GC/FUV for analysis of ambient (ppb level) greenhouse gases

ABSTRACT SYMPOSIUM NAME: Joint Symposium of the Separation Science Subdivisions

ABSTRACT SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM AREA NAME: ANYL

CONTROL ID: 2980438

PRESENTATION TYPE: Oral

TITLE: GC/FUV for analysis of ambient (ppb level) greenhouse gases

AUTHORS (FIRST NAME, LAST NAME): Jennifer L. Maclachlan1, John N. Driscoll1

INSTITUTIONS (ALL): 1. PID Analyzers, LLC, Centerville, MA, United States.

ABSTRACT BODY:  Abstract: We have recently improved the sensitivity of our far UV absorbance detector by nearly an order of magnitude so that it can now detect ppb levels of methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). We have added a concentrator to our Portable GC 312 so that we can further improve the accuracy of the measurement. Nearly a decade ago the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required large emitters of heat-trapping emissions to begin collecting greenhouse gas data under a new reporting system since CH4, N2O, & , CO2 , since 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. Our far UV absorbance detector is more simple, is capable of measuring all three gases and is a less complex alternative to existing methods.