Publications Details

Publications / Conference

Microfabricated Gas Phase Chemical Analysis Systems

Frye-Mason, Gregory C.; Manginell, Ronald P.; Heller, Edwin J.; Matzke, C.M.; Casalnuovo, Stephen A.; Hietala, Vincent M.; Kottenstette, Richard K.; Lewis, Patrick R.; Wong, Chungnin C.

A portable, autonomous, hand-held chemical laboratory ({micro}ChemLab{trademark}) is being developed for trace detection (ppb) of chemical warfare (CW) agents and explosives in real-world environments containing high concentrations of interfering compounds. Microfabrication is utilized to provide miniature, low-power components that are characterized by rapid, sensitive and selective response. Sensitivity and selectivity are enhanced using two parallel analysis channels, each containing the sequential connection of a front-end sample collector/concentrator, a gas chromatographic (GC) separator, and a surface acoustic wave (SAW) detector. Component design and fabrication and system performance are described.