Improved system for detecting compounds in a gaseous sample using induced photoionization for electron capture detection

Abstract From the Canadian patent

This present disclosure is directed toward the measure of very small concentrations of compounds of interest within gaseous samples. A spark discharge system induces pulsed spark discharges across a pair of electrodes within an inert gas in a gas flow chamber. Various reactions are induced by spark interaction with the flow of inert gas and with any, sample or dopant commingled with the inert gas in the region of the, pulsed spark discharge. This induces photon ionization which creates an instantaneous current flow within the gas flow chamber. Current flow is held constant for all concentrations of sample introduced into the gas flow by means of a control feedback system. The output of the …