CONTINUOUS MONITORING FOR N2O AND NO2

NITROUS OXIDE, N2O, IS A STABLE GAS THAT CONTRIBUTES TO BOTHTHE GREENHOUSE EFFECT PROBLEM AND OZONE DEPLETION IN THE STRATOSPHERE. AMBIENT N2O LEVELS ARE INCREASING FROM UNKNOWN SOURCES. NO CONTINUOUS, ON-LINE INSTRUMENT IS COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE TO MEASURE N2O FROM FOSSIL FUEL COMBUSTION SOURCES TO ASSESS AND CONTROL N2O EMISSIONS. PSI TECHNOLOGY COMPANY PROPOSES TO DEVELOP A CONTINUOUS, ON-LINE N2O MONITOR BASED ON THE CHEMILUMINESCENT REACTION OF N2O WITH BARIUM VAPOR FOR BOTH SOURCE AND AMBIENT APPLICATIONS. THIS INSTRUMENT CAN PROVIDE A LINEAR MEASURE OF N2O DOWN TO THE 0.1 PPM LEVEL FOR A YEAR OF CONTINUOUS OPERATION ON A SMALL CHARGE OF BARIUM. THE SAME INSTRUMENT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FUNCTION ALSO AS A CONTINUOUS NITROGEN DIOXIDE (NO2) MONITOR.