Facility information


Gaschromatography


Description:

Gaschromatography Laboratory of the Roma1 Section is able to carry out quantitative chemical analysis of the gaseous species sampled during the soil gas surveys, of the bubbling phase from pools or aquifers, of the dissolved gasses in the waters. Laboratory is equipped with the following instruments: Agilent 4900 microGC and Agilent 990 microGC. These instruments are equipped with thermal conductivity detector (TCD) and a gas carrier (e.g., Argon) and allow a complete analysis to be carried out in 5 minutes. By means the two gas chromatographs present in the laboratory it is possible to carry out the chemical analyzes of the following gaseous components: Helium (He), Neon (Ne), Hydrogen (H2), Carbon Oxide (CO), Nitrogen (N2), Oxygen (O2), Air, Methane (CH4), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Acetylene (C2H2), Ethane (C2H6), Ethylene (C2H4) and Acid Sulfuric (H2S).

Facility category:

Geochemical data

Facility manager:

Alessandra Sciarra - alessandra.sciarra@ingv.it - ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3767-3105

Access mode:

Hands-on access

Information page URL:
https://www.ingv.it/monitoraggio-e-infrastrutture/laboratori/laboratorio-di-geochimica-dei-fluidi

Equipment information


Equipment type:
gas chromatograph

Equipment brand:
Agilent

Equipment model:
990 MicroGC

Equipment description:

The Agilent 990 microGC, a very delicate and highly accurate instrument, is equipped with a thermal conductivity detector (TCD). This detector corresponds to differences in thermal conductivity between the carrier gas and the components of the sample to be analyzed. In a TCD the signal generated by the transit of the carrier gas is compared with an equivalent gas. The transit of the sample components inside the detector causes an imbalance of the signal proportional to its concentration. Inside it has two different types of columns, Molsieve 5Å column having a length of 20 m, and PoraPlot Q (PPU) column with a length of 10 m. The concentration of the samples is established on the basis of the calibration curve (Figure 3) and the previously constructed method, by means of standard gases with concentrations varying between a few ppm and 100% by volume.

Equipment measurements:
The instrument is dedicated to the separation of the following gaseous components: Helium (He), Neon (Ne), Hydrogen (H2), Carbon Oxide (CO), Nitrogen (N2), Oxygen (O2), Air, Methane (CH4), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Acetylene (C2H2), Ethane (C2H6), Ethylene (C2H4) and Acid Sulfuric (H2S).

Equipment page URL:
https://www.agilent.com/cs/library/usermanuals/public/990_Micro_GC_User_Manual.pdf

Equipment note:
The instrument is equipped with carrier gas and allows a complete analysis to be carried out in 5 minutes. The analysis requires further processing to identify the concentrations of the individual gases analysed. Morepver, it is necessary to elaborate a method and a calibration curve for each study area. Sample preparation for gases dissolved in water instead requires one day of preparation and the use of inert gas which is introduced 24 hours before carrying out the gas chromatograph analysis to give the sample time to equilibrate with atmospheric temperature and pressure.

Laboratory information


Fluid Geochemistry Laboratory


Laboratory manager:

Alessandra Sciarra - alessandra.sciarra@ingv.it - ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3767-3105

Section/Department:

INGV - Sezione Roma 1

Section/Department ROR code:

https://ror.org/049412q44

Address:

Via di Vigna Murata, 605, 00143 - Roma

Website:

https://www.ingv.it

Organization information


Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)


Address:

Via di Vigna Murata, 605, 00143 - Roma

Website:

https://www.ingv.it

Ror code:

https://ror.org/00qps9a02