A knowledge of the composition of refinery gases is useful in diagnosing the source of plant upsets, in determining the suitability of certain gas streams for use as fuel, or as feedstocks for polymerization and alkylation, and for monitoring the quality of commercial gases.

1.1 This test method covers the quantitative analysis of gases containing specific combinations of the following components: hydrogen; hydrocarbons with up to six carbon atoms per molecule; carbon monoxide; carbon dioxide; mercaptans with one or two carbon atoms per molecule; hydrogen sulfide; and air (nitrogen, oxygen, and argon). This test method cannot be used for the determination of constituents present in amounts less than 0.1 mole %. Dimethylbutanes are assumed absent unless specifically sought. Note 1Although experimental procedures described herein are uniform, calculation procedures vary with application. The following influences guide the selection of a particular calculation: qualitative mixture composition; minimum error due to components presumed absent; minimum cross interference between known components; maximum sensitivity to known components; low frequency and complexity of calibration; and type of computing machinery.

Because of these influences, a tabulation of calculation procedures recommended for stated applications is presented in Section ().

This test method was developed on Consolidated Electrodynamics Corporation Type 103 Mass Spectrometers. Users of other instruments may have to modify operating parameters and the calibration procedure.

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.