Introduction To Gas Tube Detection
Ga
s detection tubes are a very reliable and proven method for
measuring toxic substances in air or water. Some of the major
advantages of the tube detection method are no laboratory
turnaround time, no power requirement, and no user calibration
are needed. The ease and simplicity of use saves training time
(training video available), sampling time, and provides a more
accurate analysis. Gas detection tubes measure in
parts-per-billion, parts-per-million, and percent by volume, and
are used in a variety of applications such as:
*Hazardous waste sites
*Clean-up of spills
*Protecting workers from toxic vapors
*Refineries
*Leak detection for compliance
*Pulp and paper plants
*Hazardous materials response
*Terrorist chemical attacks
How Does a Gas Detection Tube Pump System Work?
Each detector tube contains a reagent that is specifically
sensitive to a particular vapor or gas. These reagents are on
fine-grain silica gel, activated alumina or other absorbing
media (depending on application requirements), inside a constant
diameter, hermetically sealed glass tube. Most detector tubes
are the "direct reading" type, with calibration markings right
on the tube, so measurements can be made as simply and precisely
as reading a thermometer. The actual operation is simple and
accurate. Just snap off both "break away" ends of a tube in the
convenient tube-tip breaker, insert the tube into the hand held
pump, and pull out the pump handle. As the handle is pulled
(just like a syringe), a precisely measured volume of ambient
air is drawn inside the tube where it contacts the reagent.
Instantly, the reagent changes color, reacting quantitatively to
provide a length-of-stain indication. The farther the stain
travels along the tube, the higher the concentration of gas.
Note the scale mark on the tube where the stain stops and that