Prototype System for the Detection of Volatile Hydrocarbons in Water

Detection of dissolved methane and volatile hydrocarbons in water is a problem met inleakage localization during exploitation of underwater pipelines, oil and oil product spill over watersurface, geological exploration work for the localization of oil and gas fields under water, etc. Thisproblem can be solved by the application of detection system based on tubular selective membranepermeable for volatile organics and impenetrable for liquid water. Carrier gas (air) flowing throughthis tube is saturated with dissolved gas and then gas concentration is measured usingsemiconductor or other gas sensor. The system prototype was tested under laboratory conditionsand demonstrated low limit of gas detection (~20 ppb by mass of dissolved methane in water) andshort response time (~10 s).