Method and apparatus for determining the concentration of readily oxidizable organic vapors in gas samples

摘要

A reagent, an apparatus and a method for semi-quantitatively estimating the concentration of readily oxidizable organic vapors in a gas sample, as for example ethanol in a human breath sample, is disclosed. The ethanol-sensitive solid indicator is a solid support which contains a permanganate salt and is wetted by a strongly acidic or alkaline solution. In the presence of ethanol the indicator produces a clearly visible color change. The apparatus contains the indicator and provides a pathway for a gas sample through the indicator. The method allows estimation of the organic-vapor content of a gas sample by comparing the volume of indicator which changes color in response to the gas sample with the volume which changes color in response to a known-concentration standard.