Photoacoustic Spectroscopy Combined with a Multipass Circular Cell to Detect Low Concentrations of Ammonia

Photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) has become a valuable technique for trace gas detection due to its high sensitivity and potential for miniaturization. This study presents the development and evaluation of a near-infrared PAS system using a 1532 nm semiconductor laser and a multipass cell (MPC) desi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Oscar E. Bonilla-Manrique, Alejandro Pérez Gonzalez-Banfi, Jorge Viñuela Pérez, Gabriele Dessena
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6727
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850156994023915520
author Oscar E. Bonilla-Manrique
Alejandro Pérez Gonzalez-Banfi
Jorge Viñuela Pérez
Gabriele Dessena
author_facet Oscar E. Bonilla-Manrique
Alejandro Pérez Gonzalez-Banfi
Jorge Viñuela Pérez
Gabriele Dessena
author_sort Oscar E. Bonilla-Manrique
collection DOAJ
description Photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) has become a valuable technique for trace gas detection due to its high sensitivity and potential for miniaturization. This study presents the development and evaluation of a near-infrared PAS system using a 1532 nm semiconductor laser and a multipass cell (MPC) designed to enhance the optical path and thereby improve the detection of ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>). The minimum detection limit was determined to be 770 ppb, with a normalized noise equivalent absorption (NNEA) coefficient of 1.07 × 10<sup>−8</sup> W cm<sup>−1</sup> Hz<sup>−1</sup>/<sup>2</sup>. While competitive with similar PAS systems, these results indicate that mid-infrared technologies still offer superior detection thresholds. The findings suggest that while this near-infrared setup may not yet match the sensitivity of systems using quantum cascade lasers or QEPAS, it offers notable advantages in terms of simplicity, cost, and potential for field deployment. The system’s configuration makes it a viable and efficient tool for industrial gas monitoring and real-time environmental applications, with future improvements likely to come from transitioning to the mid-infrared region and advancing laser stabilization and miniaturization techniques.
format Article
id doaj-art-9465b62dd7d14c898bc4e910e9ec3bb3
institution OA Journals
issn 2076-3417
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Applied Sciences
spelling doaj-art-9465b62dd7d14c898bc4e910e9ec3bb32025-08-20T02:24:18ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-06-011512672710.3390/app15126727Photoacoustic Spectroscopy Combined with a Multipass Circular Cell to Detect Low Concentrations of AmmoniaOscar E. Bonilla-Manrique0Alejandro Pérez Gonzalez-Banfi1Jorge Viñuela Pérez2Gabriele Dessena3Electronic Technology Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Leganés, SpainElectronic Technology Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Leganés, SpainSchool of Computing and Digital Media, London Metropolitan University, 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7 8DB, UKDepartment of Aerospace Engineering, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Leganés, SpainPhotoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) has become a valuable technique for trace gas detection due to its high sensitivity and potential for miniaturization. This study presents the development and evaluation of a near-infrared PAS system using a 1532 nm semiconductor laser and a multipass cell (MPC) designed to enhance the optical path and thereby improve the detection of ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>). The minimum detection limit was determined to be 770 ppb, with a normalized noise equivalent absorption (NNEA) coefficient of 1.07 × 10<sup>−8</sup> W cm<sup>−1</sup> Hz<sup>−1</sup>/<sup>2</sup>. While competitive with similar PAS systems, these results indicate that mid-infrared technologies still offer superior detection thresholds. The findings suggest that while this near-infrared setup may not yet match the sensitivity of systems using quantum cascade lasers or QEPAS, it offers notable advantages in terms of simplicity, cost, and potential for field deployment. The system’s configuration makes it a viable and efficient tool for industrial gas monitoring and real-time environmental applications, with future improvements likely to come from transitioning to the mid-infrared region and advancing laser stabilization and miniaturization techniques.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6727photoacousticmultipass circular celllow concentration detectionammoniaoptical spectroscopynear infrared
spellingShingle Oscar E. Bonilla-Manrique
Alejandro Pérez Gonzalez-Banfi
Jorge Viñuela Pérez
Gabriele Dessena
Photoacoustic Spectroscopy Combined with a Multipass Circular Cell to Detect Low Concentrations of Ammonia
Applied Sciences
photoacoustic
multipass circular cell
low concentration detection
ammonia
optical spectroscopy
near infrared
title Photoacoustic Spectroscopy Combined with a Multipass Circular Cell to Detect Low Concentrations of Ammonia
title_full Photoacoustic Spectroscopy Combined with a Multipass Circular Cell to Detect Low Concentrations of Ammonia
title_fullStr Photoacoustic Spectroscopy Combined with a Multipass Circular Cell to Detect Low Concentrations of Ammonia
title_full_unstemmed Photoacoustic Spectroscopy Combined with a Multipass Circular Cell to Detect Low Concentrations of Ammonia
title_short Photoacoustic Spectroscopy Combined with a Multipass Circular Cell to Detect Low Concentrations of Ammonia
title_sort photoacoustic spectroscopy combined with a multipass circular cell to detect low concentrations of ammonia
topic photoacoustic
multipass circular cell
low concentration detection
ammonia
optical spectroscopy
near infrared
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6727
work_keys_str_mv AT oscarebonillamanrique photoacousticspectroscopycombinedwithamultipasscircularcelltodetectlowconcentrationsofammonia
AT alejandroperezgonzalezbanfi photoacousticspectroscopycombinedwithamultipasscircularcelltodetectlowconcentrationsofammonia
AT jorgevinuelaperez photoacousticspectroscopycombinedwithamultipasscircularcelltodetectlowconcentrationsofammonia
AT gabrieledessena photoacousticspectroscopycombinedwithamultipasscircularcelltodetectlowconcentrationsofammonia