Ultra-fast polarity switching GC-IMS for the analysis of volatiles in biogas

verfasst von

Alexander Nitschke, Moritz Hitzemann, Jonas Winkelholz, Tim Kobelt, Christian Thoben, Martin Lippmann, Lennard Stolpe, Henrik Plinke, Stefan Zimmermann

Abstract

The Renewable Energy Act 2023 (§39i) requires reducing corn silage in biogas plants from 40 % to 30 % in 2026. Since corn silage yields the highest biogas per weight unit of all biogas feedstocks, this poses new challenges for biogas plant operators. However, alternative biogas feedstocks not harvested directly from the field may contain siloxanes due to the use of care products and disinfectants. The conversion of siloxanes into silicon dioxide during the combustion process seriously threatens the lifetime and efficiency of the used gas engine, even in very low concentrations. Consequently, we present a highly sensitive measurement system for monitoring biogas. Detection limits down to 0.037 mg/m³ for the tested siloxanes have been reached. Furthermore, ketones can be detected down to 0.002 mg/m³, alcohols down to 0.001 mg/m³. The device combines an ultra-fast polarity switching ion mobility spectrometer with a switching time of 12 ms and a resolving power of R_P = 70, a gas chromatographic pre-separation, and a non-dispersive infrared sensor for methane. In this context, we analyzed the biogas composition for volatile substances and siloxanes, whereby we only found the volatile substances. For demonstration, biogas was analyzed at three different stages during the gas purification process.

Organisationseinheit(en)

Institut für Grundlagen der Elektrotechnik und Messtechnik

Externe Organisation(en)

Jürgen-Heinrich & Annegret Plinke GbR “Plinke Biogas“

Typ

Artikel

Journal

Renewable energy

Band

231

Anzahl der Seiten

9

ISSN

0960-1481

Publikationsdatum

09.2024

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Erneuerbare Energien, Nachhaltigkeit und Umwelt

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 7 – Erschwingliche und saubere Energie

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2024.120941 (Zugang: Offen)