Rapid automatic gas chromatographic method for the continual measurement of hydrogen cyanide and cyanogen in air

Abstract

Equipment for the continual measurement of hydrogen cyanide and cyanogen by gas chromatography is described and applied to a gas generation and testing apparatus for the characterisation of hydrogen cyanide-absorbing activated charcoals. Under automatic operation, two adsorbent samples may be assessed in parallel giving an analysis every 2 min, or a single sample every 1 min. A computer is used to collate the data generated and to present them as breakthrough profiles. Details for the generation of a stable hydrogen cyanide test atmosphere at a concentration of 2 mg min^–1 and a flow-rate of 1 l min^–1 are given, as are procedures for the generation of both hydrogen cyanide and cyanogen atmospheres for the calibration of the gas chromatograph.