Abstract

We detect chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHC’s) in gas mixtures by dissociating the CHC’s with a 193-nm laser and measuring the subsequent concentration of the CCl fragmentation by means of laser-induced fluorescence. Sub-ppm detection, where ppm indicates parts in 10⁶, is achieved for C₂H₅Cl with a 10-mm³ measurement volume and integration over 50 laser shots. Every other CHC tested is also detectable, with the same or better detection limits. The CCl forms promptly during the fragmentation laser pulse through unimolecular dissociation of the parent CHC’s. The technique should be a useful diagnostic for CHC incineration systems.

© 1994 Optical Society of America

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