Introduction Serinus 51 User manual 1.0
4
1.4 Background/ Theory
Sulfur Dioxide
Sulfur Dioxide is the product of the combustion of sulfur compounds and causes
significant environmental pollution. The main source of SO
2
in the environment are
from various industrial processes such as the burning of coal in power stations, the
extraction of metals from ore and combustion of fuel within automobiles.
Sulfur dioxide is a noxious gas that can cause respiratory damage as well as impairing
visibility when in high concentrations. Sulfur Dioxide also has the potential to form
Acid rain (H
2
SO
4
) which causes health, environmental and infrastructural problems to
human society.
Hydrogen Sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide is created through industrial processes and released into the
atmosphere. The main sources of anthropogenic Hydrogen sulfide (H
2
S) emissions
are from petroleum refineries, paper mills, coke ovens (aluminum, steel, graphite,
electrical, and construction industries) and to a smaller extent tannaries.
Hydrogen sulfide is toxic to many different parts of the human body, it effects the
nervous system most acutely and also inhibits respiration. General harmful levels of
Hydrogen sulfide (H
2
S) exposure are 5-10 ppm, levels above this begin with eye
irritation and lead up to death.
1.4.1 Measurement Theory
The measurement of sulfur dioxide is based on classical fluorescence spectroscopy
principles. Sulfur dioxide (SO
2
) exhibits a strong ultraviolet (UV) absorption
spectrum between 200 and 240nm, when SO
2
absorbs UV from this, emission of
photons occurs (300-400nm). The amount of fluorescence emitted is directly
proportional to the SO
2
concentration. The Serinus 51 follows these principles and
measurement techniques:
• Sample air is passed through a hydrocarbon kicker a device which removes
hydrocarbons from sample air
Figure 1 Simple pneumatic diagram
• A zinc discharge lamp and a UV bandpass filter is used to produce radiation at
214nm.
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