPU, and hydrophilicity of membranes.     

A spectroscopic approach to assess transport properties of water vapor in PLA

The aim of this work is to describe in detail an experimental approach to quantitatively investigate water vapor transport properties in Poly (lactic acid), PLA. The approach is based on in situ time resolved Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, FTIR, in transmission mode, and provides a mean for monitoring accurately the penetrant sorption kinetics. FTIR spectra were analyzed by a deconvolution procedure, and the area of a specific peak (at 3651 cm^-1) was directly correlated to the amount of water inside the sample. The time evolution of this area was first normalized by using a peak uninfluenced by the amount of water and then interpolated to obtain the diffusivity parameter. The results were in good agreement with those obtained by more classical, and more complex microgravimetric methods.     

On-line determination of organophosphorus pesticides in water by solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography with thermionic-selective detection

This paper describes the extraction of 49 organophosphorus pesti-cides (OPPs) from water samples using solid-phase microextraction (SPME). Three fibers, including a 15-μm XAD-coated fiber, a 85-μm polyacrylate-coated fiber, and a 30-μm polydimethylsilox-ane-coated fiber (PDMS), were evaluated here. The effects of stirring and the addition of NaCl to the sample were examined for the polyacrylate-coated fiber. The precision of the technique was examined for all three fibers and the extraction kinetics were investigated using the XAD- and polyacrylate-coated fibers. With some exceptions, the XAD- and polyacrylate-coated fibers performed better than the PDMS-coated fiber. The superiority of the XAD-nd polyacrylate-coated fiber. The superiority of the XAD- and polyacrylate-coated fibers over the PDMS-coated fibers can be attribuibuted to the aromatic functionalities of the XAD and the polar functionalities in the polyacrylate. The relatively high percent RSDs indicate that the SPME technique needs to be further refined before it can be used for anything other than screening. A more effective form of agitation than mechanical stirring may be neccessary to reduce variability and achieve a faster equilibrium between the sample and the SPME fiber.     

The polyurethane membranes with temperature sensitivity for water vapor permeation

The size and shape of free-volume holes available in membrane materials control the rate of gas diffusion and its permeability. Based on this principle, two segmented thermo-sensitive polyurethane (TSPU) membranes with functional gates, i.e. the ability to sense and respond to external thermo-stimuli, were synthesized and used for water vapor controllable permeation. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), positron annihilation lifetimes (PAL), water swelling and water vapor permeability (WVP) were used to evaluate how the structure of the polyurethane (PU) and the temperature influence the free-volume holes size and the water vapor permeability (WVP) of the PU membranes. DSC study reveals that TSPU with a glass transition or a crystalline transition reversible phase shows an obvious phase-separated structure and a phase transition temperature (defined as switch temperature, T_s). PAL study indicates that the free-volume holes size of TSPU is closely related to the T_s. When the temperature is higher than the T_s, the ortho-positronium (o-Ps) lifetime (τ₃) and the average radius (R) of free-volume holes of TSPU membrane increase dramatically. As a result, the WVP of TSPU membrane shows a dramatic increase. Additionally, the water swelling and the WVP of TSPU membrane are found to depend on the inner structure of the polymer, and they also give different responses to temperature variation. When the temperature is higher than the T_s, there is a significant increase of WVP from 3.80 kg/m² day to 7.63 kg/m² day for TSPU(a) and from 4.30 kg/m² day to 8.58 kg/m² day for TSPU(b), respectively. Phase transition accompanying significant changes in free-volume holes size and WVP can be used to develop “smart membranes” with functional gates and controllable gas permeation.     

A simple test method for measuring water vapor resistance of porous polymeric materials

A simple test method is proposed for measuring water vapor resistance of fabrics. A piece of cotton fabric connected to a container filled with distilled water through a plastic tube was used on a hot plate to generate a saturated water vapor condition on one side of the sample. The temperature of the cotton fabric (approximation of human skin covered with sweat) was measured by a thermocouple. The water vapor resistance of the sample was determined based on the water vapor pressure gradient across the sample and the heat flux. Five types of textile fabric laminated to PU/TPU membranes, plus one type of conventional fabric, were tested by using this simple apparatus as well as the sweating guarded hot plate instrument. The results showed that good agreement was observed between these two test methods. In addition, the surface temperature of the cotton ‘skin’ varied with different fabrics. This is in accordance with the actual intended situation, i.e., the skin temperature of the body is related to the ability of clothing materials to transfer water vapor. Therefore, this simple test apparatus better simulates real-life conditions than the sweating guarded hot plate instrument.     

Effects of supercritical CO2 exposure on diffusion and adsorption kinetics of CH4, CO2 and water vapor in various rank coals

The physico-chemical effects caused by supercritical CO₂ (ScCO₂) exposure is one of the leading problems for CO₂ storage in deep coal seams as it will significantly alter the flow behaviors of gases. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of ScCO₂ injection on diffusion and adsorption kinetics of CH₄, CO₂ and water vapor in various rank coals. The powdered coal samples were immersed in ScCO₂ for 30 days using a high-pressure sealed reactor. Then, the diffusion and adsorption kinetics of CH₄, CO₂ and water vapor in the coals both before and after exposure were examined. Results indicate that the diffusivities of CH₄ and CO₂ are significantly increased due to the combined matrix swelling and solvent effect caused by ScCO₂ exposure, which may induce secondary faults and remove some volatile matters that block the pore throats. On the other hand, the diffusivities of water vapor are reduced due to the elimination of surface functional groups with ScCO₂ exposure. It is concluded that density of the surface function groups is the controlling factor for water vapor diffusion rather than the pore properties. The unipore model and pseudo-first-order equation can simulate the diffusion and adsorption kinetics of CH₄ and CO₂ very well, but the unipore model is not capable of well describing water vapor diffusion. The effective diffusivity (D_e), diffusion coefficient (D) and adsorption rates (k₁) of CH₄ and CO₂ are significantly increased after ScCO₂ exposure, while the values of water vapor are decreased notably. Thus, the injection of ScCO₂ will efficiently improve the transport properties of CH₄ and CO₂ but hinder the movement of water molecules in coal seams.     

On-line multi-bed sorption trap for VOC analysis of large-volume vapor samples: injection plug width, effects of water vapor and sample decomposition

A multibed on-line sorption trap is used to preconcentrate organic vapors from air samples and inject the analytes into a GC separation column. Injection plug widths depend on the boiling point for the lipophilic compounds and on the polarity and boiling point for the polar compounds. Injection plug widths are sufficiently small (0.7-0.8 s) as to allow the direct injection of the most volatile compounds into the GC column without the need for a second focusing device. The presence of water in the samples has an effect on the retention of polar compounds by the trap. However, this effect is reproducible for a fixed water content and so can be overcome by using calibration standards under the same conditions of humidity as the samples. The thermal decomposition of many volatile organic compounds in an on-line sorption trap during the GC analysis of air samples is examined. The results show that degradation of unstable compounds is governed by the amount of heat transferred to the compounds during desorption (i.e., applied temperature and pulse duration). The use of an on-line trap results in the immediate transfer of desorbed compounds to the analytical column, which can reduce the formation of artifacts.     

On-line determination of organochlorine pesticides in water by solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography with electron capture detection

This paper describes the extraction of 20 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from water samples using solid-phase microextraction (SPME). Three fused-silica fibers coated or bonded with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) of different film thicknesses (20-, 30-, and 100-μm) were evaluated. The extraction time, the effects of stirring and addition of NaCl to the aqueous sample, the linear range and the precision of this technique, and the effect of carryover were examined for 20 analytes and are presented here. A comparison with results using conventional liquid-liquid extraction demonstrate that the SPME technique is well suited as a fast screening technique for OCPs in water samples.     

Comparison of the properties of waterborne polyurethane-ureas containing different triblock glycols for water vapor permeable coatings

Four types of triblock glycols [(CL)_4.5-PEG-(CL)_4.5, (CL)_4.5-PTAd-(CL)_4.5, (CL)_4.5-PTMG-(CL)_4.5, and (CL)_4.5-PPG-(CL)_4.5, Mn=3,000] were synthesized by end-capping reactions of -caprolactone (CL) and poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG, Mn=2,000), poly(tetramethylene adipate) glycol (PTAd, Mn=2,000), poly(tetramethylene) glycol (PTMG, Mn=2,000), or polypropylene glycol (PPG, Mn=2,000)]. Waterborne polyurethanes (WBPUs) were prepared by polyaddition reaction using 4,4-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (H₁₂MDI), 2,2-bis (hydromethyl) propionic acid (DMPA), ethylene diamine (EDA), triethyl amine (TEA), and the triblock glycol. Studies have been conducted on the effects of triblock glycol type on the colloidal properties of dispersion, the hardness and mechanical properties of WBPU films, the water vapor permeability (WVP), and water resistance (WR) of WBPU-coated nylon fabrics. The WVP (%WVP based on control nylon fabric) of WBPU-coated nylon fabrics based on (CL)_4.5-PEG-(CL)_4.5, (CL)_4.5-PTAd-(CL)_4.5, (CL)_4.5-PTMG-(CL)_4.5 and (CL)_4.5-PPG-(CL)_4.5 were 3,975(81), 3,115(62), 3,124(64), and 2,569(52) g/m² day (%), respectively. However, the WBPU based on (CL)_4.5-PEG-(CL)_4.5 was not applicable for coating material, because its dispersion and film had relatively high viscosity (3,000 cps at 50°C) and low mechanical properties, respectively. In this work, the triblock glycols (CL)_4.5-PTMG-(CL)_4.5 and (CL)_4.5-PTAd-(CL)_4.5 were found to be desirable glycols for water vapor permeable coating materials.     

Determination of volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons in water samples by static headspace gas chromatography with electron capture detection

A simple, efficient, solvent‐free, and commercial readily available approach for determination of five volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons in water samples using the static headspace sampling and gas chromatography with electron capture detection has been described. The proposed static headspace sampling method was initially optimized and the optimum experimental conditions found were 10 mL water sample containing 20% w/v sodium chloride placed in a 20 mL vial and stirred at 50ºC for 20 min. The linearity of the method was in the range of 1.2–240 μg/L for dichloromethane, 0.2–40 μg/L for trichloromethane, 0.005–1 μg/L for perchloromethane, 0.025–5 μg/L for trichloroethylene, and 0.01–2 μg/L for perchloroethylene, with coefficients of determination ranging between 0.9979 and 0.9990. The limits of detection were in the low μg/L level, ranging between 0.001 and 0.3 μg/L. The relative recoveries of spiked five volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons with external calibration method at different concentration levels in pure, tap, sea water of Jiaojiang Estuary, and sea water of waters of Xiaomendao were in the range of 91–116, 96–105, 86–112, and 80–111%, respectively, and with relative standard deviations of 1.9–3.6, 2.3–3.5, 1.5–2.7, and 2.3–3.7% (n = 5), respectively. The performance of the proposed method was compared with traditional liquid–liquid extraction on the real water samples (i.e., pure, tap, and sea water, etc.) and comparable efficiencies were obtained. It is concluded that this method can be successfully applied for the determination of volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons in different water samples.     

Oxygen and water vapor permeability of fully substituted long chain cellulose esters (LCCE)

Fully-substituted cellulose esters with acyl substituents ranging in size from C2 to C18 were synthesized using the acyl chloride method. Films were prepared from the purified esters by either solvent-casting or compression-molding at elevated temperatures. Oxygen and water vapor permeability was determined under different conditions of pressure and moisture. The relationship between cellulose ester structure and barrier properties was examined. The results revealed linear relationships between water vapor and oxygen permeabilities and molar ester substituent volume as well as several structural factors relating to polymer polarity and hydrophobicity, such as aliphatic (methylene) content, solubility parameter, and contact angle. Films from long chain cellulose esters (LCCE) with acyl substituents in the size range between C8 and C18 were found to represent effective barriers to water vapor transport while their obstruction to the transfer of oxygen remained low. It was concluded that the hydrophobic nature of LCCEs is responsible for the control of water vapor transport, and that spatial factors dominate the transfer of oxygen.     

The effect of triethyl citrate on the dispersibility and water vapor sorption behavior of polylactic acid/zeolite composites

The aim of this study was to investigate the water vapor adsorption behavior and mechanical properties of poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/zeolite (5, 10, or 15 phr) composites prepared with triethyl citrate (TEC; 20 phr) via a melting process. TEC was used to improve the flexibility of the PLA and the dispersibility of the zeolite in TEC-zeolite suspensions that were ultra-sonicated. It was found that zeolite was uniformly dispersed in the PLA matrix, and the interfacial adhesion between the PLA matrix and zeolite was enhanced by TEC. In addition, the tensile strengths and Young's modulus of the composites improved with increasing zeolite content. The PLA/zeolite composites prepared with TEC had increased water vapor permeability and contact angles compared to neat PLA and standard PLA/zeolite due to the presence of TEC. In particular, TEC accelerated the hydrolysis of the PLA surface in a high humidity environment, resulting in an improvement in water vapor sorption capacity. At the same zeolite content of 15 phr, the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) values of PLA/zeolite films prepared with TEC increased by up to 39.25 mg/g whereas those prepared without TEC only increased by up to 24.33 mg/g. The results suggest the possibility of applying PLA/zeolite films prepared with TEC as a flexible active packaging material.     

Sorption of water vapor on cation-substituted vermiculite

Deformations of Na, Ca, and Ba vermiculites upon sorption of water vapor have been determined by a dilatometric method. Sequential stages in the hydration of interlayer exchange cations have been identified. The experimental results have been compared with data obtained in studies using adsorptive, calorimetric, and x-ray methods.Institute of Physical Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117915 Moscow. Institute of Colloid Chemistry and the Chemistry of Water, Academy of Sciences of the Ukraine, Kiev. Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 34–39, January, 1992.     

On-line solid-phase extraction-thermal desorption-gas chromatography with ion trap detection tandem mass spectrometry for the analysis of microcontaminants in water

An improved set-up for solid-phase extraction with thermal desorption coupled on-line to gas chromatography (SPETD-GC) is presented. It includes a newly designed liner for a programmable temperature vaporizer (PTV) and an improved water elimination system. The SPETD procedure now includes a washing step with HPLC-grade water to prevent degradation of analytes due to interaction with remaining sample constituents. The system was used to analyze surface and tap water samples over a 4-month period. No decrease of chromatographic or trace-enrichment performance was observed, and a liner packed with Tenax GR could be used for at least 150 analyses. The SPETD module was coupled to GC with ion-trap detection for mass spectrometric (MS) and MS/MS detection. The linearity and repeatability of the procedure for several pesticides which were tested in the 0.5–10 μg/1 range were fully satisfactory (1 μg/1, RSD range 5–11%; n = 5). When using sample volumes of 0.1 ml only, detection limits were as low as 0. 1-0.2 μg/1. As an example, the confirmation and quantification of a suspected pesticide in a real-life sample using electron impact and positive chemical ionization in both the MS and MS/MS mode is shown.     

Separation of zinc compounds by sequential metal vapor elution analysis with atomic absorption detection

The separation of zinc compounds, containing zinc chloride, nitrate, and sulfate, at low concentrations by sequential metal vapor elution analysis (SMVEA) with argon carrier gas was reported. A molybdenum column, inserted with a tungsten wire, was developed for the separation of zinc compounds by SMVEA. The optimum separation conditions were a vaporization temperature of 1370 K, a column temperature of 1350 K, and a carrier gas flow rate of 2.5 mL min⁻¹. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the zinc compounds could be roughly separated by SMVEA, although a part of peak profiles overlapped. The number of theoretical plates was 36 for ZnCl₂, 62 for Zn(NO₃)₂, and 80 for ZnSO₄ in the SMVEA column. The present SMVEA system may be able to be applied widely to various analytical instruments.     

GaSb based lasers operating near 2.3 microm for high resolution absorption spectroscopy

The paper describes results obtained with a new type of GaSb based semiconductor distributed feedback multiple quantum well lasers operating in continuous wave mode well above room temperature. The lasers show good tunability both by current and temperature from 0 to +60 degrees C and current from threshold up to 120 mA. They all operate in high power (1-3 mW) single mode regime and can be tuned in the methane and ammonia overtone absorption spectral range over up to 12 cm(-1) and can be used for the detection of these and other gases.