Frackbox
DIYDo It Yourself More sensor for monitoring airborne concentrations of VOCsVolatile Organic Compounds More, NOxIn atmospheric chemistry, NOₓ is shorthand for nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), the nitrogen oxides that are most relevant for air pollution. More, O3Ozone More, (and also possible PM2.5Particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. Also referred to as fine particles. More)
Customer link and technical handbooks
Category
DIY sensors
Environmental matrix
Air
Parameters analysed
VOCsVolatile Organic Compounds More, NOxIn atmospheric chemistry, NOₓ is shorthand for nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), the nitrogen oxides that are most relevant for air pollution. More, O3Ozone More, (possible PM2.5Particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. Also referred to as fine particles. More)
Detection limits
Sensor functionalities
VOCs: photo ionization detector
NOx and O3: gas sensitive electrode
Costs
800€
Advantages
- Possible to contact the developers and borrow a copy.
- Possible to add sensors for PM2.5Particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. Also referred to as fine particles. More and CH4Methane More.
- Developed for community monitoring of the effect oil and gas industry on residents.
- Detailed shopping list.
Limitations
- Construction requires time and some knowledge of electronics and coding.
- Instruction manual is not as detailed as for the DustBox.
- Still a prototype.
- PID is not selective for BTEXIn the petroleum refining and petrochemical industries, the initialism BTX refers to mixtures of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and the three xylene isomers, all of which are aromatic hydrocarbons. More.
- There are crossinterferences for NO2 and O3Ozone More.
- Calibration is required for accurate readings of all pollutants (it requires a source of zero air).
Other technical specifications
Includes a sensor for temperature, relative humidity, and wind direction. It is oused in a US mailbox. Data is periodically uploaded to the Citizen Sense platform through a cell phone connection. It runs on Linux. The system can be upgraded to measure also PM2.5Particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. Also referred to as fine particles. More and CH4Methane More.