This paper reports a method for simultaneous determination of H2, O2, N2, CO, CO2, CH4, C2H2, C2H4, C2H6, C3H4 (propadiene and propyne), C3H6, C3H8 and C4H10 (n-butane and iso-butane) by gas chromatography using thermal conductivity and flame ionization detectors. A single porous layer open tubular column (0.53 mm internal diameter × 30 m length × 30 μm thick) was applied and no catalytic converter was needed to convert CO and CO2 into CH4 to enable identification by a flame ionization detector. The most appropriate chromatographic conditions were defined for the method and it was validated according to the recommendations of the National Health Surveillance Agency and the National Institute of Metrology, Standardization and Industrial Quality. Chromatographic conditions defined for the target gases presented satisfactory linearity (r > 0.99), and limits of detection ranged between 0.0916 and 2.75 ppm. High accuracy (98-101%) obtained for the gas chromatography/thermal conductivity detector/flame ionization detector method associated to low relative standard deviation (< 2%) confirmed its applicability in routine quantification of target gases formed during the pyrolysis of municipal refuse-derived fuel.
A Method for the Highly Accurate Quantification of Gas Streams by On-Line Chromatography
