Analysis of Environmental Pollutants Using a Piezoelectric Crystal Detector

Abstract

Piezoelectric crystal detectors possess a good potential as sensors in Analytical Chemistry. Their specificity is excellent, provided a highly selective adsorbent layer is placed on the surface of the crystal. Sensitivity is also good, down to parts per trillion levels of atmospheric pollutants are detectable, with a large linear range up to parts per million.

Specific detectors have been developed for organophosphorus compounds, toluene in printing plants, dynamite and explosives, CO, SO₂, NO_x, NH₃, HCl and organochlorine compounds. Results on some of these detectors is presented herein.

Key Words:

• Piezoelectric crystals
• specific detectors
• atmospheric pollutants
• organophosphorus compounds
• toluene
• carbon monoxide
• explosives
• ammonia
• hydrogen chloride