High-precision oxygen concentration analysis using a novel high-temperature pyrolysis technique - Presented by Elementar Analysensysteme GmbH at PEFTEC 2015

Oxygen concentration analysis relies on the conversion of sample oxygen to carbon monoxide following the temperature-dependent Boudouard equilibrium, which favors the formation of carbon monoxide over carbon dioxide with increasing temperature during pyrolysis. In the past, the available furnace technologies did not allow temperatures exceeding 1200 °C during pyrolysis. This was a limitation for highly precise oxygen concentration measurements, because full conversion of sample oxygen to carbon monoxide requires furnace temperatures in excess of 1400 °C. Using novel furnace technology based on a glassy carbon reaction tube inside a silicon carbide furnace, we are now able to perform pyrolysis at a temperature of 1450 °C. Full conversion of sample oxygen to carbon monoxide, which is a prerequisite for highly precise and matrix-independent oxygen concentration analyses, is therefore possible. This improvement leads to oxygen concentration analyses with unprecedented precision (standard deviation <0.1 % absolute) and convenience. We present the applicability of the novel pyrolysis technique based on selected organic as well as inorganic samples.

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