TECHNICAL NOTE s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation FLAME IONIZATION DETECTOR OPERATION BASICS The DataFID and MicroFID II are portable flame ionization detectors designed to monitor volatile organic compounds (VOC). Establishing a response factor for a compound over a wide concentration range is necessary to accurately determine the unknown concentration at the sampling point. Since DataFID and MicroFID II are built with the same flame ionization detection technology, response factors for both instruments are identical. For the sake of simplicity, only DataFID will be referenced in the following content. The DataFID uses a flame ionization detector (FID) for the measurement of combustible organic compounds in air at parts-per million (PPM) levels. The permanent air gases (argon, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, etc.) are not ionized by the FID, and thus are not measured. When the DataFID is flamed on, the internal pump draws air in through the DataFID inlet. This sample air provides the oxygen necessary for combustion in the hydrogen fed flame. Combustion Chamber Figure 1 Flame Ionization Detector Collector Electrode Repeller Electrode (Jet +75 Volts) Thermocouple Sample In Exhaust Out Flame Arrestor Glow Plug Flame Arrestor Microprocessor Electrometer When the proper ratio of hydrogen to air is present in the combustion chamber, the flame is ignited automatically with a glow plug. A thermocouple is used to monitor the status of the flame. When the sample passes through the flame, the combustible organic compounds in the sample will be ionized. After the compounds have been ionized by the flame, the ionized particles are subjected to a continuous electric field between the repeller electrode at the jet (+75 V) and the collector electrode. The ions move in the electric field, generating a current, which is proportional to the concentration of the ionized molecules in the ionization chamber. An electrometer circuit converts the current to a voltage which is then fed to the microprocessor. After the sample passes through the flame and has become ionized, it is vented from the detector through a flame arrestor, also known as the exhaust frit. The flame arrestor prevents the flame from igniting any flammable gases present in the sampling location. Detector Response The DataFID is strictly an organic compound detector. It does not respond to inorganic compounds. The DataFID s sensitivity is highly dependent on chemical structure and bonding characteristics. The combustion efficiency of a compound determines its sensitivity. Simple saturated hydrocarbons (methane, ethane, etc.) possess high combustion efficiencies and are among the compounds that produce the highest DataFID response. Organic fuels (acetylene, refined petroleum products), burn easily and are also extremely well detected. The presence of substituted functional groups (amino, hydroxyl, halogens) on a simple hydrocarbon, such as methanol and chloromethane, reduces its combustion 1 of 43
efficiency and thus DataFID s sensitivity to the compounds. A greater number of carbon atoms can offset this loss of sensitivity due to substitution. For example, the DataFID is more sensitive to n-butanol than it is to methanol. Introduction to The DataFID is factory calibrated with methane, and the DataFID response factors in this document were determined using methane gas as the reference. Methane has a response factor of 1.0. The following formula is used to calculate the response factors: A response factor less than 1.0 indicates a compound response higher than methane. A response factor greater than 1.0 indicates a lower response than that of methane. Examples 1 100 ppm of a compound reads 80 ppm on the DataFID, the would be: 2 100 ppm of a compound reads 125 ppm on the DataFID, the would be; Application Examples 1 Actual Concentration in PPM Formula = Actual Concentration ------------------------------------------------------ DataFID Response 100 ppm (Actual Concentration in PPM) = --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- = 1.25 80 ppm (DataFID Response in PPM) 100 ppm (Actual Concentration in PPM) = --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- = 0.80 125 ppm (DataFID Response in PPM) 2 DataFID Response in PPM Formula Actual Concentration in PPM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- = DataFID Example 100 (Actual Concentration in PPM) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- = 0.80 (DataFID ) 1.25 () Each compound has its own unique set of response factors. Also, response factors can change as the concentration of a certain compound varies, so the response factor at 1,000 ppm will most likely be different from that of 500 ppm. Please refer to the specific compounds in this document and choose the response factor that best fits the nearest concentration value. The DataFID provides user capability to enter a response factor so the display concentration can be automatically adjusted. Refer to the DataFID Operating Manual (IPN: 074-578-P1) for a detailed procedure to enter information into the instrument. for MicroFID II Similarly for MicroFID II, refer to the MicroFID II Operating Manual (IPN: 074-579-P1) for a detailed procedure to enter information. NOTE: This document provides response factors for a specific list of compounds. It is intended to cover the compounds most often encountered, and may be updated as needed. DataFID Response in PPM Example = Actual Concentration in PPM 1.25 80 (DataFID Response in PPM) = 100 (Actual Concentration in PPM) s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 2 of 43
RESPONSE FACTORS Acetic Acid................................ 4 Acetone.................................. 5 Acetonitrile................................ 6 Acrylic Acid............................... 7 Aniline................................... 8 Benzene.................................. 9 Benzyl Chloride........................... 10 1,3 Butadiene............................. 11 Butane.................................. 12 Butanol.................................. 13 Butyl Acetate............................. 14 Butyl Acrylate............................. 15 Chlorobenzene............................ 16 Chloroform............................... 17 Cyclohexane............................. 18 Dimethylformamide........................ 19 Ethanol.................................. 20 2-Ethoxyethanol........................... 21 Ethylbenzene............................. 22 Ethylene................................. 23 Ethyl Acrylate............................. 24 Heptane................................. 25 Hexane.................................. 26 Iodomethane............................. 27 Methanol................................ 28 Methyl Ethyl Ketone........................ 29 Methyl Isobutyl Keytone..................... 30 Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE)............ 31 Octane.................................. 32 Pentanol................................. 33 Propane................................. 34 Propanol................................. 35 Propylene................................ 36 Styrene.................................. 37 Tetrachloroethylene........................ 38 Tetrahydrofuran........................... 39 Toluene................................. 40 Trichloroethylene.......................... 41 Vinyl Acetate............................. 42 Xylene.................................. 43 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 3 of 43
Acetic Acid Response Curve Acetic Acid s 10 0.980 50 0.912 100 0.856 500 0.847 1000 0.842 5000 0.829 10000 0.825 64-19-7 C 2 H 4 O 2 60.052 11 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 4 of 43
Acetone Response Curve Acetone s 100 3.125 500 2.732 2000 1.664 5000 1.156 10000 0.920 67-64-1 C 3 H 6 O 58.0791 180 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 5 of 43
Acetonitrile Response Curve Acetonitrile s Concentration to PPM 100 1.020 500 1.219 1000 1.291 5000 1.460 75-05-8 C 2 H 3 N 41.052 73 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 6 of 43
Acrylic Acid Response Curve Acrylic Acid s 10 0.526 50 0.481 100 0.476 500 0.439 1000 0.401 5000 0.356 10000 0.344 79-10-7 C 3 H 4 O 2 72.0627 3 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 7 of 43
Aniline Response Curve Aniline s Concentration to PPM 10 0.435 50 0.811 100 0.962 500 1.127 1000 0.943 62-53-3 C 7 H 7 N 93.1265 0.6 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 8 of 43
Benzene Response Curve Benzene s 10 0.91 50 0.91 100 0.85 500 0.82 1000 0.80 5000 0.79 10000 0.71 71-43-2 C 6 H 6 78.1118 75 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 9 of 43
Benzyl Chloride Response Curve Benzyl Chloride s 10 1.887 50 1.894 100 1.961 500 2.119 1000 2.169 5000 2.284 10000 2.341 100-44-7 C 7 H 7 Cl 126.5832 3.3 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 10 of 43
1,3 Butadiene Response Curve 1,3 Butadiene s 10 2.381 50 2.051 100 1.932 500 1.449 1000 1.285 5000 0.909 10000 0.778 106-99-0 C 4 H 6 54.0904 1824 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 11 of 43
Butane Response Curve Butane s 10 2.463 50 2.457 100 2.439 500 1.667 1000 1.333 5000 0.573 10000 0.528 106-97-8 C 4 H 10 58.1222 1558 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 12 of 43
Butanol Response Curve Butanol s 10 1.015 50 0.926 100 0.909 500 0.882 1000 0.851 5000 0.818 10000 0.734 71-36-3 C 4 H 10 O 74.1216 6 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 13 of 43
Butyl Acetate Response Curve Butyl Acetate s Concentration to PPM 10 1.667 50 1.563 100 1.493 500 1.368 1000 1.330 5000 1.259 10000 1.190 123-86-4 C 6 H 12 O 2 116.1583 10 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 14 of 43
Butyl Acrylate Response Curve Butyl Acrylate s 10 1.18 50 1.06 100 1.04 500 0.93 1000 0.90 5000 0.80 10000 0.73 141-32-2 C 7 H 12 O 2 128.169 4 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 15 of 43
Chlorobenzene Response Curve Chlorobenzene s 10 1.72 50 1.69 100 1.66 500 1.64 1000 1.60 5000 1.56 10000 1.52 108-90-7 C 6 H 5 Cl 112.5566 9 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 16 of 43
Chloroform Response Curve Chloroform s 10 10.00 50 10.87 100 11.36 500 11.90 1000 12.20 5000 12.59 10000 12.94 67-66-3 CHCl 3 119.3767 160 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 17 of 43
Cyclohexane Response Curve Cyclohexane s 10 1.89 50 1.87 100 1.78 500 1.74 1000 1.71 5000 1.61 10000 1.43 110-82-7 C 6 H 12 84.1595 78 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 18 of 43
Dimethylformamide Response Curve Dimethylformamide s 10 6.67 50 6.76 100 6.94 500 7.25 1000 7.46 5000 7.58 10000 7.75 Dimethylformamide Formula Formula Weight Vapor Pressure in mmhg 68-12-2 C 3 H 7 ON 73.0938 3 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 19 of 43
Ethanol Response Curve Ethanol s Concentration to PPM 50 3.937 100 3.891 500 3.497 1000 3.367 10000 3.124 64-17-5 C 2 H 6 O 46.0684 44 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 20 of 43
2-Ethoxyethanol Response Curve 2-Ethoxyethanol s 10 2.94 50 2.91 100 2.85 500 2.75 1000 2.72 5000 2.49 10000 2.20 110-80-5 C 2 H 10 O 2 90.121 4 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 21 of 43
Ethylbenzene Response Curve Ethylbenzene s 10 1.49 50 1.43 100 1.37 500 1.10 1000 1.01 5000 0.94 10000 0.88 108-38-3 C 8 H 10 106.165 9 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 22 of 43
Ethylene Response Curve Ethylene s 10 2.70 50 2.63 100 2.40 500 1.59 1000 1.26 5000 0.73 10000 0.62 74-85-1 C 2 H 4 28.0532 32065 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 23 of 43
Ethyl Acrylate Response Curve Ethyl Acrylate s 10 12.50 50 12.20 100 11.11 500 10.96 1000 10.53 5000 10.27 10000 10.14 140-88-5 C 5 H 8 O 2 100.1158 29 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 24 of 43
Heptane Response Curve Heptane s 10 1.30 50 1.25 100 1.18 500 1.04 1000 0.94 5000 0.80 142-82-5 C 7 H 16 100.2019 40 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 25 of 43
Hexane Response Curve Hexane s Concentration to PPM 100 1.695 500 1.678 1000 1.631 5000 1.335 10000 0.969 110-54-3 C 6 H 14 86.1754 124 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 26 of 43
Iodomethane Response Curve Iodomethane s 50 33.33 100 31.25 500 30.30 1000 28.57 10000 27.03 74-88-4 CH 3 I 141.939 400 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 27 of 43
Methanol Response Curve Methanol s 100 23.81 1000 23.15 5000 22.67 10000 22.17 67-56-1 CH 4 O 32.0149 96 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 28 of 43
Methyl Ethyl Ketone Response Curve Methyl Ethyl Keytone s Concentration to PPM 10 2.985 50 2.688 100 2.630 500 2.488 1000 2.410 5000 2.150 10000 1.981 78-93-3 C 4 H 8 O 72.1057 78 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 29 of 43
Methyl Isobutyl Keytone Response Curve Methyl Isobutyl Keytone s 100 1.61 500 1.59 1000 1.58 5000 1.53 108-10-1 C 6 H 12 O 100.1589 16 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 30 of 43
Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) Response Curve Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) s 100 0.83 500 0.68 1000 0.47 5000 0.37 1634-04-4 C 5 H 12 O 88.1482 245 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 31 of 43
Octane Response Curve Octane s 100 1.10 500 0.97 1000 0.85 5000 0.78 111-65-9 C 8 H 18 114.2285 10 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 32 of 43
Pentanol Response Curve Pentanol s Concentration to PPM 10 0.792 50 0.746 100 0.752 500 0.719 1000 0.701 5000 0.699 10000 0.594 71-41-0 C 5 H 12 O 88.1482 1.97 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 33 of 43
Propane Response Curve Propane s 150 2.17 750 1.71 1500 1.50 5000 1.12 10000 0.78 14000 0.69 74-98-6 C 3 H 8 44.0956 6384 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 34 of 43
Propanol Response Curve Propanol s Concentration to PPM 10 1.996 50 1.992 100 1.988 500 1.894 1000 1.818 5000 1.667 10000 1.578 71-23-8 C 3 H 8 O 60.095 15 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 35 of 43
Propylene Response Curve Propylene s 100 1.92 500 1.84 1000 1.53 5000 1.00 10000 0.85 115-07-1 C 3 H 6 42.0797 11704 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 36 of 43
Styrene Response Curve Styrene s Concentration to PPM 10 1.389 50 1.275 100 1.172 500 1.163 1000 1.159 5000 1.111 10000 1.066 100-42-5 C 8 H 8 104.1491 5 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 37 of 43
Tetrachloroethylene Response Curve Tetrachloroethylene s 500 1.79 1000 1.69 2500 1.67 5000 1.65 10000 1.57 127-18-4 C 2 Cl 4 165.8322 14 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 38 of 43
Tetrahydrofuran Response Curve Tetrahydrofuran s 100 1.75 500 1.67 1000 1.46 5000 1.24 109-99-9 C 4 H 8 O 72.1057 132 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 39 of 43
Toluene Response Curve Toluene s 50 1.12 100 0.98 500 0.95 1000 0.86 5000 0.77 10000 0.72 108-88-3 C 7 H 8 92.1384 21 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 40 of 43
Trichloroethylene Response Curve Trichloroethylene s 500 1.72 1000 1.60 2500 1.52 5000 1.37 10000 1.29 79-01-6 C 2 HCl 3 131.3874 19 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 41 of 43
Vinyl Acetate Response Curve Vinyl Acetate s Concentration to PPM 10 3.846 50 3.704 100 3.534 500 3.289 1000 3.257 5000 3.030 10000 2.577 108-05-4 C 4 H 6 O 2 86.0892 83 s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 42 of 43
s for Flame Ionization Detector Operation 43 of 43 Xylene Response Curve The compound measured is m-xylene. Xylene s 100 1.37 500 1.10 1000 1.01 5000 0.94 10000 0.88 108-38-3 C 8 H 10 106.165 9 www.inficon.com reachus@inficon.com Due to our continuing program of product improvements, specifications are subject to change without notice. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. diaf56a1 2012 INFICON