FTIR quantitative analysis technique for gases. Application in a biomass thermochemical process

The present work proposes a novel and alternative FTIR calibration method to quantify gases. Unknown concentrations are deducted from calibration curves, obtained by combining a dilution flow with another flow of the gas of interest. Both streams are controlled by accurate flow meters. In the present case the method is used to quantify the main light gaseous products (CO, CO2 and CH4) from the pyrolysis of several biomasses. Pyrolysis is reached by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) forming the well-known tandem TG-FTIR, relating in this way weight loss with the spectra in a given time. In addition, it has been studied the effects of parameters such as chemical composition, temperature and heating rate, on the emissions of these pyrolysis products.