SRI International

Toxic Metal Detection

For the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SRI developed a means of real-time, in-situ detection of toxic metals in exhaust gas streams. Laser breakdown spectroscopy is being used to produce atomic emission from several metals potentially present. The emissions are measured with an array detectors to provide simultaneous determination of several metals. Laboratory measurements are needed to quantitatively relate emission in the breakdown spark to the metal concentrations. Even if only semiquantitative, the method can be used as a real-time monitor to sound alarms in case of catastrophic failure.

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