Online Phosgene Analysis Made Simple by Applied Analytics

Phosgene plays a crucial role in the manufacture of products that are found throughout everyday life. From foams, coatings, adhesives, agricultural chemicals, to polycarbonates, phosgene likely played a role in their manufacture. However, its toxic nature, combined with corrosive compounds such as Cl2 and HCl that are often found in its sample streams, can make analysis difficult.

Discovered in 1812 by John Davy after reacting Cl2 and CO in the presence of sunlight, Phosgene quite literally means born from light. Its name is a combination of the Greek words for light (phos) and born (gene). As an extremely toxic chemical, it found use in World War One as a chemical weapon. Brief exposure to concentrations at or above 500ppm is rapidly fatal, and prolonged exposure at low concentrations can be fatal as well.

The corrosive and hazardous nature of these sample streams makes maintaining online analyzers challenging. In many cases of toxic service, technicians and engineers are reluctant to service systems out of fear and unfamiliarity. Applied Analytics is able to help resolve these issues with a two-step approach. First, our analyzers are designed from the ground up to be completely isolated from process fluid. By using fiber optic cables to optically connect the flow cell to the analyzer, no process fluid will ever enter the analyzer’s electronics enclosure. This allows routine maintenance to be performed on the analyzer without needing to isolate the analyzer from the process fluid.

Second, Applied Analytics works with clients to design and build sample conditioning systems that are unique to their process. These systems not only improve the accuracy of the analyzer but also increase the uptime of the analyzer. It’s often said in analyzer circles that 80% of analyzer downtime is a result of poor sample conditioning. Applied Analytics brings to the table thirty years of expertise in designing and building these systems. In the case of hazardous and corrosive services like phosgene, Applied Analytics is even able to design and build systems out of specialty materials such as Hastelloy, or corrosion resistant fluoropolymers that meet the unique requirements for phosgene analysis.

If you are looking at replacing an existing on-line analyzer, or perhaps adding a new system for your phosgene service, then reach out to our experts today and let us provide you with a window into your process.

Web page: Phosgene Analysis