Development of quantitative detection method for mass spectrometry coupled to an infrared laser spectroscope (Picarro) to monitor in nitrogen matrix a complex gas mixture of H₂, He, CO, N₂, Ne, O₂, Ar, CO₂, H₂S, CH₄, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₆, C₃H₈, i‐C₄H₁₀, n‐C₄H₁₀, and C₅H₁₂

Abstract

RationaleThe deep geological repository is considered the international reference for radioactive waste management. All gas exchanges must be understood in the context of the feasibility of such a repository. The technological challenge is to continuously monitor a wide range of gaseous molecules at low concentrations in confined spaces.MethodsA gas monitoring station, composed of two complementary analyzers, was developed: an electron impact quadrupole mass spectrometer (HPR‐20 R&D Hiden Analytical) and an infrared laser spectroscope (Picarro). The spectrometer was calibrated using simple mixtures (i.e., C2H6 in N2) and multiple mixtures (i.e., H2, He, CO2, CH4, and O2 in N2) at different concentrations to correct interferences. A matrix calculation is proposed to calculate the relative concentrations.ResultsThe method developed allows the measurement of gaseous species: light hydrocarbons, noble gases, sulfides, greenhouse gases, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen in the same mixture. For each gas, the SDs and the limits of detection and quantification were calculated. The method was validated by comparing the concentrations of the measured gas species with the reference values of two standard gas cylinders.ConclusionsCalibration of a complex gas mixture remains a challenge because fragmentation of molecules, especially hydrocarbons, reduces the sensitivity of the method. The method developed is suitable for continuous gas monitoring in a confined environment and can be implemented to perform experiments in underground structures: galleries, microtunnels (cells), and boreholes.