Detection of Harmful Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylenes (BTEX) Vapors Using Electrochemical Gas Sensors

Detection of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylenes (BTEX) compound using electrochemical mixed potential gas sensor has been reported. In this study, three sensors of different configuration were used to detect BTEX. The sensitivity and selectivity of three sensor configurations to BTEX were compared. The sensor configuration with Strontium doped Lanthanum Chromite (La 0.8 Sr 0.2 CrO 3 , abbreviated as LSCO) electrode and Pt electrode with Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia electrolyte exhibited maximum sensitivity and selectivity to BTEX. The detection limit using the mixed potential tape cast sensor was found to be 0.5 ppm. For all the sensors, the mixed potential was found to vary linearly with BTEX concentration. The use of a cold-wall set-up and heterogeneous catalysis studies are envisioned to lower the BTEX detection limits to ppb levels without compromising sensitivity.