Photoionization detector
A photoionization detector ( abbreviation : PID) is a device for the detection and analysis of chemical compounds in the ambient air. For example, aromatic hydrocarbons , some common solvents and a large number of different inorganic , but above all organic substances can be detected.
Working principle
A photoionization detector draws in the ambient air by means of a pump and exposes it to the UV light of a gas discharge lamp . If there are ionizable substances in the air, this is shown as a concentration on the display .
Technical use
PIDs are used, for example, to search for leaks , to measure pollutant concentrations in the event of accidents, to monitor a decontamination area or to pollute the ambient air with outgassing pollutants.
A mobile PID is installed, for example, on the ABC reconnaissance vehicle of the disaster control and can be converted into a portable device in a few simple steps. In other applications, smaller hand-held devices are used, which can be aligned to a pollutant class using special inserts.
The PID is also used as a specific detector for gas chromatography .
