Ultrasensitive Acrolein Sensor for Environmental Monitoring

Picarro will build a trace gas sensor based on Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy (CRDS) targeting the acrolein absorption band in 1623 nm for environmental monitoring. Acrolein is a ubiquitous airborn pollutant the sources of which include burning vegetation (e.g., forest fires), waste incinerators, furnaces, fireplace, gasoline-and diesel-engine emissions, power plants, polyethelene combustion, cigarette smoke, and the cooking of food. Acrolein is extremely toxic to humans and is listed by the EPA as on the thirty-three Hazardous Air Pollutants. We indent to determine whether a sensor, based on CRDS, can be used to detect acrolein with a sensitivity of one part per billion in the presence of H2O, CO2, CO, and other potential sources of interference in the atmosphere and in combustion exhaust. We will measure the optical absorption spectrum of the 1623 nm band along with potential interferants. We will determine the performance characteristics of the sensor including precision, accuracy, linearity, and lower detectable limit.