Rapid gas analyses for the investigation of spontaneous combustion using capillary gas chromatography

A simple and fast but sensitive and precise gas chromatographic method is described for the quantitative determination of O(2), N(2), CO, CO(2), C1 and C2-hydrocarbons for coal research. Gas analyses are necessary to obtain parameters for modelling spontaneous combustion and to predict long term coal behaviour. The method is based on a single PLOT-type capillary column in a single channel gas chromatograph. Using a micro-volume TCD coupled in series with a FID detector containing a capillary methanizer it is possible to determine high and trace level gases simultaneously. Trace quantities of CO and CO(2) can be determined with a single analysis and the detection limits are improved significantly using the capillary methanizer. The detection limit of the described method is approximately ten parts per million CO(2) and one part per million CO. Using the same instrument configuration the O(2)/N(2) ratios (major components), as parameter for coal reactivity, are also determined. The proposed approach is restricted to the determination of gases evolved during coal studies and the application to other gas mixtures is not considered.