Methanizer

Methanizer is an appliance used in gas chromatography, which allows to detect very low concentrations of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. It consists of a flame ionization detector, preceded by a hydrogenating reactor, which converts CO2 and CO into methane CH4. Methanizer is an appliance used in gas chromatography, which allows to detect very low concentrations of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. It consists of a flame ionization detector, preceded by a hydrogenating reactor, which converts CO2 and CO into methane CH4. On-line catalytic reduction of carbon monoxide to methane for detection by FID was described by Porter & Volman, who suggested that both carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide could also be converted to methane with the same nickel catalyst. This was confirmed by Johns & Thompson, who determined optimum operating parameters for each of the gases. CO2 + 2H2 ↔ CH4 + O2 2CO + 4H2 ↔ 2CH4 + O2 The catalyst usually consists of a 2% coating of Ni in the form of nickel nitrate deposited on a chromatographic packing material (e.g. Chromosorb G). A 1½' long bed is packed around the bend of an 8'×1/8' SS U-tube. The tube is clamped in a block so that the ends protrude down into the column oven for easy connection between column or TCD outlet and FID base. Heat is provided by a pair of cartridge heaters and controlled by a temperature controller.