Analysis
Gas
The composition and determination of gases are analysed via gas chromatography (GC) and various detectors. Different technical facilities allow the quantification and identification of the composition of the gas phase
- in water by forced degassing
- in gas samples
- in rock or mineral samples by pressure induced release of the gas.
Subsequently to the determination of the gas composition, an isotope analysis can follow.
| GC-TDR | GC-FID | GC-FIC |
| Hydrogen (H2) | Methane (CH4) | |
| Helium (He) | Ethane (C2H6) | Ethene (C2H4) |
| Nitrogen (N2) | Propane (C3H8) | Propene (C3H6) |
| Oxygen (O2) | Butane (C4H10) | Butene (C4H8) |
| Neon (Ne) | Pentane (C5H12) | Pentene (C5H10) |
| Argon (Ar) | Hexane (C6H14) | Hexene (C6H12) |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) |
Identification of trace gases like CFC and SF6 is also done by GC, while noble gases are analysed with high accuracy by mass spectrometer (MS) after cryogene separation.
| MS after cryogene separation | GC-ECD |
| Helium (He) | Trichlorfluoromethane (F11) |
| Neon (Ne) | Dichlordifluoromethane (F12) |
| Argon (Ar) | 1,1,2-Trichlorotrifluorethane (F113) |
| Krypton (Kr) | Sulphurhexafluoride (SF6) |
| Xenon (Xe) |
In order to analyse single gases like CH4-, CO2- or 222Rn in the field (indoor air, ground air) mobile detection equipment is available.