Publication Date
2012
Document Type
Thesis
Committee Members
Gary Farlow (Committee Member), Ivan Medvedev (Advisor), Doug Petkie (Committee Member)
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Abstract
A highly sensitive and selective Terahertz gas sensor used to analyze a complex mixture of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) has been developed. To best demonstrate analytical capabilities of a THz chemical sensor, we chose to perform analytical quantitative analysis of a certified gas mixture using a prototype gas phase chemical sensor that couples a commercial preconcentration system (Entech 7100A) to a custom high resolution THz spectrometer. A Method TO-14A certified mixture of thirty-nine VOCs was purchased. Twenty-six of the thirty-nine chemicals were identified as suitable for THz spectroscopic detection. The Entech 7100A system is designed and marketed as an inlet system for Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) instruments with a specific focus on TO-14A sampling methods and has been incorporated into our spectrometer. Its preconcentration efficiency is high for the thirty-nine chemicals in the mixture used for this study and our preliminary results confirm this for many of the selected VOCs. Presented are the results of this study which will serve as a basis for our ongoing research in environmental sensing and exhaled human breath.
Page Count
65
Department or Program
Department of Physics
Year Degree Awarded
2012
Copyright
Copyright 2012, all rights reserved. This open access ETD is published by Wright State University and OhioLINK.
