Breath Testing by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy for Solvent Intoxication Diagnostics

This thesis is based on the following original articles, which will be referred to in the text by their Roman numerals. The use of low resolution FT-IR spectrometry for the analysis of alcohols in breath.IR breath test in the diagnosis and control of treatment of methanol intoxications. infrared breath testing after ingestion of technical alcohol. Journal of Forensic Sciences (Submitted for publication). 8 Abbreviations ANOVA analysis of variance BBR blood-breath ratio CNS central nervous system DUI driving under the influence ER emergency room FT-IR Fourier transform infrared (spectroscopy) FVC forced vital capacity IR infra red LLOQ lower limit of quantification LOD limit of detection ppb parts per billion (by volume) ppm parts per million (by volume) SD standard deviation SNR signal to noise ratio VOC volatile organic compound EtOH ethanol MeOH methanol 1-propanol n-propanol 2-propanol isopropyl alcohol MEK methyl ethyl ketone MIBK methyl isobutyl ketone MTBE methyl tert-butyl ether N 2 nitrogen O 2 oxygen CO 2 carbon dioxide CO carbon monoxide H 2 O water N 2 O nitrous oxide 9 Definitions alcohol: any organic compound in which a hydroxyl group (–OH) is bound to a carbon atom, which in turn is bound to other hydrogen and/or carbon atoms solvent: liquid that dissolves a solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution matrix: environment from which a given sample is taken (e.g., exhaled breath) beamsplitter: a dichroic mirror in the interferometer (Figure 2, page 25) MCT detector: The MCT detector is composed of a thin layer (10 to 20 µm) of mercury, cadmium and telluride (HgCdTe). Photons excite electrons into the conduction band, thereby increasing the conductivity of the material. The change in conductivity is thus proportional to the light intensity. Peltier cooling: Peltier devices are small solid-state devices that function as heat pumps. A typical unit is a few millimetres thick sandwich formed by two ceramic plates with an array of small Bismuth Telluride cubes in between. When a DC current is applied, heat is moved from one side of the device to the other—where it must be removed with a heatsink. The "cold" side is commonly used to cool an electronic device. mass-flow meter/controller: The operating principle of the mass flow meter is thermodynamic. Resistance temperature measuring elements are built in the sensor tube. A precise amount of heat is directed to the sensors (Aalborg), or between them (Brooks). With no flow, the heat reaching each …