Trace concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in human exhale have been reported for their potential as biomarkers for detection and monitoring of various disease states. This paper discusses design of a dual ultraviolet photoionization source-based compact differential mobility sensor (DMS) for detection of trace VOCs, such as acetone and hexane. The DMS sensor demonstrated a sub-parts per million level detection limit for acetone and hexane as estimated for signal-to-noise ratio of 3. Results of experiment performed for detection of trace concentrations of acetone in human exhaled air from a few normal and diabetic volunteers are also described. It was observed that acetone concentration in human breath for the volunteers show good correlation with blood glucose measurements as recorded with glucometer. © 2001-2012 IEEE.

Nilesh Jayanthilal Vasa

Department of Engineering Design

Acetone

biomarkers

blood

glucose

Hexane

ionization

Ionization of gases

Organic compounds

Photoionization

Volatile organic compounds

Blood Glucose

BLOOD GLUCOSE MEASUREMENTS

DIFFERENTIAL MOBILITY

Good correlations

Ion Mobility

Parts per millions

TRACE CONCENTRATIONS

TRACE GAS DETECTION

Signal to noise ratio

IIT Madras is a public technical and research university located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Founded in 1959, it is recognised as an Institute of National Importance.

IIT Madras has been ranked as the top engineering institute in India for four years in a row by the National Institutional Ranking Framework of the MHRD

It currently offers undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees across 16 disciplines in Engineering, Sciences, Humanities and Management. About 596 faculty belonging to science and engineering departments and centres of the Institute are engaged in teaching, research and industrial consultancy.

IIT Madras

Dual Photoionization Source-Based Differential Mobility Sensor for Trace Gas Detection in Human Breath

IEEE Sensors Journal

A high-field Asymmetric Waveform Ion Mobility Spectrometry (FA-IMS) with ultra-violet (UV) photo-ionization source is proposed and demonstrated for measurement of trace amounts of volatile organic compound (VOC) gases. Experimental studies performed with the sensor using a high frequency asymmetrical waveform differential field for detection of acetone, hexane and acetone-hexane mixture in trace concentrations are discussed. The detection limit as estimated for a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 is of the order of 100 ppb for acetone and hexane. Experimental studies clearly show that selective sensing of a gas in a mixture of gases is also possible by appropriate value for the compensation voltage. Numerical Simulation is also performed using two-dimensional fluid-flow equations to estimate the motion of ions in an electric field. The study also demonstrated influence of parameters such as flow velocity, duty-ratio, on compensation voltage for detection of trace VOC gases with asymmetrical high-frequency electric field. Results based on theoretical study are in agreement with the experimental studies. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.

Sensors and Actuators, B: Chemical

UV photo-ionization based asymmetric field differential ion mobility sensor for trace gas detection

An approach of superluminescent light emitting diode (SLED)-based multiple-gas sensing (NH 3 and H 2O vapor) is proposed and demonstrated by using an absorption spectroscopy technique for emission monitoring (DeNO x process) applications. Such process normally occurs at temperature range of 250-400 °C where significant interference effect due to H 2 O vapor is expected. Hence, measuring multiple gases and eliminating cross-interference effect is of great importance in sensing trace gases. In this study, an SLED-based sensor with center emission wavelength of 1530-nm region is chosen to measure the concentrations of pure NH 3 and H 2O vapor by probing its overtone and combination bands present in this region. Detection limit for the NH 3 gas accounted in the case of aqua-ammonia (undiluted) is estimated to be 120 ppm ·m. A novel approach of introducing an open-space etalon in the path of the SLED beam is also proposed and demonstrated for adequate isolation from interfering species and improving the detection limit. By using an etalon with a free spectral range of 104 GHz and tuning it to appropriate wavelength, detection limit of about 22 ppm·m is attained for NH 3 gas sensing in the presence of H 2O vapor. © 2012 IEEE.

IEEE Journal on Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics

Superluminescent diode-based multiple-gas sensor for NH 3 and H 2O vapor monitoring

Volatile Biomarkers

Exhaled Breath Analysis in Occupational Medicine

Analytica Chimica Acta

Breath acetone monitoring by portable Si:WO3 gas sensors

Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical

Novel e-nose for the discrimination of volatile organic biomarkers with an array of carbon nanotubes (CNT) conductive polymer nanocomposites (CPC) sensors

Dual photoionization source-based differential mobility sensor for trace gas detection in Human Breath

Journal	Data powered by TypesetIEEE Sensors Journal
Publisher	Data powered by TypesetInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISSN	1530437X
Open Access	No