title: Analysis of trace amounts of carbon dioxide, oxygen and carbon monoxide in nitrogen using dual capillary columns and a pulsed discharge helium ionisation detector.
abstract: Gas mixtures of trace amounts of carbon dioxide (CO(2)), dioxygen (O(2)), and carbon monoxide (CO) in dinitrogen (N(2)) were separated and quantified using parallel dual capillary columns and pulsed discharge helium ionisation detection (PDHID). The detection limits (9 x 10(-9) mol mol(-1) for CO(2), 7 x 10(-9) mol mol(-1) for O(2) and 37 x 10(-9) mol mol(-1) for CO) were lower than those reported previously for similar methods. Uncertainties were calculated and results were validated by comparison of the CO and CO(2) results with those obtained using conventional methods. The method was also used to analyse nitrogen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in oxygen.
authors.affiliation: National Metrology Institute of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janse van Rensburg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Botha
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rohwer
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary / Q000379:methods*; D006371:Helium / Q000737:chemistry*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000592:standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006371:Helium; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen