Abstract
Vulcanized rubber evolves an evil-smelling gas for months after contact with the fumigant methyl bromide. The analysis of the gas by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) shows that it contains traces of a thiomethyl compound, which was identified as methyl mercaptane. The SERS method can be used to determine gas-phase concentrations of methyl mercaptane in the low ppbv range by analyzing the velocity of adsorption. The investigated example demonstrates the capability of SERS for the detection and identification of very low gas concentrations of substances that are adsorbed irreversibly at silver surfaces.
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