The reactions of common air pollutants, such as NO, NO2, and CO, with certain second reactants, such as ozone or O atoms, result in light emission. In a detector based on this principle, ambient air and the second reactant can be continuously flown through and mixed in a reactor under moderate vacuum. After calibration a continuous record of pollutant concentration can be obtained. Specific sensitivity to a given pollutant is obtained by a suitable choice of the second reactant and a light filter. To demonstrate the feasibility of the method, the detection of NO using O3 has been studied experimentally. A linear response from about 4 ppb NO to at least 100 ppm NO is obtained. NO2, CO2, CO, C2H4, NH3, SO2, and H2O in concentrations found in polluted air do not interfere with NO monitoring. Based on these results and data for other chemiluminescent reactions, it is shown that homogeneous chemiluminescence monitors for O3, NOx = NO + NO2 and CO can probably also be developed. A comparison of various methods of photomultiplier tube output measurement has been made. (Author)

Prepared by AeroChem Research Laboratories, a subsidiary of Sybron Corp., for the National Center for Air Pollution Control, Public Health Service. "September 1969." Includes bibliographical references (p. 17-18). Final Report. "AeroChem TP-217." PB-188 104.