A breathalyzer machine is a gadget used to estimate the percentage of alcohol in blood stream by use of a breath sample. The discovery of this equipment dates back to the year 1874. Back then, there only existed observations of the capability to discover presence of alcohol in blood using breath. These observations were studied and researched upon till the equipment was first produced in Chicago in the year 1927 by a chemist.
The Chicago chemist however cannot be said to be the inventor of the device because there were earlier experiments about the same. Currently there are many versions of this equipment although the mode of operation remains the same across all of them. The person being tested is required to exhale into the breath analyzer. The equipment has an anode and a cathode terminal.
Any quantity of ethanol existing in breath gets oxidized to create acetic acid at anode leads. At the cathode leads, atmospheric oxygen gas available in breath gets reduced. In general the reaction that occurs in the whole activity is oxidation of ethanol into moisture and acetic acid. These reactions produce an electric current that is measured by microprocessors in the devices.
The reading of the electric current is displayed as an estimate of blood alcohol content (BAC) by an alcosensor. The displayed value is in terms of the amount of alcohol content per a given volume of air. The accuracy of modern devices is high and very reliable. The oxidizing agent used in most devices is chromium trioxide.
There are two main technologies or versions of breath analyzers in the market presently. The first version is known as the desktop analyzer, which in general uses electro-chemical fuel cell or infrared spectro-photometer technology or a combination of the two. Hand-held versions of this gadget are produced basing on electrochemical fuel cell technology.
Breatherlyser machines are applied in several sectors on a public and/or private scale. Law enforcing agents in many nations employ the gadget along highways to detect individuals who drive cars under alcohol influence. The gadget offers a non-invasive technique of determining if an individual has alcohol in their body system. The results of the test are provided in courts as proof against citizens who violate the law concerning driving under alcohol influence. People are arrested only if the stated level of alcohol level in blood is surpassed.
The costs for breathaliser gadgets depend on their quality and model. The models employed by law enforcement agents are very costly because they employ advanced technology. However, the cost corresponds with their high degree of accuracy, sensitivity, and reliability. There are also appliances that are utilized by businesses and individuals. These ones majorly employ semiconductor-based technology, which is cheaper, but less accurate and less reliable.
The devices are standardized and certified by different bodies in different countries. For instance in the US, the Food and Drug Administration authority is responsible for ensuring quality of the machines sold to members of the public. A breathalyzer machine being sold in the market does not mean that it is as accurate. For this reason, test results from gadgets that are based on semi-conductor technology are not used in courts as evidence.
The Chicago chemist however cannot be said to be the inventor of the device because there were earlier experiments about the same. Currently there are many versions of this equipment although the mode of operation remains the same across all of them. The person being tested is required to exhale into the breath analyzer. The equipment has an anode and a cathode terminal.
Any quantity of ethanol existing in breath gets oxidized to create acetic acid at anode leads. At the cathode leads, atmospheric oxygen gas available in breath gets reduced. In general the reaction that occurs in the whole activity is oxidation of ethanol into moisture and acetic acid. These reactions produce an electric current that is measured by microprocessors in the devices.
The reading of the electric current is displayed as an estimate of blood alcohol content (BAC) by an alcosensor. The displayed value is in terms of the amount of alcohol content per a given volume of air. The accuracy of modern devices is high and very reliable. The oxidizing agent used in most devices is chromium trioxide.
There are two main technologies or versions of breath analyzers in the market presently. The first version is known as the desktop analyzer, which in general uses electro-chemical fuel cell or infrared spectro-photometer technology or a combination of the two. Hand-held versions of this gadget are produced basing on electrochemical fuel cell technology.
Breatherlyser machines are applied in several sectors on a public and/or private scale. Law enforcing agents in many nations employ the gadget along highways to detect individuals who drive cars under alcohol influence. The gadget offers a non-invasive technique of determining if an individual has alcohol in their body system. The results of the test are provided in courts as proof against citizens who violate the law concerning driving under alcohol influence. People are arrested only if the stated level of alcohol level in blood is surpassed.
The costs for breathaliser gadgets depend on their quality and model. The models employed by law enforcement agents are very costly because they employ advanced technology. However, the cost corresponds with their high degree of accuracy, sensitivity, and reliability. There are also appliances that are utilized by businesses and individuals. These ones majorly employ semiconductor-based technology, which is cheaper, but less accurate and less reliable.
The devices are standardized and certified by different bodies in different countries. For instance in the US, the Food and Drug Administration authority is responsible for ensuring quality of the machines sold to members of the public. A breathalyzer machine being sold in the market does not mean that it is as accurate. For this reason, test results from gadgets that are based on semi-conductor technology are not used in courts as evidence.
About the Author:
You can visit the website solopartners.org for more helpful information about Basics Concerning A Breathalyzer Machine