Electrically Switchable Surfaces for Vapor Stream Concentration(1001-344)

Trace detection usually requires a vapor concentrator that collects dilute analytes from a vapor sample and delivers them at a higher concentration to the detector. For humid vapor streams, cryogenic vapor concentrators can be unacceptable due to the condensation of water. Many adsorbent vapor collectors have the disadvantage of long sampling times and sometimes require desorption temperatures that can fragment heat-sensitive compounds. Triton Systems is developing a non-cryogenic, small-form-factor vapor concentrator that is able to adsorb either polar or non-polar analytes from a vapor sample. Fast desorption of the collected molecules is initiated with an electrical signal instead of heating. Triton Systems will demonstrate the functionality of its vapor concentrator concept by coupling the device to a detector and measuring known levels of trace chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulant vapors. An analysis will be done to correlate the performance of the vapor concentrator to major system parameters, including the vapor concentrator area, analyte concentration, vapor stream flow rate, temperature, and humidity. The results of this analysis will be used to optimize the design of a prototype that will be fabricated and implemented in Phase II for measuring the permeation of CWA through protective clothing materials.