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.