Solid electrolyte sensor as a detector for gas chromatographic determination of combustible contaminants in air

In this paper, it is demonstrated for the first time that a solid electrolyte sensor based on stabilized cubic zirconium dioxide can be used for the chromatographic detection of combustible oases in air with the use of air as a carrier gas. The current of oxygen ions that passes through the sensor serves as an analytical signal. It is possible to obtain either a positive or negative signal of a combustible gas, depending on the polarity of the potential applied to the sensor and physicochemical processes that occur at the surface of the electrodes. Using the flux of oxygen ions passing from external air into the flow of the carrier gas, combustible contaminants can be detected in the range 0.1-5 vol % by the heat of a catalytic oxidation reaction. With the reverse flux of oxygen ions, the same contaminants can be detected at a level of 0.01-0.1 vol % by means of competitive adsorption.