Method of determining methane and electrochemical sensor therefor

Patent · Tue May 27 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:5513803

Zaromb, S; Otagawa, T; Stetter, J R

A methane sensing instrument is described which consists of: an electrochemical cell including a working electrode and a second electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte interposed between the two electrodes and in contact with the electrodes, means for applying a voltage above about 1.4 volt versus R.H.E. to the working electrode, the working electrode being capable of oxidizing methane at the voltage, means for exposing the working electrode to a gas sample, and means for measuring an electrical signal in one of the electrodes, the signal being generated by a chemical reaction of any methane in the sample coming in contact with and reacting at the working electrode. A method of determining the presence of methane in a gas comprising the steps of: providing an electrochemical cell with a working electrode and a second electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte interposed between the two electrodes and in contact with the electrodes, applying an oxidizing voltage of at least about 1.4 volt versus R.H.E. to the working electrode, exposing the working electrode to the gas so that methane in the gas reaching the working electrode is oxidized at the voltage thereby generating an electrical signal at the working electrode representative of methane in the gas, and measuring the signal as an indication of the concentration of methane in the gas.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC
• Patent Number(s): US 4591414
• OSTI ID: 5513803
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
033000* -- Natural Gas-- Properties & Composition
440300 -- Miscellaneous Instruments-- (-1989)
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
ALKANES
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYTES
GAS METERS
HYDROCARBONS
KINETICS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METERS
METHANE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
QUANTITY RATIO
REACTION KINETICS
SIGNALS
USES