Determination of electroactive and non-electroactive gases using a membrane polarographic detector in a flow system
Abstract
A simple method has been devised for analysing toxic corrosive gases, such as Cl2, NO2 and SO2, using an oxygen membrane polarographic detector (O2-MPD) coupled to a flow system, and an inert carrier gas, such as N2. The flow system minimises the degree of corrosion and poisoning of the MPD so often found when analysing these gases. It was shown that, by using an electroactive carrier gas such as air (instead of N2), the same O2-MPD-flow system could also be used to detect non-electroactive gases, such as N2, Ar, He, CH4 and CO2. The peak current observed, following injection of an electroactive, or non-electroactive gas, was found in all instances to be directly related to the amount injected. The application of MPD's in gas chromatography is discussed in the light of this work.