Capabilities of an Argon Discharge Detector for the Analysis of Impurities in High-Purity Argon for the Purpose of Implementation into Metrological Practice by Equipping Chromatographs

The widespread use of argon in industry, microelectronics, medicine, metrological equipment, and other industrial sectors predetermines increased requirements for the identification of foreign gas impurities in high-purity argon. Various measuring instruments and methods are used to determine the impurity content in gaseous argon, depending on the expected impurity content.

However, the range of equipment for determining impurities in pure argon is extensive, and the procedure is lengthy and labor-intensive.

The aim of the research is to study the capabilities of an argon discharge detector for the analysis of impurities in high-purity argon, with a view to its integration into metrological practice by equipping chromatographs with them.

The authors compiled a review of the physicochemical characteristics of argon produced in the Russian Federation in accordance with TU 2114-010-05015259-2015 “High-Purity Gaseous Argon (Compressed)”, TU 20.11.11-006-45905715-2017 “Pure and High-Purity Gaseous Argon”, GOST 10157–2016 “Gaseous and Liquid Argon. Specifications”, and TU 6-21-12-94 “High-Purity Argon. Specifications”. Based on these documents, the main methods for analyzing impurities in pure argon were considered: colorimetric, coulometric, electrochemical, and chromatographic methods. A description of the design features of the discharge ionization detector (DID) and its modification, the argon ionization detector (AID), was provided. The operating principle of the argon detector was evaluated; this detector implements a method based on the dependence of the electrical parameters of a high-voltage high-frequency resonant oscillatory circuit on the parameters of the capacitively coupled pure argon plasma.
As a result, the advantages of equipping chromatographs with an argon discharge detector have been established. Its operating principle is based on the dependence of the electrical parameters of a high-voltage, high-frequency resonant oscillatory circuit on the parameters of the capacitively coupled pure argon plasma. The advantages of such a detector include increased reliability of readings, simplicity of design, and reduced labor costs for analysis.

The conclusions of the study showed that a chromatograph equipped with such a detector can be integrated into metrological practice for measuring impurities in ultra-pure argon. Its integration into the complex of installations for reproducing the measurement units of mole fraction, mass fraction, and mass concentration of components in initial pure gases and substances, which is part of the State Primary Standard of units of molar part, mass part and mass concentration of components in gas and gas condensate environs GET 154–2019, appears promising.

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