Gasmet
On-Site Detection of Chemical Warfare Agents with Gasmet FTIR
Rapid, comprehensive gas analysis for safety, research and security applications
Chemical warfare agents (CWAs) are highly toxic, low-molecular compounds that pose a severe risk even at very low concentrations. They may be classified into categories such as blood agents, choking agents, nerve gases, blister agents and others, each with different physical properties and hazards. Accurate detection at concentrations well below life-threatening levels is critical for first responders, security forces, industrial safety teams and environmental researchers alike.
Gasmet’s FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) gas analyzers are well suited for on-site detection and analysis of chemical warfare agents and toxic gases. Unlike single-gas detectors, FTIR provides multi-component identification and quantification in a single measurement — a key advantage in unknown or complex atmospheric situations where a wide range of hazardous gases may be present.
The Challenge: Detecting CWAs in Real Time
CWAs are designed to act quickly and with high toxicity. For example, certain nerve agents can cause severe effects with just a minute of inhalation at low mg/m³ concentrations — below the threshold where humans might detect any odor or irritation. This challenge requires detection systems that are:
- Highly sensitive, capable of detecting trace concentrations
- Rapid, delivering results in real-time or near real-time
- Multi-gas capable, without prior knowledge of the exact threat
- Robust and field-deployable, suitable for mobile or transient environments
Traditional laboratory methods (e.g., GC-MS) provide excellent specificity but are slow and impractical on scene. Portable ion mobility spectrometers or colorimetric kits can be useful but are often limited in selectivity or range of compounds they can detect.
How Gasmet FTIR Helps On Site
Gasmet’s FTIR analyzers overcome many of these challenges by offering:
- Simultaneous multi-gas detection: Measures dozens of gases in one sample, including toxic industrial chemicals and potential warfare agents.
- Broad detection range: From sub-ppm to % levels, suited for both trace detection and high-concentration environments.
- True spectral identification: FTIR records full infrared spectra, enabling confident identification of known and unknown gas signatures without reagent consumables.
- Portable or fixed installations: From field transportable units for emergency response to permanent monitoring systems in critical infrastructure.
This capability makes Gasmet’s solutions suitable for mobile detection teams, first responders, military labs, field research stations and critical infrastructure safety teams — anyone who needs fast, reliable answers “on site” rather than waiting for lab turnaround times.
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