Formaldehyde Detection (CH2O)
Application areas of laser-based formaldehyde detection
nanoplus lasers for formaldehyde detection are used for various applications including:
- Safety: Workplace exposure monitoring
Tunable diode laser spectroscopy allows measuring CH2O with up to ppb precision in real time and in situ. Providing long-term stability and requiring little maintenance, nanoplus lasers are suitable for operation in harsh environments.
Standard wavelengths for formaldehyde detection
nanoplus offers various wavelengths to target the vibrational-rotational bands of formaldehyde. Literature recommends the following wavelengths for formaldehyde detection:
Select your wavelength for formaldehyde detection
Above wavelengths as well as further customized wavelengths for formaldehyde detection are available from nanoplus.
When you choose your wavelength, you have to consider your product set up, environment and nature of the measurement.
These factors influence the optimum wavelength for your application. Do have a look at the Hitran Database to further evaluate your choice of wavelengths. Our application experts are equally happy to discuss with you the most suitable wavelength for your application.
Let us know the wavelength you require with an accuracy of 0.1 nm!
 |
Related information for laser-based formaldehyde detection
Specifications & Mountings
Applications
Papers & Links
The following tables analyse the typical specifications of the standard wavelengths for CH2O detection.
| electro-optical properties of 3560.0 nm DFB interband cascade laser | symbol | unit | minimum | typical | maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| standard wavelength | λ | nm | 3560.0 | ||
| absorption line strength | S | cm / mol | ∼ 6 x 10-20 | ||
| output power | pout | mW | > 1 | ||
| threshold current | lth | mA | 50 | ||
| current tuning coefficient | cT | nm / mA | 0.2 | ||
| temperature tuning coefficient | cI | nm / K | 0.3 | ||
| mode hop free tuning range | Δλ | nm | +/- 0.5 |
| mounting options / technical drawings | wavelength | TEC | cap with window | AR cap with AR window | fiber | heatsink | collimation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TO5.6 | 760 nm - 3000 nm | NA | ✔ | NA | NA | NA | NA | |
| TO5 | 760 nm - 3000 nm | ✔ | NA | ✔ | NA | ✔ | ✔ | |
| TO66 | 3000 nm - 6000 nm | ✔ | NA | ✔ | NA | ✔ | ✔ | |
| c-mount | 760 nm - 3000 nm | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | |
| SM-BTF | 760 nm - 2360 nm | ✔ | NA | NA | single mode | NA | NA | |
| PM-BTF | 1064 nm - 2050 nm | ✔ | NA | NA | polarization maintaining | NA | NA | |
Please find below a number of application samples.
Workplace exposure monitoring: CH2O
Formaldehyde has been used in consumer and industrial products since the beginning of the 19th century. Currently the annual formaldehyde production accounts for 21 million tons. About 50 % are processed as adhesives in pressed wood panels. In 2004 formaldehyde has been classified carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Since then formaldehyde concentrations have been strictly controlled in the production process as well as in the finished product. Laser-based measurement systems are required to detect the maximum levels of 0.01 ppb (USA) and 2 ppb (EU). [9, 22, 78, 109, 115]
Please find below a selection of related papers from our literature list.
Let us know if you published a paper with our lasers. We will be happy to include it in our literature list.
#2 Advanced Gas Sensing Applications Above 3 µm with DFB Laser Diodes;
L. Naehle, L. Hildebrandt, M. Fischer, J. Koeth, Gases & Instrumentation, March/April 2012, pp. 25-28.
#5 DFB lasers exceeding 3 µm for industrial applications;
L. Naehle, L. Hildebrandt, Laser+Photonics 2012, pp. 78-80.
#7 DFB laser diodes expand hydrocarbon sensing beyond 3 µm;
L. Hildebrandt, L. Naehle, Laser Focus World, January 2012, pp. 87-90.
#8 ICLs open opportuneties for mid-IR seinsing;
L. Naehle, L. Hildebrandt, M. Kamp, S. Hoefling, Laser Focus World, May 2013, pp. 70-73.
#9 DFB Lasers Between 760 nm and 16 µm for Sensing Applications;
W. Zeller, L. Naehle, P. Fuchs, F. Gerschuetz, L. Hildebrandt, J. Koeth, Sensors 2010, 10, pp. 2492-2510.
#22 Sensing of formaldehyde using a distributed feedback interband cascade laser emitting around 3493 nm;
S. Lundqvist, P. Kluczynski, R. Weih, M. von Edlinger, L. Naehle, M. Fischer, A. Bauer, S. Hoefling, J. Koeth, Appl. Opt., 51, 25, 2012, pp. 6009-6013.
#36 Single mode interband cascade lasers based on lateral metal gratings;
R. Weih, L. Naehle, Sven Hoefling, J. Koeth, M. Kamp, Appl. Phys. Lett., 105, 7, 2014, pp. 071111.
#63 Breath Analysis Using Laser Spectroscopic Techniques: Breath Biomarkers, Spectral Fingerprints, and Detection Limits;
C. Wang and P. Sahay, Sensors 2009, 9, 8230-8262.
#78 Ppb-level formaldehyde detection using a CW room-temperature interband cascade laser and a miniature dense pattern multipass gas cell;
L. Dong,Y. Yu,.C. Li, S. So, F. Tittel, Optics Express Vol. 23, Issue 15, 2015, pp. 19821-19830.
# 107 Recent progress in laser‑based trace gas instruments:
performance and noise analysis;
J. B. McManus, M. S. Zahniser, D. D. Nelson et. al., Appl. Phys. B, 2015, 119: 203.