Hydrogen Fluoride (HF)

Hydrogen fluoride (HF) is a chemical compound containing one hydrogen atom with a polar covalent bond to a fluorine atom. It is a colorless gas with a strong smell and occurs naturally through processes such as volcanic activity. When contact is made with water, it becomes the flammable and corrosive hydrofluoric acid.

Hydrogen fluoride use has become an essential part of a variety of manufacturing activities including in the production of refrigerants, gasoline, semiconductors, plastic, and fluorescent light bulbs. However, contact with unsafe concentrations can cause bodily damage and, if exposure is prolonged, can result in serious harm, such as skeletal fluorosis. Coal-fired power plants are the most significant anthropogenic emitters of hydrogen fluoride. These emissions can have adverse environmental effects, for example acid rain, which can threaten buildings and ecosystems. Due to the risks, precisely monitoring hydrogen fluoride is an important component of both health & safety and environmental efforts.

Picarro has designed and produced a gas concentration analyzer that precisely measures hydrogen fluoride for laboratory and field studies.

Analyzers

Product Measurements Applications

SI2205 Gas Concentration Analyzer

The Picarro SI2205 gas concentration analyzer delivers fast, precise, real-time measurements of hydrogen fluoride (HF) at parts-per-trillion (ppt) sensitivity with negligible drift for atmospheric science and air quality applications. It incorporates coated components in the critical gas pathway. This reduces the propensity of HF molecules to adhere to pathway surfaces, which improves measurement response time. The SI2205 requires virtually no consumables, thereby offering significant ease-of-use and lower cost of ownership benefits. The analyzer is rugged and easily transportable.

  • Fast, continuous, real-time measurements without interference 
  • Precise temperature and pressure control ensures accuracy with negligible drift
  • Small footprint, field or lab deployable, long-term stability for infrequent calibration 
  • Water correction automatically reports dry gas mole fractions

Precision at 5 minutes is <10 ppt. Maximum drift over 24 hours is ±.15 ppb when measured at 25 °C and 760 Torr.

Peripherals

Product Measurements Applications

16-Port Distribution Manifold (Silco)

The Picarro 16-Port Distribution Manifold provides unparalleled multiport sample-data collection.