Chemical Analysis - Single Gases
What is it?
In general, for the measurement of single gases in emissions, such as ammonia and hydrogen sulphide, specific technical norms exist defining the sampling and analysis method. Since concentrations are usually quite high (tens or hundreds of ppm), it is also possible to use electrochemical sensors, which are easy-to-use and cheap. When determining the concentration of single gases in emissions or immissions, it is important that the most suitable method is chosen in function of the expected concentration.
What can it be used for?
What can it NOT be used for?
The chemical characterization of single gases is useless in the case of complex odorous mixtures, whereby odour concentration is not related to the concentration of one single component. This is unfortunately the most common case, since environmental odours typically are mixtures of hundreds of different compounds. This analysis doesn’t give information about the composition of complex mixtures.