Archives of Acoustics, 32, 4(S), pp. 53-58, 2007

Ultrasonic chemical sensor for detection of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in air

Andrzej Balcerzak
Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Świętokrzyska 21, 00-049 Warszawa
Poland

Genady Zhavnerko
Institute of Chemistry of New Materials, Belarus National Academy of Sciences, Staroborisovsky Trakt 36, Minsk 220141
Belarus

The reaction of the organic monomolecular Langmuir–Blodgett layer, deposited on the
sensor delay line using surface acoustic wave, on the presence of vapors of some aliphatic and
aromatic hydrocarbons in air has been investigated. The chemical composition of this layer is
an equimolar mixture of 5-[[1,3-dioxo-3- [4- (1-oxooctadecyl) phenyl] propyl] amino] – 1,3
– benzenedicarboxylic acid (DA) and cetylamine (CA). Time of sensor reaction is less than
2 seconds. Decrease of the differential frequency after contact with the vapor-air mixture and
decrease of this frequency in time are different for various hydrocarbons; a length of the chain
is important for aliphatic hydrocarbons and a presence or not of side chains – for aromatic
ones. The reaction of the sensor on the hydrocarbon vapors in air is reversible.
Keywords: ultrasonic chemical sensor, monomolecular Langmuir–Blodgett organic layers, volatile organic compounds, hydrocarbons.
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