Determination of gaseous unsaturated hydrocarbons - using electrochemical reduction on hydrogen electrodes with potentials obove 0 V

摘要

Process for electrochemical determination of the concn. of unsaturated hydrocarbons in gas mixtures by using a chemical reduction, esp. a cathodic reduction in the potential range O on a H2 electrode carried out in equivalent soln. The electrode should be of hydrophobic, plastic bonded metal, and can be of compressed metal powder with a hydrophobic semi-permeable backing. The metal should be a noble metal, a metal of the transition series or mixtures of them. The reduction is carried out in an electrochemical cell with a liquid or solid electrolyte. To determine the concn. of olefins or other unsaturated hydrocarbons (e.g. ethylene) in gas mixtures esp. in air. This is perfectly feasible at the moment but requires trained personnel and complicated laboratory equipment such as chromatographs. Oxidation methods are also known but are non-selective for olefins. The device claimed is a portable system which gives selective detection of low mol. wt. unsaturated hydrocarbons.