Analytical methodologies have always been the reference in the determination of chemical substances, techniques such as chromatography using principles such as the PID (Photoionization Detector) or FID (Flame Ionization Detector) although they allow to discriminate between different substances and give precise results of their Concentration are techniques that have been restricted for many years to an analytical laboratory. The size of these equipment, the technical capacity of those who use these methodologies and the necessary resources in general to operate these techniques means that their use in the field has been almost nil. It had always been necessary to collect a sample to be analyzed in the laboratory, so these techniques have not been very useful in applications where it is required to determine the specific concentration in a mixture of substances continuously and in real time. The data obtained does not allow taking actions immediately and preventively; and likewise the time in which a result is obtained counting on the sampling, analysis, the sending of the respective report and the fact of not having a tendency but only a value does not allow these techniques to be apt for the necessity of a continuous monitoring.
Online chromatography consists of analytical equipment that uses the same laboratory methodologies as photoionization (PID), flame ionization (FID), mass spectrometry (MS), ultraviolet spectroscopy (S-UV) but with field measurement and so keep going. In this way, these teams have everything integrated in such a way that they can make analysis cycles for the desired compounds, having the concentrations of each target compound continuously 24/7 and in real time. This allows different applications to have data necessary to take action, trends, graphs, validation of the results, transmission of data from the field to a server among many other options. Online chromatography is used mainly in applications such as:
- Environmental monitoring of substances such as:
- BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene)
- Measurement of VOC's PAMS 58 ozone precursors according to US EPA recommendations
- Total hydrocarbons, methanic and non-methane compounds
- Offensive odors through direct monitoring of sulfides, mercaptans and Ammonia to determine the olfactory footprint
- Acetone and / or formaldehyde
- Manufacture of gases and verifications of purity of mixtures:
- Measurement of impurities such as formaldehyde, ethylene oxide and carbon monoxide
- Quality control of Ultra-pure gases
- Quality control of VOC's present in helium or nitrogen
- Measurement of specific gases in process such as Neon, Hydrogen, Carbon Dioxide, Methane
- Fermentation control
- Process laboratories
- Wastewater treatment plants to monitor mercaptans and sulfides
- Odorization of natural gas lines (Measurement of mercaptans and sulfides)
- Verification of natural gas composition and determination of its heat capacity
