Highly Sensitive Sphere-Tube Coupled Photoacoustic Cell Suitable for Detection of a Variety of Trace Gases: NO2 as an Example

The concentration of trace gases in the atmospheric environment is extremely low, but it has a great impact on the living environment of organisms. Photoacoustic spectroscopy has attracted extensive attention in the field of trace gas detection because of its high sensitivity, good selectivity, and fast response. As the core of a photoacoustic detection setup, the photoacoustic cell has a significant impact on detection performance. To improve detection sensitivity, a sphere-tube coupled photoacoustic cell (STPAC) was developed, which was mainly composed of a diffuse-reflective sphere and an acoustic resonance tube. Modulated light was reflected multiple times in the sphere to increase optical path, and photoacoustic (PA) signals were further amplified by the tube. Based on STPAC, a PA gas detection setup was built with a laser diode (LD) at 450 nm as the light source. The experimental results showed that the minimum detection limit (noise equivalent concentration, NEC) of NO2 was ~0.7 parts per billion (ppb). Compared with the T-type PA cell (TPAC) in which the modulated light passed through the sphere, the signal-to-noise ratio of STPAC was increased by an order of magnitude at the same concentration of the NO2 sample.

Cantilever enhanced based photoacoustic detection of SF6 decomposition component SO2 using UV LED

Purpose This paper aims to establish a photoacoustic detection system for SO2 using UV-LED and testify its feasibility for sensitive measurement. The work in this paper can avoid potential crossover interference in infrared (IR) range and also balance the capability and cost of feasible excitation for photoacoustic detection system. Design/methodology/approach In this experimental work, a cantilever-enhanced–based photoacoustic SO2 detection system using an ultraviolet (UV) LED light source with a light power of 4 mW as the excitation was established. Findings A feasible photoacoustic detection system for SO2 using UV-LED was established. Experimental results demonstrate that the detection limit of the system can reach the level of 0.667 ppm, which can serve as a reference for the application of PAS in insulation fault diagnosis. Originality/value This work investigated the potential of using ultraviolet photoacoustic spectroscopy to detect trace SO2, which provided an ideal replacement of infrared-laser-based detection system. In this paper, a photoacoustic detection system using LED with a low light power was established. Low light power requirement can expand the options of light sources accordingly. In this paper, the absorption characteristics of SO2 in the presented detection system and ultraviolet range were studied. And the detection limit of the presented system was given. Both of which can provide reference to SO2 detection in ambient SF6.

Photoacoustic Detection of Red Blood Cell Aggregation

The potential of photoacoustic imaging for detecting red blood cell (RBC) aggregation is explored. Enhanced aggregation is observed in disorders such as diabetes impairing oxygen release into tissue. Simultaneous measurements of aggregation and oxygenation levels cannot be made using current tools. Photoacoustic detection of aggregation and assessment of oxygen saturation was investigated. A theoretical and experimental model of aggregation was developed using human and porcine RBCs. Frequency-domain analysis of the PA signals was used to derive the spectral slope and midband fit of the normalized power spectra for various hematorit and aggregation conditions. Oxygen saturation was assessed using multiple wavelengths of illumination. The experimental spectral slope (~0.3 dB/MHz) for non-aggregated samples agreed with the theory decreasing with increasing aggregate size. The midband fit increased by ~5 dB when the aggregate size reached the largest level while the oxygen saturation increased by > 20%. These results suggest that photoacoustic-radio-frequency-spectroscopic-parameters have the potential to monitor RBC aggregation and oxygenation level.

Photoacoustic Detection of Red Blood Cell Aggregation

The potential of photoacoustic imaging for detecting red blood cell (RBC) aggregation is explored. Enhanced aggregation is observed in disorders such as diabetes impairing oxygen release into tissue. Simultaneous measurements of aggregation and oxygenation levels cannot be made using current tools. Photoacoustic detection of aggregation and assessment of oxygen saturation was investigated. A theoretical and experimental model of aggregation was developed using human and porcine RBCs. Frequency-domain analysis of the PA signals was used to derive the spectral slope and midband fit of the normalized power spectra for various hematorit and aggregation conditions. Oxygen saturation was assessed using multiple wavelengths of illumination. The experimental spectral slope (~0.3 dB/MHz) for non-aggregated samples agreed with the theory decreasing with increasing aggregate size. The midband fit increased by ~5 dB when the aggregate size reached the largest level while the oxygen saturation increased by > 20%. These results suggest that photoacoustic-radio-frequency-spectroscopic-parameters have the potential to monitor RBC aggregation and oxygenation level.