I. Design, construction and operation of an automated vapor pressure determination apparatus. II. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry headspace analysis of engine oil. III. Design of a chemically selective layer for ozone detection.

摘要

The construction and design of an automated vapor pressure determination apparatus (VPDA) that can provide accurate and precise vapor pressure data for organic and organometallic solid and liquid compounds is discussed. Additionally, the VPDA was interfaced with an ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometer in order to obtain simultaneous measurements of vapor pressure as a function of temperature and absorbance measurements of the compounds in the vapor phase. This study also investigates the vapor pressures of a series of precursors used in chemical vapor deposition (CVD).; The headspace analysis of engine oil by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry establishes the rationale necessary for determining the time to change engine oil. This is based on identifying gaseous components in new and used automobile lubricants. Key compounds, so called “signature”, are separated, and identified qualitatively by coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Volatile antioxidants at zero miles and fuel contaminants at low mileage are observed in the headspace of engine oil. Several oxidative degradation components have been positively identified in the used oil.; The third part of this study included the development of a selective layer for detection of medium to low parts per million (ppm) levels of ozone, O₃, in air and in the presence of other oxidizing agents (e.g. O₂, OF₂, NO₂, NO_x and Cl ₂). Films composed of polyaniline (PANI) and phthalocyanine have been investigated and exposed to ozone concentrations in the range of 0 to 94 ppb or 0.094 ppm.