Comparison of preparation and analytical capabilities for gas mixtures containing C6-C10 hydrocarbons in methane

Project Description

The project will provide a comparison of standards and capabilities for the measurement of C6-C10 hydrocarbons in a methane matrix.
NPL and VSL will each prepare a mixture containing C6-C10 hydrocarbons in methane at the amount fractions detailed below:
MIXTURE 1 (NPL to prepare):
n-hexane: 1000 µmol/mol
n-heptane: 100 µmol/mol
n-octane: 40 µmol/mol
n-nonane: 10 µmol/mol
n-decane: 5 µmol/mol
MIXTURE 2 (VSL to prepare):
n-hexane: 500 µmol/mol
n-heptane: 250 µmol/mol
n-octane: 100 µmol/mol
n-nonane: 50 µmol/mol
n-decane: 10 µmol/mol
The cylinders will then be exchanged and the amount of fraction of each component will be measured using in-house standards.
Timescale:
End of April 2014: Exchange of mixtures
End of June 2014: Exchange of results
End of August 2014: Draft A report available
End of October 2014: Draft B report available

Final Report 2020-02-25

The project was concluded without report

Progress Report 2019-03-27

2016: agreement of which isomers are selected for the comparison on branched C6-C7 alkanes in methane
2017: problems with the preparation of the mixtures due to the fact that 2,2 dimethylbutane was very difficult to aquire; VSL prepared 1 of the mixtures and this is ready for the exchange
2018: NPL has received the 2,2 dimetylbutane and hope to prepare their mixture before the summer of 2018
2019: Mixture exchange planned for second half of 2019

Progress Report 2018-04-24

Reference gas mixtures have been prepared and will be exchanged in the second half of 2018 for the analytic comparison.