Duvas develops and produces specialised emissions detection equipment using ultra-violet (UV) spectroscopy. Duvas was spun out of Imperial College in 2008 and its highly sensitive detection technology enables remote sensing and identification of airborne chemicals at a “parts per billion” level (most other gas detection technologies detect “parts per million”).
The Duvas core technology includes software and algorithms, together with an expanding ‘gas library’ of gas signatures that allow Duvas to programme its devices to recognise such gases. The company’s first commercial, patented UV spectroscopy unit is called the DV3000, which has obtained CE marking for sales in Europe and is also being sold in China and the US.
Steve Billingsgate was appointed CEO in April 2017, bringing 25 years’ experience in gas detection. In this Engineer Live article, Steve discusses the importance of detection technologies in helping to improve the occupational health and safety for workers operating across the petrochemical industry.
“UV Spectroscopy is quickly becoming the go-to technology for monitoring benzene concentrations in the petrochemicals industry. Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy refers to the absorption spectroscopy in the ultraviolet-visible spectral region. When a UV lamp shines light into a gas cell, the beam of light is reflected via a series of mirrors and collected by a UV spectrometer. Because every type of gas absorbs UV radiation along its own unique band of the spectrum, it is possible to precisely identify the concentration of the gases present. The technique can, therefore, simultaneously measure benzene concentrations alongside a plethora of additional species – nitrogen dioxide and toluene, for example.”
The article looks at the latest global research linking benzene exposure to Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML).
“According to the American Cancer Society, more than 54,000 cases of leukaemia were detected in 2015 alone. Of these cases, 20,000 were found to be AML – an aggressive form of leukaemia with an average 50% fatality rate.”
“Systems, such as the Duvas DV3000 analyser, are already being used by companies across the petrochemicals industry to deliver fast-response, accurate, real-time benzene data – not just in a leak crisis scenario, but offering a routine solution to detect levels early. However, with the capability of monitoring for up to 13 additional species, its application can play a far wider part in the global air quality market.”