Portable Battery Powered Instrument for Measuring Concentrations of Airborne Halogenated Hydrocarbon Compounds

Abstract

A lightweight, portable instrument for detection and measurement of halogenated hydrocarbon concentrations in ambient air has been developed. The detection principle is a form of the Beilstein flame test, using propane as fuel. Sampling is accomplished by aspiration within the burner, eliminating the need for a motor driven sampling pump. Fuel delivery and sampling rates are automatically regulated. The optical system incorporates an interference filter and a photoconductor, and several solid state circuits have been developed for readout, two of which are described in the text. The instrument is battery operated and weighs about 4.5 kg.