CW Detection Instrument R&D Design Evaluation
Abstract
This is the Task 3: CW Detection Instrument R&D Evaluation Report, for the program Development of a Handheld Chemical Detector Using Microchip GC. The study described in this report covers experimental evaluation of microchip GC and alternative GC approaches for developing a handheld instrument for CWC verification inspections. Shortcomings found in microchip GC technology were examined, and ways to extend microchip GC capability to include critical CWC semivolatile compounds were explored. When this was found not to be feasible due to temperature limitations of key components, alternative miniature GC technology was developed to fill this technology gap. This consists of an innovative ultra-low thermal mass GC with integral heater, whose components are actually smaller than those of the microchip GC. With this new technology, unprecedented temperature programming speed and accuracy have been demonstrated on a wide range of compounds ranging from volatiles to C20 hydrocarbons. The advantages of selective detectors coupled to this mini-GC technology are also discussed. A dual flame photometric detector (FPD) which provides simultaneous selective detection of phosphorus- and sulfur-containing compounds with a single GC column is recommended with the mini-GC in the handheld concept instrument design specification. CW agent detection, Microchip gas chromatography, Correlated gas chromatography, CW treaty verification.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADB178109
Entities
People
- Paul M. Holland
- Robert V. Mustacich