2B Tech HERMES Portable Trace Mercury Monitor
| Brand | 2B Tech |
|---|---|
| Origin | USA |
| Manufacturer Type | Authorized Distributor |
| Origin Category | Imported |
| Model | HERMES |
| Pricing | Upon Request |
Overview
The 2B Tech HERMES Portable Trace Mercury Monitor is a field-deployable, UV-absorption-based instrument engineered for real-time, continuous measurement of elemental mercury (Hg⁰) vapor in ambient air at sub-part-per-trillion (ppt) concentrations. It operates on the principle of differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) at the 254 nm mercury resonance line — a well-established, NIST-traceable method for quantitative Hg⁰ detection. By folding the optical path into a compact U-shaped configuration, HERMES achieves an effective 15 cm absorption pathlength within a volume of only 10.2 × 7.6 × 3.8 cm — enabling high sensitivity without cryogenic trapping or gold amalgamation preconcentration. Its lightweight design (340 g), integrated GPS module, and dual-power architecture (rechargeable Li-ion battery or universal AC/DC input) make it suitable for personal exposure assessment, mobile monitoring campaigns, and long-term unattended operation in remote or energy-constrained environments — including high-altitude locations up to ~13.5 km (150 mbar).
Key Features
- Ultra-compact form factor: 10.2 × 7.6 × 3.8 cm; mass: 340 g — optimized for wearable and handheld deployment
- UV absorption at 254 nm with NIST-traceable calibration; no consumables or chemical reagents required
- Integrated GPS receiver providing synchronized geotagged data logging (latitude, longitude, UTC timestamp)
- Dual operational modes: rapid sampling (2 s interval, 0.5 Hz) and standard measurement (10 s interval, 0.1 Hz)
- Onboard data storage: 8,192 rows — supporting up to 1 year of hourly-averaged records
- Temperature- and pressure-compensated measurements (0–50 °C; 150–1013 mbar), with optional firmware extension for higher altitudes
- Low-power architecture: nominal 3.0 W; battery runtime 5–8 hours (7.4 V, 1.6 Ah Li-ion)
- Serial (RS-232) and USB interfaces; 19200 baud rate; compatible with 2B Display Software for real-time visualization and post-processing
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
HERMES is designed exclusively for gaseous elemental mercury (Hg⁰) in ambient air, workplace breathing zones, and stack effluent streams where particulate-bound or oxidized mercury species are negligible. It does not detect Hg²⁺, HgP, or organomercurials without prior thermal reduction. The instrument complies with ASTM D6784-22 (Standard Test Method for Elemental, Oxidized, Particle-Bound, and Total Mercury in Flue Gas Streams) for Hg⁰ quantification when used within specified flow and environmental constraints. All factory calibrations are NIST-traceable and documented in the included Certificate of Calibration. Data integrity meets GLP-aligned requirements, with timestamped, non-erasable logs and hardware-level audit trail support via serial output metadata.
Software & Data Management
The included 2B Display Software (Windows-compatible) enables live telemetry, configurable averaging intervals (1 min / 5 min / 1 hr), unit conversion (ng/m³ ↔ ng/m³ ↔ ppb), and export to CSV or Excel formats. Raw data files contain full metadata: GPS coordinates, barometric pressure, internal temperature, flow rate, zero-reference status, and diagnostic flags. The firmware supports time-synchronized zeroing using the supplied zero-cartridge (activated carbon scrubber), ensuring baseline stability <0.1 µg/m³/day. For regulated environments, the system can be configured to meet FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements via external secure logging servers — though native electronic signature functionality is not embedded.
Applications
- Personal exposure monitoring for workers in chlor-alkali plants, dental clinics, coal-fired power facilities, and artisanal gold mining sites
- Mobile atmospheric mercury mapping using vehicle-mounted or backpack configurations
- Long-term background monitoring in remote Arctic, alpine, or island stations with limited grid access
- Epidemiological studies linking spatially resolved Hg⁰ gradients to respiratory health outcomes
- Verification of mercury control technology performance (e.g., activated carbon injection, SCR catalysts)
- Calibration transfer and intercomparison studies among research-grade Hg analyzers (e.g., Tekran 2537, Lumex RA-915M)
FAQ
What mercury species does HERMES measure?
HERMES measures only elemental mercury vapor (Hg⁰) via 254 nm UV absorption. It does not respond to oxidized mercury (Hg²⁺), particulate mercury (HgP), or methylmercury.
Is the instrument suitable for stack gas monitoring?
Yes — provided gas temperature is ≤50 °C, moisture is removed upstream, and total particulate loading is below 10 mg/m³ to avoid optical window fouling.
How often must the instrument be zeroed?
Zeroing is recommended before each deployment and after extended idle periods; the onboard zero-cartridge provides ≥50 hours of stable baseline correction.
Can HERMES operate autonomously for weeks?
Yes — when configured for 1-hour averaging and powered by an external solar-charged battery bank, field deployments exceeding 30 days have been validated.
Is firmware update supported in the field?
Yes — updates are delivered via USB and require no disassembly; version history and checksum verification are logged internally.
