Applications from Protea Limited

Measurement solution for WID Emissions Monitoring

Protea is the most experienced company in the UK in using FTIR gas analyser to measure emissions. Through running a UKAS-accredited test house and being a manufacturer of gas analysers, we have been involved in FTIR as a supplier and end-user for 10 years.

Measurement solution for QAL2 EN 14181

BS EN 14181 is a quality assurance standard relevant to plants operating under the Large Combustion Plant (LCPD) and Waste Incineration (WID) Directives. Quality Assurance Level 2 (QAL2) of this standard involves the parallel testing of the plant automated measurement systems (AMS) against a certified test house, making measurements with a comparative standard.

Measurement solution for total VOC via FTIR

Total Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) is a common measurement required from industrial emissions. Commonly, a single measurement value is obtained through the use of a Flame Ionisation Detection (FID) analyser. The pyrolysis of the gas stream in a FID analyser allows it to make a measurement of the carbon content of the gas stream. FID analyser cannot indicate the relative abundances of different organic species in a gas stream and often have widely different responses for different gases. However, they are...

Measurement solution for VOC emissions monitoring

Protea has used our VOC gas analysers in many projects requiring the monitoring of complex mixes of VOCs. In the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, VOC abatement plants such as scrubbers and carbon-bed systems are typical installations where the use of Protea analysers and our VOC analysis expertise have proved valuable to plant operators. They prove a very powerful and flexible tool in both process gas measurements and VOC emissions monitoring. In the laboratory, Protea can deliver instruments with all the...

Measurement solution for CFC analyser

CFCs are used in the manufacture of insecticides and herbicides and the environmental impact of their use must be well controlled. The treatment of CFC emissions to reduce the emissions in the intermediary steps of production needs to be monitored with 100% efficiency. Protea’s portable CFC analysers and continuous CFC monitoring systems can be configured with various sample inlets and analytical modelling to enable multi-samples to be measured on the one system. This means that both inlet and outlet to...

Measurement solution for acrylates speciation

A customer had a requirement for continuous Ethyl Acrylate monitoring. The process operations emit multiple Acrylate species, all at low concentrations, but only Ethyl Acrylate being reportable to the EA under the terms of the IPC permit. A 204M FTIR analyser was deployed and a chemometric model was built specifically to target Acrylates, with the purpose of separating and accurately quantify the target Ethyl Acrylate species.

Measurement solution for siloxane analysis

Protea can offer online siloxanes analysis using our atmosFIR gas analysers. This allows the real time measurement of siloxanes on plant. We can offer portable siloxanes analysers or fixed siloxane measurement systems.

Measurement solution for liquid TiCl4 vanadium oxychloride monitor

The chloride process of titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment manufacture first converts titania-containing ores to TiCl4 via a carbochlorination reaction at a high temperature in a chlorinator in the presence of chlorine gas and petroleum coke added as a reductant.

Measurement solution for to multi-stream by-pass system

A large pharmaceutical plant runs a Thermal Oxidiser on plant to incinerate their solvent-containing gas streams before emission. When the oxidiser is offline, then the plant must monitor the release of solvent to the atmosphere. A ProtIR 204C fixed monitoring system was installed that continually measures 24 plant solvents, including Acetone, Cyclohexane, DCM, DMF, IPA, MIBK, Toluene and THF. Given the high levels that are possible, the system has an active dilution system, reducing the concentration of the...

Measurement solution for fire testing for the railway industry

A lot of research is carried out in laboratory and on real fires as to the gaseous substances produced in fire effluent. Measurement principles using analytical instrumentation are becoming more widely used in fire testing, due to the quick, real-time nature of the measurements. ISO 19702 is an international standard developed for the use of FTIR analysers in the analysis of gas from fire effluents. Further to this, local test standards such as DIN 5510, applicable to the railway industry, can provide further...

Measurement solution for ambient air workplace monitoring

Protea can supply fixed workplace monitoring systems that can measure single or multi-points about the workplace. Specifically designed analytical systems can ensure detection limits down to ppb levels can be achieved for multiple gases with a single instrument. Controlling software can run automatically, providing instantaneous or time-weighted average readings.

Measurement solution for CO2 capture by amine absorption

The act of capturing and storing CO2 produced from large scale combustion plants such as power stations is becoming more and more favourable and feasible. One of the most common post-combustion CO2 capture methods is by absorption. The absorption plant can be added on to the existing combustion process, with the flue gas first passing through an absorption column where the CO2 reacts with an absorber. Amines of different types are used as the absorber. An amine CO2 capture plant can capture as much as 90% of...

Measurement solution for Perflurocarbon (PFC) emissions from aluminium industry

The aluminium industry is the major source of perflurocarbon (PFC) emissions to the atmosphere, which are a major contributor to global warming. PFCs have greenhouse gas effects up to 10000 times that of CO2. Emissions have been reduced over the last 20 years, but further reductions are harder to achieve as all the mechanisms for PFC production are not known. In order to better understand the production of PFC on an industrial level, laboratory studies have been carried out using a small scale cell.

Measurement solution for soil chamber gas flux

Closed chamber gas flux measurements can be made with Protea FTIR analysers to allow researchers in the field of atmospheric gas analysis from agricultural and livestock to measure evolved gases such as N₂O, CO₂, CO, NH₃, and CH₄. Nitrous oxide (N₂O) and Methane (CH₄) emissions from soil, plant and livestock are especially important gases to measure, given their high potential as greenhouse gases (GHGs). NH₃, whilst not a greenhouse...

Measurement solution for HF emissions from brickworks

Brick kilns, as well as other plants such as ceramics manufacturers and fertiliser producers, are a major producer of hydrogen fluoride (HF) emissions. HF is highly reactive gas and seriously damaging to human health, so has strict emissions limits imposed by legislation. In addition to the effects to humans, emissions have been found to damage crops and fruit trees, as well as the general environment. The brick industry strives to reduce the amount of HF emissions and numerous projects have been carried out...

Measurement solution for formaldehyde FTIR measurement

Reciprocating internal combustion engines burning natural gas are a source of formaldehyde emissions. There are strict tolerances imposed on operators of engines to ensure that formaldehyde is removed effectively and that formaldehyde emissions are below published limits. The only instrumental method for formaldehyde monitoring is FTIR, following procedures such as US EPA Method 320 and Environment Agency TGN M22. Protea’s FTIR gas analysers have been specifically designed to follow these methods and our...

Measurement solution for high NH3 monitoring from wastewater

Protea was asked to supply a high level ammonia (NH₃) measurement system for a waste water treatment plant. The reflux drums at the inlet to two ammonia stripping towers needed to be measured continuously. Protea designed a solution based around our Solus TDLAS analyser platform and a high level dilution system. The Solus analyser was configured for NH₃ measurements in the range...

Measurement solution for multi-stream combustion research

Protea supplied a complete turn-key measuring system for multi-point sampling in a University combustion research laboratory. Utilising the latest in FTIR spectroscopy, atmosFIR, a complete cabinet system was supplied containing: atmosFIR FTIR Gas analyser, Sampling System Control Module (SSCM), Heated Stream Selection Module (HSSM), Temperature Control Module (TCM), 4 heated sample lines, 4 heated sample probes, Embedded PC controller.

Measurement solution for siloxane measurement in land-fill gas via FTIR

What are siloxanes?

The generation of electricity from municipal digesters and land fill is of increasing interest, as the biogas generated is a form of renewable energy. Organosilicon compounds are often present in products such as shampoo and cosmetics, as well as industrial products and lubricants, and they move into land-fill. These volatile compounds find their way into land-fill or digester gases as siloxanes.

Measurement solution for carbon fibre process and emission monitoring

Measurement solution for measuring total VOC via FTIR

Current Total VOC Measurements

The most common, and current standard, method for measuring Total Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) is the use of a Flamed Ionisation Detector (FID). This gives a representative value of the total carbon content of a gas stream, as the FID cannot tell which specific organic compounds are present.

Measurement solution for CFC abatement control via two stream FTIR system

CFC usage in industry

Although the use of CFCs in domestic products has been widely phased out, CFCs chemicals still prove a vital ingredient in the production of insecticides and herbicides. Such products aim to increase the rate of crop production all over the world. All aspects of such a manufacturing process in relation to environmental impact must be well controlled. The use and pre-emission removal of CFCs in the intermediary steps of the insecticide production needs to be...

Measurement solutions for hospital workplace exposure monitoring

In taking a responsible stance on the exposure of workers to any potentially hazardous gases, there is a need for workplaces using anaesthetic gases, such as hospital operating rooms or research laboratories, to control the level of waste anaesthetic gas in the ambient air

Measurement solution for accurate continuous formaldehyde measurement formaldehyde in emissions and ambient air applications

Formaldehyde (HCHO) is the simplest aldehyde species and is present, or generated by, many sources (both natural and industrial). It is classed as a substance that is toxic and harmful to human health.

Measurement solution for FTIR Vs. GC in gas analysis

Comparison of Technologies

A gas chromatograph (GC) has traditionally been the technology of choice for laboratory analysis of gas samples. GCs have been used for over 50 years in the qualification and quantification of complex mixtures of gases. The techniques and methodology required to run GCs are often a pre-requisite for any laboratory technician. Recent developments in Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) gas analysis has enabled this technology to start to replace GCs in the...

Measurement solution for complex, real-time VOC measurement with atmosFIR FTIR gas analyser platform

Introduction

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a group of organic compounds which have a low vapour pressure at room temperature, meaning that they will readily evaporate into the surrounding air. The term VOC refers to many different classes of organic compounds such as alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, aldehydes, aromatics and many more.

Measurement solution for glass wool insulation manufacture

The installation of suitable installation material in buildings is a cost effective way to reduce energy costs. The manufacture of insulation from minerals or mineral products, such as glass. Recycling glass to form insulation materials is another way to keep the process "green".

Measurement solution for carbon fibre manufacture

Carbon fibre is a unique material and is found in many high-tech industries such as sports car manufacture, wind turbine blade construction and sports equipment. The production of carbon fibre from acrylic fibre involves the baking of the fibre in ovens, which gives emissions of gas species including Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN). Protea’s range of gas analysers can provide a solution for the periodic or continuous measurement of gases from carbon fibre production in order to give reportable emissions values as...

Measurement solution for medical workplace monitoring

In taking a responsible stance on the exposure of workers to any potential hazardous gases, there is a need for workplaces using anaesthetic gases, such as hospital operating rooms or research laboratories, to control the level of waste anaesthetic gas in the ambient air. Anaesthesia machines, ventilators, breathing systems and waste gas scavenging systems will all contribute to te background level of he anaesthetic gases that are present in the environment within a facility, whether those machines are in a...