Licensable Technologies
: Physics & Chemistry
: Environment/Waste Management
Apparatus and Method for Chemical Agent Detection
Abstract
Los Alamos National Laboratory has developed a method and apparatus for detecting chemical agents, comprised of a mini-plasma apparatus and an elemental/ molecular emission detection means that provides some unique capabilities for chemical agent detection. A spectrometer or any mechanism that differentiates between differing spectral emissions may be utilized for identifying the elements and/ or molecular organics present in an air sample.
Application(s)
- Industrial Hygiene and Safety
- Environmental Monitoring
- Homeland Security
Advantages
- Low power consumption. Can be powered by dry cell batteries.
- The plasma discharge uses only inert gases or air, which are easy to maintain without any operational or safety concern.
- The low power mini-plasma formed in the inert gas/ air environment is used only to fragment and excite chemical species without destroying them; similar to flame photometry techniques.
- The detection means can detect both elemental and molecular (organic) information for targeted chemical agents.
- Significantly reduces or completely eliminates potential false-positive responses.
- Portable size with real-time analysis.
- No pressurized environment required for plasma operation. • Small non-thermal microplasma source.
IP Status: Available both Exclusively and Non Exclusively
Reference Number: 369
S Number: DOE reference no.(s): 100,590
Patents & Applications:
Application(s) Pending
Posted: 06-14-2005
Contact
John Mott
Technology Transfer Division
Los Alamos National Laboratory
P.O. Box 1663, MailStop C334
(505) 665-0883
jmott@lanl.gov
