Continuous Monitoring of Hydrogen Chloride in Combustion Atmospheres and in Air

Abstract

A continuous analyzer for hydrogen chloride gas, based on a French standard method, has been utilized for measurement of HCl in laboratory-generated combustion atmospheres and in air. The method is based on continuous titra tion of chloride with silver in aqueous solution. The process is monitored by commercially available automated titration equipment, a mass flowmeter and a dedicated Apple IIe microcomputer. Pure HCl in air was monitored in a steady-state flow-through system and compared to sampling by soda lime tubes. Hydrogen chloride in PVC smoke (both flaming and nonflaming combustion conditions) was monitored in both flow-through and static environments, in cluding an apparatus designed for steady-state combustion. The advantages, disadvantages and recommendations for further study of this technique are discussed.