Rapid formaldehyde monitoring in ambient air by means of mid-infrared cavity leak-out spectroscopy

We report the spectroscopic detection of formaldehyde in ambient air using cavity leak-out spectroscopy, a cw variant of cavity ring-down spectroscopy. This technique proved to be suitable for a real-time quantitative analysis of polluted air without any preprocessing of the air sample. Using a tunable CO-overtone sideband laser for the λ=3 μm spectral region and a ring-down cell with R=99.95% mirrors, we achieved a detection limit of 2 parts per billion formaldehyde in ambient air, corresponding to a minimum detectable absorption coefficient of 7×10^-9/cm (sampling time: 2 s). Calibration problems arising from the polarity of the molecule and due to HITRAN database uncertainties are discussed. Received: 28 March 2002 / Revised version: 7 June 2002 / Published online: 21 August 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +49-211/811-3121, E-mail: muertz@uni-duesseldorf.de     

Isotopic ratio measurement of methane in ambient air using mid-infrared cavity leak-out spectroscopy

We report on infrared laser spectroscopic measurements of the isotopic composition of methane (¹²CH₄, ¹³CH₄) in natural air samples with a cavity ring-down technique. A CO overtone sideband laser is utilized to excite a high-finesse cavity which provides an effective optical absorption path length of 3.6 km. We achieved a detection limit of 105 ppt methane in ambient air using an integration time of 20 s. This corresponds to a minimum detectable absorption of 1.9×10^-9 /cm. Rapid determination of the ¹³C/¹²Cisotopic ratio of methane in ambient air without sample preconcentration or gas processing is realized. The present system requires only few minutes for an isotopic ratio measurement with a precision of 11%o . Received: 14 July 2000 / Revised version: 25 October 2000 / Published online: 6 December 2000     

Real-time monitoring of ethane in human breath using mid-infrared cavity leak-out spectroscopy

We report on spectroscopic real-time analysis of ethane traces in exhaled human breath. Ethane is considered the most important volatile marker of free-radical induced lipid peroxidation and cell damage in the human body. Our measurements were carried out by means of mid-infrared cavity leak-out spectroscopy in the 3 μm region, a cw variant of cavity ring-down spectroscopy. The spectrometer is based on a CO overtone laser with tunable microwave sidebands. The resulting system proved to be an unique tool with high sensitivity and selectivity for rapid and precise breath testing. With a 5 s integration time, we achieved a detection limit on the order of 100 parts per trillion ethane in human breath. Thus, sample preconcentration is unnecessary. Time-resolved monitoring of the decaying ethane fraction in breath after smoking a cigarette is demonstrated. Received: 13 March 2001 / Published online: 9 May 2001     

Time resolved simultaneous detection of 14NO and 15NO via mid-infrared cavity leak-out spectroscopy

We present a ring-down absorption spectrometer based on a continuous-wave CO laser in the mid-infrared spectral region near λ?=?5 μm. Using a linear ring-down cavity (length: 0.5 m) with high reflective mirrors (R?=?99.988 %), we observed a noise-equivalent absorption coefficient of 3?×?10^?10 cm^?1Hz^?1/2. This corresponds to a noise-equivalent concentration of 800 parts per trillion (ppt) for ¹⁴NO and 40 ppt for ¹⁵NO in 1 s averaging time. We achieve a time resolution of 1 s which allows time resolved simultaneous detection of the two N isotopes. The δ¹⁵N value was obtained with a precision of ±1.2‰ in a sample with a NO fraction of 11 ppm. The simultaneous detection enables the use of ¹⁵NO as a tracer molecule for endogenous biomedical processes.     

Time resolved simultaneous detection of 14NO and 15NO via mid-infrared cavity leak-out spectroscopy

We present a ring-down absorption spectrometer based on a continuous-wave CO laser in the mid-infrared spectral region near lambda = 5 microm. Using a linear ring-down cavity (length: 0.5 m) with high reflective mirrors (R = 99.988 %), we observed a noise-equivalent absorption coefficient of 3 x 10(-10) cm(-1)Hz(-1/2). This corresponds to a noise-equivalent concentration of 800 parts per trillion (ppt) for (14)NO and 40 ppt for (15)NO in 1 s averaging time. We achieve a time resolution of 1 s which allows time resolved simultaneous detection of the two N isotopes. The delta(15)N value was obtained with a precision of +/-1.2 per thousand in a sample with a NO fraction of 11 ppm. The simultaneous detection enables the use of (15)NO as a tracer molecule for endogenous biomedical processes.     

Ultra-sensitive mid-infrared cavity leak-out spectroscopy using a cw optical parametric oscillator

We report a portable, all-solid-state, mid-infrared spectrometer for trace-gas analysis. The light source is a continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator based on PPLN and pumped by a Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm. The generated single-frequency idler output covers the wavelength region between 2.35 and 3.75 μm. With its narrow line width, this light source is suitable for precise trace-gas analysis with very high sensitivity. Using cavity leak-out spectroscopy we achieved a minimum detectable absorption coefficient of 1.2×10^-9 /cm (integration time: 16 s), corresponding, for example, to a detection limit of 300 parts per trillion ethane. This sensitivity and the compact design make this trace-gas analyzer a promising tool for various in situ environmental and medical applications. Received: 19 September 2002 / Published online: 15 November 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +49-228/733-474, E-mail: frank.kuehnemann@iap.uni-bonn.de     

Mid-infrared cavity leak-out spectroscopy for ultrasensitive detection of carbonyl sulfide

We present a ringdown absorption spectrometer based on a continuous-wave CO laser in the mid-infrared spectral region near lambda = 5 microm. Using a linear ringdown cavity (length, 0.5 m) with R > = 99.99% mirrors, we observed a noise-equivalent absorption coefficient of 7 x 10(-11) cm(-1) Hz(-1/2). This is 2 orders of magnitude improved compared with previous values. With this setup we studied the spectroscopic detection of carbonyl sulfide (here abbreviated OCS) traces in ambient air and in exhaled breath. We achieved a detection limit of 7 parts in 10(12) (parts per trillion) OCS in ambient air, which is unprecedented and shows great promise for environmental and biomedical applications.     

Real-time measurement of nitrogen dioxide in vehicle exhaust gas by mid-infrared cavity ring-down spectroscopy

The application of pulsed cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) was demonstrated for the measurement of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) in automotive exhaust gas. The transition of the ν ₃ vibrational band assigned to the antisymmetric stretching mode of NO₂ was probed with a thermoelectrically cooled, pulsed, mid-infrared, distributed feedback, quantum cascade laser (QCL) at 6.13 μm. The measurement of NO₂ in the exhaust gas from two diesel vehicles equipped with different aftertreatment devices was demonstrated using a CRDS-based NO₂ sensor, which employs a HEPA filter and a membrane gas dryer to remove interference from water as well as particulates in the exhaust gas. Stable and sensitive measurement of NO₂ in the exhaust gas was achieved for more than 30 minutes with a time resolution of 1 s.     

Direct detection of acetylene in air by continuous wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy

Diode laser-based continuous wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy (cw-CRDS) in the near-infrared region has been used to measure the mixing ratio of acetylene (C₂H₂) in ambient air. Detection limits of 120 parts per trillion by volume (pptv) for 20 min and 340 pptv for 70 s acquisition time were achieved without sample pre-concentration, measuring on a C₂H₂ absorption line at 6565.620 cm^?1 (～1523 nm). Several indoor and outdoor air samples were collected at different locations in the Helsinki metropolitan area and analyzed using static-cell measurements. In addition, flow measurements of indoor and outdoor air have been performed continuously over several days with a time resolution of down to one minute. Baseline acetylene levels in the range of 0.4 to 3 parts per billion by volume (ppbv), with a maximum around midday and a minimum during the night, were measured. Sudden high mixing ratios of up to 60 ppbv were observed in outdoor air during daytime on a minute time scale. In general, the indoor mixing ratios were found to be higher than those in outdoor air. The acetylene levels correlated with the ambient CO levels and with outdoor temperature.     

基于中红外光谱检测牛奶中掺杂的尿素

采用中红外光谱技术对牛奶中掺杂尿素目标物进行检测.配置含有尿素浓度范围为1～18 g·L-1之间18个牛奶样品,分别研究了纯牛奶和掺杂尿素牛奶的红外光谱特性,并进行了对比分析.利用尿素1 562 cm-1处酰胺Ⅲ带C=O伸缩振动吸收峰面积A1 562与1 464 cm-1处C-N伸缩振动吸收峰面积A1464的比值A1 ...     

毒死蜱乳油中敌敌畏违禁添加的红外快速测定

分别采用中红外衰减全反射技术和近红外光谱分析透射技术对毒死蜱乳油中违禁添加的敌敌畏乳油含量进行了快速定量测定。利用偏最小二乘法(partial least squares,PLS)建立敌敌畏的定量模型并进行优化,再分别用独立检验集和不同批次考核样本对模型适应性进行评价。结果表明,中红外和近红外光谱分析技术均可以准确测定毒死蜱乳油中敌敌畏的含量。中红外校正集标准差(RMSEC)为0.013,近红外为0.020,模型测定系数(R2)二者均为1.000。对于考核样品,近红外模型适用性更好,不需要进行模型修正,预测标准差(RMSEP)为0.09;中红外模型需要进行修正,修正后预测标准差(RMSEP)为0.03。红外光谱分析技术因前处理方法简单,测量迅速、方便,对于监督部门进行农药质量控制具有重要意义。     

Rapid detection of illicit fipronil in phoxim granules by mid-infrared spectroscopy

In this paper, we use mid-infrared spectroscopy to detect illicit fipronil in phoxim granules by partial least discrimination analysis (PLS-DA). The classification accuracy (CA) of the calibration set and prediction set are both 100.0% with the additive level of fipronil ranges from 0.1% to 5.0%. The results indicate that MIR coupled with chemometric method has the potential in detecting illicit pesticide addition and the proposed method provides a new idea on pesticide quality control.     

Quasi-simultaneous detection of CH2O and CH by cavity ring-down absorption and laser-induced fluorescence in a methane/air low-pressure flame

The combination of two-dimensional, planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) and cavity ring-down (CRD) absorption spectroscopy is applied to map quantitatively the spatial distributions of CH₂O and CH in a methane/air flame at 25 Torr. Both species are detected in the same spectral region using the overlapping CH₂O A ¹ A ₂ -X ¹ A ₁ 4₁ ⁰ and CH B-X(1,0 )bands. The combination of diagnostic techniques exploits the spatial resolution of LIF and the quantitative CRD absorption measure of column density. The spatially resolved PLIF provides the distribution of absorbers and line-of-sight CRD absorption the absolute number density needed for quantitative concentration images. The peak CH₂O concentration is (3.5±1.4 )×10¹⁴ cm^-3, or 1450±550 ppm at 1000 K. The lack of precise absorption cross-section data produces these large error limits. Although a flame model predicts lower amounts, these large uncertainties limit this measurement’susefulness as a test of the flame chemistry. Received: 24 April 2001 / Revised version: 10 July 2001 / Published online: 10 October 2001     

Parts per trillion sensitivity for ethane in air with an optical parametric oscillator cavity leak-out spectrometer

Spectroscopic detection of ethane in the 3-microm wavelength region was performed by means of a cw optical parametric oscillator and cavity leak-out. We achieved a minimum detectable absorption coefficient of 1.6 x 10(-10) cm 1/square root of Hz, corresponding to an ethane detection limit of 6 parts per trillion/square root of Hz. For 3-min integration time the detection limit was 0.5 parts per trillion. The levels are to our knowledge the best demonstrated so far. These frequency-tuning capabilities facilitated multigas analysis with simultaneous monitoring of ethane, methane, and water vapor in human breath.     

Time-series measurements of CH concentration in turbulent CH(4) / air flames by use of picosecond time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence

We report a developing technique capable of making continuous time-series measurements of naturally occurring minor-species concentrations. The high repetition rate of the mode-locked laser used in this technique allows for the study of transient combustion events, such as turbulence, and their effect on minor-species concentrations. The technique is applied to make CH fluorescence time-series measurements and to calculate power spectral densities in a turbulent nonpremixed flame. To our knowledge, the reported time series represents the first such measurement for a naturally occurring minor species in a turbulent flame.     

Spatially resolved trace detection of HCl in flames with mid-infrared polarization spectroscopy

Sensitive and nonintrusive detection of HCl in reactive gas flows with high spatial and temporal resolution manner has for the first time (to our knowledge) been demonstrated using mid-infrared polarization spectroscopy (IRPS). Trace levels of HCl were prepared in an atmospheric pressure premixed CH4/O2/Ar flat flame by seeding a small amount of chloroform into the Ar flow. Detection of HCl with IRPS in the burnt region of the stoichiometric flame was performed by probing the fundamental ro-vibration transitions with a 3.2 microm tunable pulsed laser. The quantitative nature, the detection sensitivity, and the potential spectral interferences from water were investigated.     

Potentials and limits of mid-infrared laser spectroscopy for the detection of explosives

Optical methods are well-established for trace gas detection in many applications, such as industrial process control or environmental sensing. Consequently, they gain much interest in the discussion of sensing methods for counterterrorism, e.g., the detection of explosives. Explosives as well as their decomposition products possess strong absorption features in the mid-infrared (MIR) spectral region between λ=5 and 11 μm. In this report we present two different laser spectroscopic approaches based on quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) operating at wavelengths around λ=5 and 8 μm, respectively. Stand-off configuration for the remote detection of nitro-based explosives (e.g., trinitrotoluene, TNT) and a fiber coupled sensor device for the detection of triacetone triperoxide (TATP) are discussed. PACS  42.62.Fi; 07.07.Df     

The potential of mid-infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy for the detection of various doping agents used by athletes

The feasibility of laser-photoacoustic measurements for the detection and the analysis of different isolated doping agents in the vapour phase is discussed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that photoacoustic vapour-phase measurements of doping substances have been presented. Spectra of different doping classes (stimulants, anabolica, diuretica, and beta blockers) are shown and discussed in terms of their detection sensitivity and selectivity. The potential of laser spectroscopy for detecting the intake of prohibited substances by athletes is explored. PACS 07.57.Ty; 33.20.Ea; 82.80.Kq     

Doppler-limited spectra of the ν3 vibration of 12CH4 and 13CH4

The tetrahedral splittings in the P and R branches of the ν₃ band of natural methane have been examined with Doppler-limited resolution using a difference-frequency spectrometer. The spectra obtained by this difference-frequency mixer are compared to recent high-resolution grating spectrometer studies of ¹²CH₄ and enriched ¹³CH₄. The resolution, selectivity and precision are improved over the conventional methods. The mixing spectrometer utilizes tunable, narrow linewidth infrared radiation generated in the nonlinear optical crystal, LiNbO₃ as the beat frequency between a CW argon ion and a tunable dye laser. This spectrometer covers the 2.2 to 4.2 μm infrared spectrum with an instrumental resolution of 5 × 10^?4 cm^?1 and continuous scans up to ～1 cm^?1 and with ir power ～1 μW.