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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Real-time Breath Analysis by Using Secondary Nanoelectrospray Ionization Coupled to High Resolution Mass Spectrometry
Published on: March 9, 2018
Detection and quantification of multiple molecular species in mainstream cigarette smoke by continuous-wave terahertz
Damien Bigourd1, Arnaud Cuisset, Francis Hindle
1Laboaratoire de Physico-Chimie de l'Atmosphère CNRS UMR 8101, Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale, 189 Avenue Maurice Schumann, 59140 Dunkerque, France.
Abstract:
Continuous-wave terahertz spectroscopy by photomixing is applied to the analysis of mainstream cigarette smoke. Using the wide tunability of the source, spectral signatures of hydrogen cyanide (HCN), carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde (H2CO), and water (H2O) have been observed from 500 to 2400 GHz. The fine spectral purity allows direct concentration measurement from the pure rotational transitions of HCN and CO. The quantification of the measurement was validated by the means of a calibration gas containing CO. The potential of this technique for trace gas detection is demonstrated with an estimated detection limit of HCN equal to 9 parts in 10(6).
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