ENV-16-27 Benefits of Using Gas Chromatography Coupled with Flame Photometric Detection in Place of Wet Methods for the Analysis of Sulfur Compounds in Flares

Description:

Gas chromatography (GC) is an analytical technique that can separate and identify compounds based upon their relative volatilities. The technique has a wide range of uses in many different types of industries. The speed and reliability of gas chromatography measurements makes it well suited for accurate measurement of process emissions that may fluctuate rapidly over wide ranges. One such application is in the measurement of flare feed streams. When coupled with a flame photometric detector (FPD), gas chromatography can determine flare feed concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon disulfide (CS2), and carbonyl sulfide (COS) in near real-time. The speed and accuracy at which the GC allows these measurements to be made presents significant advantages over the conventional wet chemistry methods, such as EPA Method 11 (40 CFR 60), which generally provide less data at lower quality in a given amount of time. Because of this advantage, GC is seeing more use and acceptance as a reference method for flare performance testing and monitor certifications. This paper examines some of the specific advantages of GC in flare testing applications, and presents data that shows how this technique can streamline and enhance flare monitoring programs. The paper also discusses special techniques to improve the accuracy and reliability of GC measurements in these applications.