Gas chromatography system for the automated, unattended, and cryogen-free monitoring of C2 to C6 non-methane hydrocarbons in the remote troposphere

An unattended, automated, on-line, cryogen-free, remotely controlled gas chromatography (GC) system was developed and has been deployed for more than 1 year for the continuous determination of C2 to C6 hydrocarbons at an observatory located at 2225 m elevation, on the summit caldera of an inactive volcano on the island of Pico, Azores. The GC instrument is tailored to the measurement challenges at this remote and high altitude site. All consumable gases are prepared in situ. Total power use remains below 700 W at all times. Sample collection and analysis is performed without use of cryogen. Hydrocarbons are concentrated on a one-stage trapping/injection system consisting of a Peltier-cooled multi-bed solid adsorbent trap. Analytes are detected after thermal desorption and separation on an alumina-PLOT (porous-layer open tubular) column by flame ionization detection (FID). Sample focusing, desorption, separation and detection parameters were thoroughly investigated to ensure quantitative collection and subsequent injection onto the GC system. GC operation is controlled remotely and data are downloaded daily. Sample volumes (600 and 3000 ml) are alternated for analysis of C2 to C3 and C3 to C6 hydrocarbons, respectively. Detection limits are in the low parts per trillion by volume (pptv) range, sufficient for quantification of the compounds of interest at their central North Atlantic lower free troposphere background concentrations.