A breathalyzer machine refers to a device used to estimate the content of alcohol in the blood using a breath sample. The invention of this device dates as back as 1874. Back then, there were only observations of the possibility of detecting the presence of alcohol in the blood stream using breath. The observations were built onto until the device was first invented by a chemist in Chicago in 1927.
However, the chemist in Chicago cannot be termed as the sole inventor of the equipment because there were previous works concerning the same. Today there are several models of this system even though the mode of working remains similar across all. The person under investigation is needed to breath into a mouthpiece of the breathalyzer. The appliance has a two leads, the cathode and the anode.
Any amount of ethanol contained in the breath is oxidized to form acetic acid at the anode terminal. At the cathode terminal, atmospheric oxygen present in the breath is reduced. The overall reaction that takes place in the entire process is the oxidation of ethanol into water and acetic acid. The reaction generates an electric current, which is measured by a microprocessor.
The reading of generated electric current is shown as an estimation of blood alcohol content (BAC) by the alcosensor. The shown value is represented in terms of the quantity of alcohol content per certain air volume. The accuracy of current devices is very high and reliable. Oxidizing agent utilized in most gadgets is chromium trioxide.
There are two key technologies or models of breath analyzers presently selling on the market. The first model is the desktop analyzer, which uses infrared spectrophotometer or electrochemical fuel cell technology or a blend of both technologies two. Hand-held models of this appliance are constructed based on electrochemical fuel cell technology.
Breatherlyser machines are used in many fields on a private or public scale. Law enforcement officers in many states use the device on highways to catch up with people who drive under the influence of alcohol. The device provides a non-invasive way of determining if one has alcohol in their body. The outcome of the test is presented in court as evidence against people who break the law about driving under influence. One is only arrested when the specified level of alcohol content in blood is exceeded.
The price for a breathaliser equipment depends on its make and quality. The models used by law enforcement officers are very expensive because they use expensive technology. The price however matches their high level of sensitivity, reliability, and accuracy. There are devices that are used by individuals and companies too. These ones mainly use semiconductor based technology, which is less reliable, less accurate, and cheap.
These gadgets are certified and standardized by various authorities in different states. For instance in USA, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority makes sure that the quality of devices sold to people is high. By mere fact that a breathalyzer machine is available in the market does not guarantee its accuracy. For this reason, outcomes from devices, which are constructed around semiconductor technology are never utilized in USA courts as evidence.
However, the chemist in Chicago cannot be termed as the sole inventor of the equipment because there were previous works concerning the same. Today there are several models of this system even though the mode of working remains similar across all. The person under investigation is needed to breath into a mouthpiece of the breathalyzer. The appliance has a two leads, the cathode and the anode.
Any amount of ethanol contained in the breath is oxidized to form acetic acid at the anode terminal. At the cathode terminal, atmospheric oxygen present in the breath is reduced. The overall reaction that takes place in the entire process is the oxidation of ethanol into water and acetic acid. The reaction generates an electric current, which is measured by a microprocessor.
The reading of generated electric current is shown as an estimation of blood alcohol content (BAC) by the alcosensor. The shown value is represented in terms of the quantity of alcohol content per certain air volume. The accuracy of current devices is very high and reliable. Oxidizing agent utilized in most gadgets is chromium trioxide.
There are two key technologies or models of breath analyzers presently selling on the market. The first model is the desktop analyzer, which uses infrared spectrophotometer or electrochemical fuel cell technology or a blend of both technologies two. Hand-held models of this appliance are constructed based on electrochemical fuel cell technology.
Breatherlyser machines are used in many fields on a private or public scale. Law enforcement officers in many states use the device on highways to catch up with people who drive under the influence of alcohol. The device provides a non-invasive way of determining if one has alcohol in their body. The outcome of the test is presented in court as evidence against people who break the law about driving under influence. One is only arrested when the specified level of alcohol content in blood is exceeded.
The price for a breathaliser equipment depends on its make and quality. The models used by law enforcement officers are very expensive because they use expensive technology. The price however matches their high level of sensitivity, reliability, and accuracy. There are devices that are used by individuals and companies too. These ones mainly use semiconductor based technology, which is less reliable, less accurate, and cheap.
These gadgets are certified and standardized by various authorities in different states. For instance in USA, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority makes sure that the quality of devices sold to people is high. By mere fact that a breathalyzer machine is available in the market does not guarantee its accuracy. For this reason, outcomes from devices, which are constructed around semiconductor technology are never utilized in USA courts as evidence.
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