Inexpensive High-Performance Carbon Dioxide Field Analyzer

78031S Understanding global warming requires continuous field measurements of carbon dioxide concentrations. High-precision measurements of at least one part in 3000 are required. However, these high-performance instruments must meet stringent cost objectives. A simple, rugged, photoacoustic spectrometer could provide the required measurement precision at DOE¿s cost target. This project will develop a laser-diode-based spectrometer that can determine carbon dioxide concentration to 40 ppb precision in under one minute at a retail price at $5,000. Phase I will construct a bench top laser diode (LD) photoacoustic spectrometer (PAS) and determine its sensitivity and selectivity carbon dioxide. The requirements for calibration and measurement procedures will be determined for long-term field deployment. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The technology should enable general purpose trace gas detection in a variety of applications including biomedical breath diagnostics, process gas analysis, and environmental regulatory compliance. The expected price point for volume carbon dioxide applications should transfer, in many cases, to other trace species.