Mercury Ultratracer
UT-3000

Measuring of Total Gaseous Mercury (TGM) in air and other gases at ultra trace levels

Fields of applications

Examples:
(Natural gas industries excluded)

The UT-3000 in Zejtun, Malta

The UT-3000 in Tarragona, Spain
in a PA-2 Gold process analyzer
(on-line operation)

Measurement of mercury concentrations in air or other gases at ultratrace levels

The UT-3000 Mercury Ultratracer provides a compact and reliable tool for measuring mercury in gases at ultra trace levels. Utilizing the high performance GoldTrap amalgamation module and an optimized state-of-the-art AA-mercury vapor detector the UT-3000 Ultratracer offers detection limits at sub-ng/m³ (ppq-parts per quadrillion) levels.

Measuring principle

The sample gas is fed into an optical cell by a maintenance-free membrane pump. A beam of UV light passes through the optical cell, a part of it is absorbed by the mercury atoms present in the sample. This method is called "atomic absorption spectroscopy" or shortly AAS. It is extremely selective and sensitive. For mercury determination the AAS method has maintained its importance even if other methods have been worked out since the early beginnings. The AAS method is low in interference and does not require expensive carrier gases.

Automatic operation

The UT-3000 operates automatically. All functions are controlled by an embedded microprocessor. Once the analysis has been started, measurements are performed and data is collected by the built-in data logger. The data logger has a recording capacity of more than 5000 measurements.

Measuring cycle sequence with the GoldTrap accumulation system

The GoldTrap is heated by an electric coil which is in direct contact with the ceramic surface. During the heating phase, the GoldTrap releases the captured mercury in sharp, high peaks.
A measurement cycle takes around 90 seconds. The GoldTrap is characterised by excellent long-term stability.

The use of air as a carrier gas is also advantageous during thermal Hg desorption as substances that could contaminate the system are oxidised and flushed out. This prevents any passivation of the gold surface.

For measurements in the trace range, it is particularly important that the gold is absolutely clean before measuring. To ensure this, a cleaning step is automatically performed before each measurement cycle. A PTFE-fine filter on the measurement gas inlet keeps particulate or aerosol droplets away from the measurement system. This means there is negligible interaction with the mercury to be determined.

Sample flow control

The sample flow is measured with a high precision electronic mass flow meter. The flow rate integrated over time gives the total sample volume. The flow is automatically changed to a lower value during the desorption step to achieve maximum sensitivity.

Atomic absorption detector

The detector used in the UT-3000 provides a maximum of sensitivity, precision and stability. A high frequency driven electrodeless mercury low pressure lamp is used as UV light source.

It generates a 253.7 nm emission line of an extremely narrow bandwidth which is congruent with the absorption line of the Hg atoms measured. The reference beam method is applied to get an exceedingly high stability of the UV source. The mercury concentration is measured in an optical cell which is made entirely of fused silica (Suprasil).

Thanks to the sensitivity enhancement provided by the GoldTrap there is no need for a long cell path which always has a greater surface effect. Solid state UV detectors are used for absorption measurement.

Calibration

UT-3000 with automatic calibrator unit AutoCal

 

For checking and calibrating the analyzer Mercury Instruments offers a manual as well as an automatic calibrator as optional accessories. With both calibrators a defined volume of mercury saturated air is injected in the built-in calibration port of the UT-3000 and sampled in the GoldTrap. This method of static calibration is quick, safe and precise.

When calibrating manually a specially designed gas-tight syringe is used for injection of the calibration gas.

Display and output of measurements

The results of the measurements are displayed on a graphic LCD as a graph and numerically. It is possible to view past readings with a paging function. Calibrations are stored in a non-volatile memory.

The device has a serial interface (RS 232 / USB) for data transfer to a PC and an analogue 4-20 mA output.

Advantages of the AAS detection method

The latest AA detection technique used in the UT-3000 offers some clear advantages over other methods. Mercury trace detection by fluorescence must use a carrier and sometimes a sheath gas and suffers from the quenching effect which can never be completely eliminated.

The UT-3000 requires no expensive gases for operation and there are no negative interferences caused by the quenching effect. Sensitivity and detection limits are far superior to those instruments based on measurement of electrical resistivity of a thin gold film.

AutoRange function

For on-line operation (e. g.: PA-2 Gold, Natural Gas Systems) the UT-3000 can be equipped with an AutoRange function. If activated the sample volume will be automatically be adjusted according to the mercury concentration of the sample. After starting the measurement the smallest possible sample volume will be selected automatically. If the absorbance signal is too low, the sample volume will be increased until the absorbance is within the optimum range.

Mercury monitoring in natural gas and LNG

 

Mercury is a frequent constituent of natural gas. It can be found in concentrations ranging from a few µg/m³ to more than10000 µg/m³. An important application for the UT-3000 is the measurement of mercury in natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG). A special version of the UT-3000 analyser is dedicated for measurement of mercury in natural gas.

Both a manual system, the Tedlar® Bag Technique, (punctual measurements) as well as automatic systems for on-line installations are available.

For continuous monitoring of Hg concentrations in natural gas Mercury Instruments offers the explosion-proof MMS-NG (Mercury Monitoring Sytem for Natural Gas) in single channel or multi channel versions. Also available is the UT-3000 NG mobile, which can be used at varying measuring sites should need occur.

Examples for some of the (on-line) applications of the UT-3000 in natural gas industries:

Songkhla, Thailand (offshore)

Uzbekistan

Saudi-Arabia

Algeria

The superiority of Tedlar® Bags over other bag materials

The Tedlar® Bag allows to take samples hazard free in potentially explosive atmospheres. By using a special fitting Tedlar® Bags can hold 3 to 10 l of sample gas which can be injected into the UT-3000 for later measurement.

No need to hurry!

A comparative study by Mercury Instruments in Karlsfeld, Germany shows that within one day practically no Hg recovery occurs (sample gas matrix: Methane).

Learn more about measuring Hg in natural gas
and the Tedlar ® Bag

(PDF: English, 4 pages)