Abstract: An apparatus, a system and a method for the detection of an analyte in air comprising an air sampling system (1) comprising a mouthpiece (10) and a fan, a first enrichment stage (11) for enrichment of the analyte comprising a thermally regulated adsorption/desorption filter (20) creating a non-laminar gas flow for adsorption of the analyte, a heat source for heating the filter to evaporate the analyte, a second enrichment stage (30) for the further enrichment of the gaseous analyte comprising a cold trap (32) for condensing the analyte, extraction of the condensed material with a solvent, and collecting the solution, and analyzing the collected liquid sample with an analytical detection system, are disclosed. Further, an adsoption/desorption filter creating a non-laminar gas flow comprising a winding (21) of a resistance wire coated with an active material electric heating of the wire, is described. A specific application is detection of a gaseous component of explosives or mines, e.g. TNT, in air.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 12, 1998
Date of Patent:
February 27, 2001
Assignee:
Biosensor Applications Sweden AB (publ)
Inventors:
Peter GĂ„rdhagen, Magnus Samuelsson, Arne Alm, Åke Jansson, Johan Arnell, Claes Andersson, Erik Johansson