Issue 1, 2007

Detection of sulfur-free odorants in natural gas using ion mobility spectrometry

Abstract

Beside the primary motivation of the public gas suppliers for odorizing natural gas with a sulfur-free odorant, which relates to the image of the environment-friendly fuel, natural gas, competing with low-sulfur heating fuel and diesel, a question of crucial importance of how to detect such sulfur-free odorants comes up. Concerning the replacement of sulfur-containing by sulfur-free odorization, the availability of a fast and sensitive detection method that can, further, be used on-site plays a key role. The minimum concentration of the new sulfur-free odorant Gasodor™ S-Free™ (S-Free) in natural gas should be added at a level of at least 8.8 mg m−3 to assure a significant warning smell. Therefore, a dynamic range between 0 and approx. 25 mg m−3 must be realised in the rather complex matrix of natural gas. By means of a handheld ion mobility spectrometer, the odorant content in natural gas is determined within less than 80 s total analysis time directly at the gas pipe. The concentration of S-Free is monitored between 4 and 23 mg m−3 respecting the quality of the natural gas (high- and low-caloric gas). Results of the validation using a gas chromatograph as a reference standard will be discussed in detail.

Graphical abstract: Detection of sulfur-free odorants in natural gas using ion mobility spectrometry

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
25 Sep 2006
Accepted
24 Nov 2006
First published
12 Dec 2006

J. Environ. Monit., 2007,9, 61-65

Detection of sulfur-free odorants in natural gas using ion mobility spectrometry

V. Ruzsanyi, S. Sielemann and J. I. Baumbach, J. Environ. Monit., 2007, 9, 61 DOI: 10.1039/B613951E

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Spotlight

Advertisements