Spårgasanalyser

Spårgasanalyser, or trace gas analysis, refers to the measurement of very low concentrations of specific gases within a larger mixture. These trace gases are often present in parts per million (ppm), parts per billion (ppb), or even parts per trillion (ppt) levels. Despite their low concentrations, trace gases can have significant impacts, making their accurate detection crucial in various fields.

The primary technique employed in spårgasanalyser is gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Gas chromatography separates the components of a gas mixture based on their physical and chemical properties, such as boiling point and polarity. The separated components then enter a mass spectrometer, which ionizes them and separates the ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio. This provides a unique fingerprint for each detected molecule, allowing for highly sensitive and specific identification and quantification of trace gases. Other analytical methods like Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and laser-based techniques are also utilized depending on the specific application and the gases of interest.

Spårgasanalyser are indispensable in environmental monitoring, where they are used to detect pollutants in air and water, assess greenhouse gas emissions, and study atmospheric chemistry. In industrial processes, they ensure product quality by monitoring for impurities and optimize safety by detecting hazardous leaks. The medical field utilizes spårgasanalyser for breath analysis to diagnose diseases, as certain medical conditions can alter the composition of exhaled gases. Furthermore, these analyses play a role in forensic science for identifying substances and in the semiconductor industry for process control.