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On-site detection and initial identification of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) remain difficult despite the many available devices designed for this type of analysis. Devices using well-established analytical techniques such as ion mobility spectrometry, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, or flame photometry, in addition to unquestionable advantages, also have some limitations (complexity, high unit cost, lack of selectivity). One of the emerging techniques of CWA detection is based on acoustic wave sensors, among which surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices and quartz crystal microbalances (QCM) are of particular importance. These devices allow for the construction of undemanding and affordable gas sensors whose selectivity, sensitivity, and other metrological parameters can be tailored by application of particular coating material. This review article presents the current state of knowledge and achievements in the field of SAW and QCM-based gas sensors used for the detection of blister agents as well as simulants of these substances. The scope of the review covers the detection of blister agents and their simulants only, as in the available literature no similar paper was found, in contrast to the detection of nerve agents. The article includes description of the principles of operation of acoustic wave sensors, a critical review of individual studies and solutions, and discusses development prospects of this analytical technique in the field of blister agent detection.

Mercury is the element commonly applied in industry. Because of poisoning properties the monitoring of the mercury vapour concentration in the environment is very important. Mercury forms amalgams in connection with gold that causes a change in the electrical resistance and mass of the gold specimens. This eect was applied to measure mercury vapour concentration in the environment using surface acoustic wave technology. Two kinds of surface acoustic wave mercury sensors have been described in the paper. First one utilizes a thin lm of gold deposited between aluminium interdigital transducers and reectors of two-port surface acoustic wave resonator, and the second one golden interdigital transducers and reectors without any sensitive lm between them.

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Typical approach to the surface acoustic waves sensors response analysis is based on the use of self-oscillating circuits with surface acoustic wave device working inside positive feedback loop of an amplier. Such kind of parametric measurement allows to track the center frequency of the sensor changes in particular. The method is widely used mainly due to their relative simplicity. Unfortunately, it has many disadvantages like frequency (phase) instability, sensitivity to unwanted factors, surface acoustic wave substrate mass-load limit etc. A new system to the analysis of surface acoustic wave gas sensors response as well as an exemplary measurement results are described in the paper. The presented system make the rst step to the more complex conception realization.