Portable PC-based instrument for measuring sulfur dioxide emission using electrochemical sensor

Date

4-2012

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Nelio C. Altoveros

Abstract

A microcomputer-based instrument for measuring sulfur dioxide volcanic emission was designed, calibrated and implemented. The instrument made use of an electrochemical sensor, specifically, S02-BF Sulfur Dioxide Sensor, which was calibrated by applying different gas concentration from a 10 ppm SO2 calibration gas. The instrument was also connected to an STX70 Personal Monitoring Gas Instrument to determine the concentration of gas being applied to the instrument. A potentiostatic circuit was developed to convert the current read-out from the sensor to voltage signal. An amplifier circuit was constructed to amplify the analog signals detected from the potentiostatic circuit. The instrument was interfaced to a microcomputer through its parallel printer port using a 12-bit analog to digital converter card. A software program was developed using C++ programming language for automated storage and display of data. The instrument was used to measure the level of sulfur dioxide volcanic emission in Mudspring, Mt. Makiling, UPLB. The sulfur dioxide emission was measured in three sampling sites: Mudspring I, Mudspring II and the vents near Mudspring II. The study showed that there was zero or less than 0.1 ppm concentration of sulfur dioxide at all sites in the Mudspring vicinity. The concentration levels were found to be safe and negligible compared to the 2 ppm threshold limit value (TLV) of sulfur dioxide set by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

Thesis

Document Type

Thesis

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