A Broadband Mid-Infrared Trace Gas Sensor Using Supercontinuum Light Source: Applications for Real-Time Quality Control for Fruit Storage.

We present a fully integrated and transportable multi-species trace gas sensor based on a mid-infrared (MIR) supercontinuum light source. The high brightness (surpassing synchrotron) and ultra-broad spectral bandwidth (2-4 μm) of this light source allows simultaneous detection of multiple broadband absorbing gas species. High sensitivity in the sub-ppmv level has been achieved by utilizing an astigmatic multipass cell.

Proton-transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTRMS) in combination with thermal desorption (TD) for sensitive off-line analysis of volatiles.

Rationale: When performing trace gas analysis, it is not always possible to bring the source of volatiles and the gas analyzer together. In these cases, volatile storage containers, such as thermal desorption (TD) tubes, can be used for off-line measurement. TD is routinely combined with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), but so far not with proton-transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTRMS), which has a faster response.