Luminol-based nitrogen dioxide detector

An instrument for the continuous detection of NO/sub 2/ in the sub-part-per-billion range is described. The instrument is based upon the chemiluminescent reaction between NO/sub 2/ in air and luminol (5-amino-2,3-dihydro-1,4-phthalazinedione) in alkaline solution. The present detector exhibits a 2-Hz response speed to changes of +/-20 ppB and a field detection limit of 30 parts per trillion. The instrumental technique has been expanded to measure NO by the catalytic oxidation of NO to NO/sub 2/ using CrO/sub 3/ on silica gel as the oxidizing agent; however, at low ambient NO concentrations some drift in the NO zero is observed. Interference from ambient O/sub 3/ is elimated by modification of the inlet system and luminol solution.