Trace Measurements of Ethylene Oxide Using Cavity-enhanced Absorption Spectrometry near 3066 cm−1

Abstract Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a key carcinogen that is widely used in the chemical manufacturing and biotechnology industries. Recent work has suggested that permissible exposure limits for EtO be reduced from 1–5 ppm to sub-ppb levels. Such new standards will require new methodologies that are c...

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Main Authors: Manish Gupta, Andrew P. Chan, Michael N. Sullivan, Rupal M. Gupta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2022-07-01
Series:Aerosol and Air Quality Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.220046
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author Manish Gupta
Andrew P. Chan
Michael N. Sullivan
Rupal M. Gupta
author_facet Manish Gupta
Andrew P. Chan
Michael N. Sullivan
Rupal M. Gupta
author_sort Manish Gupta
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a key carcinogen that is widely used in the chemical manufacturing and biotechnology industries. Recent work has suggested that permissible exposure limits for EtO be reduced from 1–5 ppm to sub-ppb levels. Such new standards will require new methodologies that are capable of measuring EtO with the requisite precision. In this paper, we demonstrate a new analyzer based on cavity-enhanced absorption spectrometry that utilizes a broad EtO absorption feature near 3066 cm−1. A fit function is developed that includes water, methane, and EtO absorbances and accounts for absorption both inside and outside the cavity. A methane standard is used to determine the cavity gain factor, and the EtO absorbance spectrum is empirically determined. The final system shows excellent linearity from 0–909 ppb EtO (R2 ~0.9999) with a measurement precision of better than ± 1 ppb (1σ, 60 seconds) that improves to ± 0.5 ppb (1σ, 15 minutes). Deliberate ambient EtO releases demonstrate the instrument’s utility in rapidly detecting hazardous conditions. Further work will include improving the measurement precision and directly comparing the system to EPA Method TO-15.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1680-8584
2071-1409
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series Aerosol and Air Quality Research
spelling doaj-art-97ac910bd7d9423e86b4b5188a7a56df2025-02-09T12:18:05ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092022-07-01221011110.4209/aaqr.220046Trace Measurements of Ethylene Oxide Using Cavity-enhanced Absorption Spectrometry near 3066 cm−1Manish Gupta0Andrew P. Chan1Michael N. Sullivan2Rupal M. Gupta3Nikira Labs Inc.Nikira Labs Inc.Nikira Labs Inc.Nikira Labs Inc.Abstract Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a key carcinogen that is widely used in the chemical manufacturing and biotechnology industries. Recent work has suggested that permissible exposure limits for EtO be reduced from 1–5 ppm to sub-ppb levels. Such new standards will require new methodologies that are capable of measuring EtO with the requisite precision. In this paper, we demonstrate a new analyzer based on cavity-enhanced absorption spectrometry that utilizes a broad EtO absorption feature near 3066 cm−1. A fit function is developed that includes water, methane, and EtO absorbances and accounts for absorption both inside and outside the cavity. A methane standard is used to determine the cavity gain factor, and the EtO absorbance spectrum is empirically determined. The final system shows excellent linearity from 0–909 ppb EtO (R2 ~0.9999) with a measurement precision of better than ± 1 ppb (1σ, 60 seconds) that improves to ± 0.5 ppb (1σ, 15 minutes). Deliberate ambient EtO releases demonstrate the instrument’s utility in rapidly detecting hazardous conditions. Further work will include improving the measurement precision and directly comparing the system to EPA Method TO-15.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.220046Ethylene oxideCavity ringdownICOSEtO
spellingShingle Manish Gupta
Andrew P. Chan
Michael N. Sullivan
Rupal M. Gupta
Trace Measurements of Ethylene Oxide Using Cavity-enhanced Absorption Spectrometry near 3066 cm−1
Aerosol and Air Quality Research
Ethylene oxide
Cavity ringdown
ICOS
EtO
title Trace Measurements of Ethylene Oxide Using Cavity-enhanced Absorption Spectrometry near 3066 cm−1
title_full Trace Measurements of Ethylene Oxide Using Cavity-enhanced Absorption Spectrometry near 3066 cm−1
title_fullStr Trace Measurements of Ethylene Oxide Using Cavity-enhanced Absorption Spectrometry near 3066 cm−1
title_full_unstemmed Trace Measurements of Ethylene Oxide Using Cavity-enhanced Absorption Spectrometry near 3066 cm−1
title_short Trace Measurements of Ethylene Oxide Using Cavity-enhanced Absorption Spectrometry near 3066 cm−1
title_sort trace measurements of ethylene oxide using cavity enhanced absorption spectrometry near 3066 cm 1
topic Ethylene oxide
Cavity ringdown
ICOS
EtO
url https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.220046
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AT michaelnsullivan tracemeasurementsofethyleneoxideusingcavityenhancedabsorptionspectrometrynear3066cm1
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