Sub-parts-per-billion level detection of dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP) by quantum cascade laser photoacoustic spectroscopy

Appl Opt. 2008 Apr 1;47(10):1543-8. doi: 10.1364/ao.47.001543.

Abstract

The need for the detection of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) is no longer confined to battlefield environments because of at least one confirmed terrorist attack, the Tokyo Subway [Emerg. Infect. Dis. 5, 513 (1999)] in 1995, and a suspected, i.e., a false-alarm of a CWA in the Russell Senate Office Building [Washington Post, 9 February 2006, p. B01]. Therefore, detection of CWAs with high sensitivity and low false-alarm rates is considered an important priority for ensuring public safety. We report a minimum detection level for a CWA simulant, dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP), of <0.5 ppb (parts in 10(9)) by use of a widely tunable external grating cavity quantum cascade laser and photoacoustic spectroscopy. With interferents present in Santa Monica, California street air, we demonstrate a false-alarm rate of 1:10(6) at a detection threshold of 1.6 ppb.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acoustics / instrumentation
  • Chemical Warfare Agents / analysis*
  • Lasers, Semiconductor*
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / analysis*
  • Photometry / methods
  • Spectrum Analysis / instrumentation
  • Spectrum Analysis / methods

Substances

  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • dimethyl methylphosphonate