Usage of a quartz resonator as a piezosorption sensor for mercury vapours in air

A quartz resonator with a built-in micro heater, which is used as a piezosorption sensor for mercury vapors in the air, is reported. The specific requirements of the resonator and the heater are noted. A maximal sensitivity of 3.10/sup -6/ g/m/sup 3/ is shown. The built-in micro heater allows the regeneration of the sensor under working conditions. The sensor can be used in several devices for control of environmental pollutants, and in other cases in which the precise determination of low concentrations of mercury vapor in the air is necessary. >