Conference proceeding
Observation of atomic carbon during photodissociation of nitrotoluenes in the vapor phase
Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, Vol.9073, pp.90730T-90730T-7
05/29/2014
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/125503
Abstract
We perform laser-induced photodissociation fluorescence spectroscopy on mononitrotoluenes (MNTs) and dinitrotoluenes (DNTs) in the vapor phase and observe the spectrally overlapping fluorescence from nitric oxide (NO) and carbon (C). Energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and Raman spectroscopy of deposits found in the sample chamber confirm the presence of carbon. By comparing the observed fluorescence intensities with the Franck-Condon factors for NO, we are able to identify the presence or absence of fluorescence from carbon. 2-nitrotoluene and 4- nitrotoluene show carbon fluorescence for gate delays of up to 500 ns, while 2,4-dinitrotolune, 3,4-dinitrotolune, and 2,6-dinitrotolune show carbon fluorescence for gate delays of at least up to 1500 ns. The spectroscopic signal from atomic carbon in the vapor phase is observed at concentrations as low as 10 ppt. Based upon the observed S/N, detection at even lower concentrations appears feasible. Several non-nitrotoluene molecules including nitrobenzene, benzene, toluene, and CO2, are tested under identical conditions, but do not show any carbon emission. The presence of extra NO (simulation of NO pollutants) in the samples improves the S/N ratio for the detection of carbon. Energy transfer from laser-excited molecular nitrogen to NO, multiple decomposition channels in the electronic excited state of the nitrotoluene molecules, and interaction of NO with the excited-state decomposition process of the nitrotoluene molecules may all play a role.
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Details
- Title
- Observation of atomic carbon during photodissociation of nitrotoluenes in the vapor phase
- Creators
- Hergen Eilers - Washington State UniversityHelena Diez-y-Riega - Washington State University
- Contributors
- Augustus W Fountain (Editor) - U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Ctr. (United States)
- Publication Details
- Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, Vol.9073, pp.90730T-90730T-7
- Academic Unit
- Institute for Shock Physics
- Publisher
- SPIE
- Identifiers
- 99900876940001842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding