Sulfur Dioxide
Chemical Formula: SO2
Typical Detection Wavelength: 4.005µm
Filter Type: Narrow Bandpass (NBP)
Description: Sulfur Dioxide is primarily used in the production and manufacture of sulfuric acid, and amazingly it is also sometimes used in the food and drink industries as a preservative due to its antimicrobial properties. It is a naturally occurring gas that has a noticeable odour characterised by the smell of ‘burnt matches’. Exposure to Sulfur Dioxide can occur throughout daily life but this is generally only in very small quantities. It is toxic and therefore prolonged or significant exposure can have detrimental effects to health.
An infrared optical filter can be successfully used for the early detection and warning of the presence of Sulfur Dioxide in the atmosphere, as the SO2 gas absorbs IR radiation at a specific wavelength with typical absorption around 4.005µm.
Example Transmission Curve:
Centre Wavelength: 4.005µm ± 0.5%
Half Bandwidth: 72nm ± 7nm
Transmission Peak: >70%
Umicore has significant experience in producing IR Filters to the highest standards for the early detection of Sulfur Dioxide and many other gasses.