Analysis of Greenhouse Gases in Ambient Air by GC/FUV accepted for presentation at #Pittcon

On January 1, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency required large emitters of heat-trapping emissions to begin collecting greenhouse gas data under a new reporting system. Nitrous oxide (N₂O) Carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and are considered the main greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere. These gases absorb strongly in the infrared trapping heat in the atmosphere and affecting the temperature on the Earth. These gases have been measured using expensive long path infrared analyzers or complex gas chromatography using as many as three detectors and three valves. We developed a far UV absorbance detector (FUV 1) that we will apply to analysis of all three gases. It will just require a concentrator to detect ppb levels of these gases. The FUV detector recently has been improved so that it can detect low ppm levels of these compounds. We had developed a concentrator for N₂O that could also be used for CO₂ and plan some additional changes to the FUV to improve its sensitivity to CH₄. 

1. Driscoll, JN "UV Ionization Detectors in High Resolution Chromatography", Capillary Chromatography, Hill, H. ed., Wiley & Sons, NY (1992)

2. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “40 CFR Parts 86, 87, 89 et al. Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases; Final Rule“.

Abstract Number: 1030 - 66
Session 1030 - Environmental Posters
Day and Time: Tuesday, February 27, 2018, Afternoon
Room Exposition Floor, Aisles 2000-2700

A Portable GC/PID for the Analysis of Odorous Sulfur Compounds in Ambient Air

Methodology:	Feb 26 - Mar 1, 2018 Orange County Convention Center Orlando, FL, USA Accepted for presentation at #Pittcon 2018 in the American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry Poster Session Sunday evening February 25, 2018 Valencia Ballroom D, W415, of the Orange County Convention Center, 5:30pm-7:30pm Gas Chromatography
Application:	Environmental
Primary Focus:	Application
Title:	A Portable GC/PID for the Analysis of Odorous Sulfur Compounds in Ambient Air
Keywords:	Air GC Industrial Hygiene Portable Instruments

A capillary column gas chromatography method was used for the analysis of sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl sulfide, and dimethyl disulfide in ambient air. The concentration of these sulfur compounds is typically very low (low to sub ppb) in ambient air. Their odor threshold is at the low ppb levels so it is also necessary to make field measurements near odorous sulfur sources such as refineries, pulp and paper mills, etc. because of the high reactivity of the sulfur compounds. A portable gas chromatograph (GC) with a photoionization detector (PID) and concentrator is ideal for this application because of the high sensitivity of the PID to sulfur

compounds and it does not need support gases such as zero air or hydrogen. It has more than 100 times the sensitivity of the flame photometric detector and a much wider dynamic range.