TCD or FID for methane gas analysis

[nelson18]

How do i analyse methane content of biogas using GC?
Should i use TCD or FID for methane gas.
If it is TCD what should be the carrier gas?
What should be the temperature in injector detector and oven while using TCD?
If it is FID what should be the temperatures?
Can anyone guide me?
What is the retention time of methane in GC?
Nelson

[chromatographer1]

How do i analyse methane content of biogas using GC?

fixed loop sampling and packed columns are better

Should i use TCD or FID for methane gas.

either is possible. FID is more specific and easier

If it is TCD what should be the carrier gas?

Helium, hydrogen, or argon

What should be the temperature in injector detector and oven while using TCD?
I would use minimum of 80C for injector, 150C for detector, and 60C for oven

If it is FID what should be the temperatures?

same

Can anyone guide me?

maybe

What is the retention time of methane in GC?

varies by column length, type, packing, coating, and linear flow rate

[AICMM]

nelson18,

If it were me and all I had to do was methane, I would second Rod's view and go with an FID. Then methane will be a nice simple peak early in the chromatogram. The other advantage is going with an FID is you can measure high levels or also low levels easier than with a TCD.

The unspoken question is.... do you really want to measure all the other stuff (like lots of other posters) as well? There is likely to be ethane, CO, CO2, possibly H2, etc.... depending on your process and this gets much more complicated.

Best regards,

AICMM