Influence of on-site sampling conditions on the representativeness of the sample for the analysis of trace VOCs in raw renewable gases

In the context of the energy transition and in order to fully manage the integration of renewable and/or low-carbon gases into the gas mix, these new renewable gases need to be characterized, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at trace levels that may have an impact on different stages of the gas chain event at low concentrations. This study focuses on sampling because it is the first step in any method for analyzing trace VOCs and its careful execution is essential to ensure reliable results even if the on-site conditions can be variable, such as the external temperature. The stabilization time, the effect of external temperature, and the impact of using an intermediate sample cylinder prior to transfer to tubes were hence studied in the laboratory using a standard gas mixture representative of renewable gases. The latter was also studied using a real sample. To perform this study, VOCs were sampled in Tenax® TA tubes and then analyzed by thermal desorption hyphenated to comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The results showed that 45 min were required to stabilize the sampling system and that external temperature had little influence, limited to the heaviest compounds. Finally, the use of a cylinder to temporarily collect gas prior to transfer to tubes led to a loss of compounds, particularly when the cylinder was stored before the transfer.