Monitoring Impurities in Carbon Dioxide

Baseline-MOCON (USA), a subsidiary of MOCON releases the BevAlert Analytical System for carbonated beverage bottlers, modified atmosphere packagers, specialty gas manufacturers, and other industries that use carbon dioxide in their processes.

The BevAlert Analytical System is designed to exceed the analytical requirements of the International Society of Beverage Technologists’ (ISBT) guidelines for the detection of impurities in beverage grade carbon dioxide such as acetaldehyde, methanol, benzene, total sulphur, total hydrocarbons, and other impurities as requested.

Total hydrocarbons are measured with a Flame Ionisation Detector (FID), an industry standard. A Photoionisation Detector (PID) is used for acetaldehyde and benzene instead of an FID because of its lower detection limits for these chemicals. Additionally, the PID offers low noise, an easily accessible detector lamp, and reduced maintenance from using fewer support gases. Reducing sulphur compounds to hydrogen sulphide also allows a PID to be used for a Total Sulphur analysis for similar reasons. This leads to interchangeability of parts and operating knowledge of instrumentation.

The fully automated computer controlled system includes an intuitive touchscreen for set-up, control, and data display. Real-time, historical, and diagnostic data are all viewable and can be connected to built-in audible and visual alarms or tied to a plant’s programmable logic controller (PLC). Remote access via an Ethernet connection allows the user the ability to monitor the systems’ concentration data, as well as control diagnostics and analytical parameters, from a remote location. Multipoint sampling and trailer sample panels are also available.