High Performance Cost Effective Miniature Sensor for Continuous Network Monitoring of H2S

• Published in: Chemical engineering transactions Vol. 30; pp. 325 - 330
• Main Authors: Zaouak, Olivier, Ben Daoud, Azzédine, Fages, Marion, Fanlo, Jean-Louis, Aubert, Bruno
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: AIDIC [2002-....] 01.01.2012; AIDIC Servizi S.r.l
• Subjects: Engineering Sciences
• ISSN: 1974-9791; 2283-9216
• DOI: 10.3303/CET1230055

H2S is frequently encountered in the field of odour monitoring because of its high odorous power.Hence, different plants, such as water treatment or composting plants, are expected to monitor theiremissions.A novel high performance cost effective miniature sensor, named Cairclip, has been developed todetect H2S at the low ppbv level. Based on amperometric detection, it is mainly composed of adynamic air sampling system, a special filter and a high sensitive electronic circuit containing a datalogger.It is able to detect a minimum of 6 ppbv with a RSD of only 1 % (n=5) and a T10-90 response timeshorter than 60s. Analytical performances of Cairclips has been validated with a gas chromatographycoupled with flame photoionization detector (GC-FPD) for laboratory experiments and total reducedsulphur compounds analyzer (CTRS) for field analyses. Experiments performed with Cairclips were inagreement with both methods. Hence, average sensitivity of sensors differs of less than 9 % comparedto the sensitivity of the GC-FPD. Then, field analyses have been performed in a waste water treatmentplant (WWTP) in the south of France using the CTRS and Cairclips. These experiments have permittedto determine, using both methods, reduced sulphur compounds contents in the atmosphere in severalmeasurement points of the site.In order to confront Cairclip to a standard apparatus of odour generation, three sensors have beenexposed to H2S via an olfactometer. The linear correlation observed between concentrations generatedand sensors measurements illustrates the potential of such apparatus in the field of olfactory pollutionsand more widely in air quality monitoring