As carbon capture research moves from laboratory studies towards pilot-scale and industrial process development, reliable real-time gas analysis is becoming increasingly important for understanding CO2 behavior, monitoring process gases and optimizing experimental conditions. Across carbon capture, hydrogen production, catalysis and thermal analysis, the ability to analyze gases and vapors with high sensitivity, selectivity and fast response provides valuable insight into reaction pathways, material performance, emissions and product formation.
Flagship HPR-20 R&D specialist gas analysis. Image Credit: Hiden Analytical
Hiden Analytical’s flagship HPR-20 R&D specialist gas analysis system is designed for these demanding research environments. The HPR-20 R&D is a specialist bench-top mass spectrometer for real-time gas analysis of evolved gases and vapors, developed for applications requiring high sensitivity, selectivity and fast response.
The system includes a triple filter mass spectrometer, providing improved resolution and enhanced abundance sensitivity, with detection to 5 ppb, subject to spectral interference. Mass range options of 200, 300, 500 or 1000 amu allow the instrument to be configured for a wide range of gas and vapor analysis requirements. APSI-MS soft ionization mode is also available for applications where reduced fragmentation can support clearer interpretation of selected species.
For continuous gas and vapor sampling, the HPR-20 R&D is configured with Hiden’s heated Quartz Inert Capillary, QIC. The system is available with a wide range of interfaces for connection to thermal equipment and other research configurations. Sample flow can also be tailored by inlet selection, from less than 1 ml/min to more than 20 ml/min, helping users match the analysis system to the demands of their experimental set-up.
The HPR-20 R&D supports application areas including carbon capture, green hydrogen, biogas, catalysis, thermal analysis TA/MS, fuel cells, environmental monitoring, glovebox monitoring, gas separation studies, CVD, MOCVD and ALCVD, mud logging and near-atmospheric XPS/APXPS. Its flexibility also makes it suitable for advanced research where real-time gas-phase data is required from custom reactors, thermal systems and evolving process conditions.
In carbon capture studies, gas analysis can support CO2 adsorption and desorption testing, sorbent regeneration analysis, breakthrough curve monitoring, evolved gas analysis, chemical looping research and simulated flue gas experiments. By tracking CO2 and related process gases, researchers can better understand capture performance, regeneration behavior, process stability and potential by-products.
Published research examples demonstrate the value of HPR-20 gas analysis in carbon capture-related studies. In biogas pyrolysis research, Hiden HPR-20 instrumentation has been used to monitor product gases and evaluate methane conversion, hydrogen yield, product composition and carbon capture potential. In sustainable materials research, the HPR-20 R&D has supported studies into PHB hydrolysis and depolymerization kinetics, where gas-phase mass spectrometry helped substantiate kinetic models for biopolymer hydrolysis.
The HPR-20 R&D has also been referenced in selected electrochemical and catalytic studies, including photo-assisted electrocatalytic nitrate conversion to ammonia and carbon dioxide reduction to syngas. In these research areas, gas analysis can help correlate reaction conditions, catalyst performance and gaseous product formation.
David Lundie, Technical Director, said: “Carbon capture research depends on more than measuring CO2 alone. Researchers need to understand how gases behave across adsorption, reaction, regeneration and process cycling. The HPR-20 R&D gives advanced R&D teams the sensitivity, fast response and flexible sampling needed to monitor complex gas and vapor environments in real time.”
By combining high-sensitivity mass spectrometry with flexible sampling and application-specific configuration options, the HPR-20 R&D provides researchers with a powerful platform for real-time, multi-species gas and vapor analysis.