Monitor for the quantitative determination of beryllium in the atmosphere

Air was drawn through a triggered intermittent arc and the intensity of the beryllium doublet at 3130 A was monitered, together with the adjacent background; and the ratio of these intensities was recorded on a ratio recorder. Provision was made for frequent calibration by means of an aerosol of known concentration, produced by an auxiliary spark between beryllium-copper electrodes. The accuracy and sensitivity of the instrument are not materially affected by the chemical form of the beryllium and are unaffected by the sizes of particles normally encountered in atmospheric dust. The instrunent is mobile, fully automatic, and rapid in operation, one result being produced each minute. The limit of detection is 1 mu g/m/sup 3/ for a 20sec sampling time. The instrument is considered to have potentialities for the determination of other elements in air, apart from beryllium. (auth)