This project addresses the national need to develop anefficient method and instrument to monitor air toxics in gas flows. The current situation requires the detailed characterization oftoxic air emissions from flue gases while the existing means lackselectivity and performance. New and high performance methodsand detectors are needed for quality monitoring. A novel, highperformance, on-line laser air toxics monitor is planned. Aunique Zeeman refractive index (RI) detector will be a basis forthe project. It is ultrasensitive, robust, and high speed. However, it does measure the changes in the RI of the mixturerather than individual concentrations of the components. Aninnovative method of detection of the individual components withthe detector is planned. The method is based on the high-speedmultiple measurements over the mixture with systematic change ofits parameters. To affect the mixture, an external laser will beused which can selectively heat a component by radiation with thewavelength typical for the absorption band of this component. The data obtained from the multiple measurements allow theindividual concentrations to be calculated. In Phase I alaboratory setup will be designed and developed to verify theproof-of-concept of air toxics monitoring using the Zeeman RIdetector and the planned method. In Phase II, further testingand refinement of the method and the air toxics monitor will becompleted, culminating in the test of the monitor in thesimulated conditions of a plant. In Phase III, an advancedcommercial air toxies monitor based on the results of Phase I andPhase II will be designed and built.Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee:Phase I testing is expected to demonstrate theability of the proposed laser monitor to detect air toxies such ashydrogen chloride and lead. The simplicity, performance, andreliability of the method make it attractive for use in variousindustrial settings for quality monitoring of industrial streams. The monitor can be installed in power plants to provide reliable,on-line monitoring of air toxics.
