Detection of Sulfur Dioxide by Broadband Cavity-Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy (BBCEAS)

Sulfur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>) is an important precursor for the formation of atmospheric sulfate aerosol and acid rain. We present an instrument using Broadband Cavity-Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy (BBCEAS) for the measurement of SO<sub>2</sub> with a minimum limit of de...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ryan Thalman, Nitish Bhardwaj, Callum E. Flowerday, Jaron C. Hansen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-03-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/7/2626
Description
Summary:Sulfur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>) is an important precursor for the formation of atmospheric sulfate aerosol and acid rain. We present an instrument using Broadband Cavity-Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy (BBCEAS) for the measurement of SO<sub>2</sub> with a minimum limit of detection of 0.75 ppbv (3-<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>σ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>) using the spectral range 305.5–312 nm and an averaging time of 5 min. The instrument consists of high-reflectivity mirrors (0.9985 at 310 nm) and a deep UV light source (Light Emitting Diode). The effective absorption path length of the instrument is 610 m with a 0.966 m base length. Published reference absorption cross sections were used to fit and retrieve the SO<sub>2</sub> concentrations and were compared to fluorescence standard measurements for SO<sub>2</sub>. The comparison was well correlated, R<sup>2</sup> = 0.9998 with a correlation slope of 1.04. Interferences for fluorescence measurements were tested and the BBCEAS showed no interference, while ambient measurements responded similarly to standard measurement techniques.
ISSN:1424-8220