Picarro CRDS Carbon Isotope Analyzer for Methane

PICARRO G2132-i

δ¹³C High Precision Isotopic CH₄ CRDS Analyzer

High precision, real-time carbon isotope information from methane at ambient concentrations

• Isotopic measurements with superb precision and stability for critical methane source identification
  
• Direct measurement of CH₄ – no sample drying or preparation required
  
• Field deployable: < 26 kg, meets shock and vibration tests
  
• Less hassle – less calibration, less maintenance, no consumables
  
• Equipped with ChemDetect™ to sense contaminants in the samples
  

Methane is both a valuable source of energy and a greenhouse gas many times more powerful than CO₂. Distinguishing between the various sources of methane in our environment can help in a number of ways, such as identifying its origin in groundwater near a hydraulic fracturing well, monitoring fugitive methane emissions from a landfill, or teasing apart the biochemical pathways that produce and consume methane in wetlands. Each source of methane has a characteristic ratio of ¹³C to ¹²C. Knowing this ratio helps one to link methane to a particular local source. The Picarro G2132-i makes precise ¹³C/¹²C ratio measurements fast and easy. The stability of the analyzer enables these ratios to be determined in the field for immediate source identification.

The core of the G2132-i is Picarro’s unique Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) technique, a time-based measurement that uses a laser to quantify spectral features of gas phase molecules in a small optical cavity, which has an effective laser path length of up to 20 kilometers. The G2132-i also includes a patented, high precision wavelength monitor, which maintains absolute spectral position, thereby ensuring accurate peak quantification of the absorption features for ¹²CH₄ and ¹³CH₄. Due to their inherent stability and unique controls for temperature and pressure (both of which can dramatically impact spectral measurements), Picarro’s CRDS analyzers consistently maintain their accuracy and stability.

Excellent measurements of CH₄ are only possible if the influences of other molecules in the sample are quantified. The G2132-i makes precise measurements of CO₂ and H₂O concentrations to allow the cross-influence of these species to be quantified and corrected while providing more insight into the sample.

What about other molecules? The analyzer comes equipped with ChemDetect™, a new layer of analysis that inspects the recorded spectra to find indications from other contaminating species. ChemDetect™ looks for distortions of the spectra that would indicate that another gas phase species is in the sample and might be affecting the results. ChemDetect™ provides an indication that the sample is more complicated, and perhaps more interesting, than expected. 

Portable, Rugged and Easy to Use: Like all Picarros, the G2132-i is compact, weighing less than 26 kg, which makes it easy to take to the field. It can be operated within minutes, out of the box, and will continue to run for months without user interaction. The analyzer is so rugged that it meets military shock and vibration standards. The G2132-i requires no consumables and very little maintenance for low cost-of-ownership. Scientists using Picarro analyzers have reported the highest quality data, day in and day out, with fewer calibrations than other spectral absorption-based instruments.

Remote Operation: An Internet or dial-up modem connection can open up a world of possibilities for researchers. Users can connect remotely and control the instrument via its internal Windows-based PC. The analyzer can automatically send data via email over the Internet at regular intervals. The G2132-i synchronizes automatically with an atomic time service to accurately timestamp your data.