Critical review of potential technologies for a wearable benzene sensor system

Abstract

We evaluate different methods to detect benzene at a parts-per-billion level regarding their potential to be used in a wearable sensor. Benzene is a carcinogenic molecule, regarded as a major health threat by the World Health Organization. A wearable sensor is necessary to detect leaks immediately, but it is challenging to achieve such low limits of detection and quantification, even with laboratory equipment. A wearable sensor must, in addition to good selectivity and sensitivity, meet stricter requirements of size, weight, temperature, repeatability, and power consumption. We conclude that the most promising techniques for a wearable sensor are either infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy near 14.8 μm, or a photoionization detector combined with one of three selective devices: micro-gas chromatography, cavitands, or catalytic filters (${\text{WO}}_3$, for example). Ultraviolet photoacoustic spectroscopy may also be a suitable future technique for a wearable benzene sensor when efficient LEDs and lasers become available at many UV-C wavelengths.