Portable device for detecting and identifying hazardous vapors

A portable device that can detect, identify, and then warn US Coast Guard emergency response personnel of the presence of hazardous concentrations of toxic vapors is being developed by Argonne National Laboratory. The device should help prevent accidental exposures to such vapors. A first prototype of the device uses an array of four different toxic gas sensors, each of which can rapidly be switched to any one of four differently selective operating modes. This yields a total of 16 measured parameters or 16 independent data channels whose information content may eventually suffice to identify up to 74 hazardous species, either individually or in mixtures of up to three of these species in air. The first prototype is designed to detect and identify about 25 selected hazardous compounds. It operates on batteries, is housed in a carrying case about 12 in. by 7 in. by 4 in., and weighs about 8 lb. The instrument can be operated in an identification mode or a monitoring mode.