Abstract
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are commonly used as indicators of an organism's health, among other factors. Traditionally, gas chromatographs (GC) are used to classify these but are prohibitively expensive and impractical for field use. This thesis outlines the motivations, design, construction, and characterization of a portable GC. This proof-of-concept uses off-the-shelf components to show that the production of a device is feasible. It was able to successfully generate carrier gas from the surrounding air via filtration by activated carbon fiber filters. It was also able to reliably produce distinguishable peaks for acetone and hexane at retention times that were reasonable for a prototype system. With some modifications, this system has the strong potential for long-term implementation in the field.
Thesis Completion
2021
Semester
Spring
Thesis Chair/Advisor
Hampton, Michael
Degree
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.)
College
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Degree Program
Mechanical Engineering
Language
English
Access Status
Campus Access
Length of Campus-only Access
3 years
Release Date
11-1-2024
Recommended Citation
Basdeo, Rishi, "Design, Construction, and Characterization of a Mini-CO2/VOC Sensor and Gas Chromatograph for Field Research" (2021). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 1047.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses/1047