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Quantum cascade laser photoacoustic detection of nitrous oxide released from soils for biofuel production

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Abstract

In order to investigate the generation of greenhouse gases in sugarcane ethanol production chain, a comparative study of N2O emission in artificially fertilized soils and soils free from fertilizers was carried out. Photoacoustic spectroscopy using quantum cascade laser with an emission ranging from 7.71 to 7.88 µm and differential photoacoustic cell were applied to detect nitrous oxide (N2O), an important greenhouse gas emitted from soils cultivated with sugar cane. Owing to calibrate the experimental setup, an initial N2O concentration was diluted with pure nitrogen and detection limit of 50 ppbv was achieved. The proposed methodology was selective and sensitive enough to detect N2O from no fertilized and artificially fertilized soils. The measured N2O concentration ranged from ppmv to ppbv.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Brazilian funding agencies CNPq, FAPERJ and CAPES for the financial support, and the Technicians Luiz Antônio Meirelles, Sérgio Sabadelhe Dutra, José Geraldo Simões and Carmindo Afonso Filho for their great technical help.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UENF, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil

    F. M. Couto, M. S. Sthel, M. P. P. Castro, M. G. da Silva, M. V. Rocha, J. R. Tavares & H. Vargas

  2. UFRRJ, Campus Leonel Brizola, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil

    C. F. M. Veiga

  3. IFF, Rua Dr. Siqueira 273, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil

    J. R. Tavares

Authors
  1. F. M. Couto
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  2. M. S. Sthel
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  3. M. P. P. Castro
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  4. M. G. da Silva
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  6. J. R. Tavares
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  7. C. F. M. Veiga
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  8. H. Vargas
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Correspondence to J. R. Tavares.

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Couto, F.M., Sthel, M.S., Castro, M.P.P. et al. Quantum cascade laser photoacoustic detection of nitrous oxide released from soils for biofuel production. Appl. Phys. B 117, 897–903 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-014-5906-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-014-5906-y

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