H2S Calibration

[civany]

I am in the process of selecting a gas to calibrate a Nat Gas Analyzer (Varian CP3800) to measure H2S in natural gas. Is any balance gas (air, nitrogen, methane, etc.) acceptable and is one better than the others for this particular application?

[AICMM]

civany,

I would suggest that since you are going to be measuring H2S in natural gas, get you balance gas as methane.

Best regards,

AICMM

[chromatographer1]

Better?

Usually, it is best to have a standard with the same balance as the normal balance of the analyzer.

H2S can react with oxygen so air would not be my choice. I would choose methane as a balance personally. But I could see how nitrogen would have an argument in its favor.

Any std purchased will have a cost much higher than the cost of the balance component as raw material.

I would even consider using the carrier gas as the balance component such as helium or hydrogen.

Mole percent is mole percent. I would be more concerned with the materials of the cylinder and the transfer lines and pneumatics, but your question is a good one.

Discuss it with technical service departments of companies like Daniel Industries who provide the majority of analyzers for the natural gas industry.

best wishes,

Rod