Abstract: Methods of increasing the relative concentration of a target molecule in a gas stream, so that it can be more easily detected by a semiconducting metal oxide based sensor. A gas stream is passed through an adsorbent, the stream containing molecules of the target molecule in a mixture containing molecules of at least one non-target molecule. Both the target and non-target molecules are adsorbed on the adsorbent. Another gas stream containing molecules of a chemical displacer is passed through the adsorbent, the molecules of the chemical displacer adsorbing on the adsorbent to selectively displace the target molecules from the adsorbent while leaving the non-target molecules adsorbed. The chemical displacement causes the displaced target molecules to enter the gas stream. The gas stream can then be passed through a semiconducting metal oxide based sensor to detect the target molecules.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of increasing the relative concentration of a target molecule in a gas stream, so that it can be more easily detected by a semiconducting metal oxide based sensor. In a first step of one method, a gas stream is passed through an adsorbent. The gas stream contains molecules of the target molecule in a mixture containing molecules of at least one non-target molecule. Both the target and non-target molecules are adsorbed on the adsorbent. In a second step, another gas stream containing molecules of a chemical displacer is passed through the adsorbent. The molecules of the chemical displacer adsorb on the adsorbent to selectively displace the target molecules from the adsorbent while leaving the non-target molecules adsorbed. The chemical displacement causes the displaced target molecules to enter the gas stream. The gas stream can then be passed through a semiconducting metal oxide based sensor to detect the target molecules.