Development of a Field-Portable Odorant Monitor. Part 1. Gas Chromatography with Photoionization Detection. Topical Report April 1, 1984-March 7, 1986

摘要

In an effort to achieve a field-portable analyzer for odorants in natural gas, an analytical scheme was developed that employed a gas chromatograph (GC) with a photoionization detector (PID). Separation of the odorants (various mercaptans and sulfides) was accomplished with two columns in series using helium or air as a carrier gas at flow rates of 33 - 40 cc/minute. Using column and detector temperatures of 45 C and 55 C, respectively, separation and analysis was achieved within 24 minutes for all commonly employed odorants except tetrahydrothiophane (THT). The latter required temperatures of 60 C. Preliminary calibration curves were linear over the range 0.1 - 10 ppmV. The PID employed 10.0 eV window. Although the analytical performance parameters are reasonable, the availability of the technology to the gas industry via commercialization was judged to be unlikely because certain operational performance parameters were not achievable, such as simplicity of hardware and ease of manufacture. Therefore, no further development efforts are planned for the approach.