ABSTRACT
The sampling system is an integral part of most commercial total hydrocarbon analyzers designed to measure continuously the concentration of hydrocarbons (and other organic compounds) in the atmosphere. The sample line is attached to the inlet and the sample is pumped into a flame ionization detector. A sensitive electrometer coupled with a Potentiometric recorder detects the increase in ion intensity resulting from the introduction into a hydrogen flame of sample air containing organic compounds (e.g., hydrocarbons, aldehydes, alcohols). The response is approximately proportional to the number of carbon atoms in the sample. The analyzer is calibrated using methane and the results reported as methane equivalents ( 1,2 ).
