Mercury vapor reference systems, devices, and method for testing mercury vapor analyzers. A variable volume dilution chamber such as a syringe selectively receives mercury vapor and a dilution gas to dilute the mercury vapor prior to dispensing into an airflow for testing by the mercury vapor analyzer.

The invention relates to a sensor assembly to detect and quantify organic and/or inorganic mercury compounds, including elemental mercury that may be present in gases or liquids, such as natural gas, air, condensates, crude oil, refined petroleum gas or liquids, and water including connate water, condensed water and water containing hydrate inhibitor(s). The sensor assembly includes a housing having a flow channel defined by an inlet, a sensor array, and an outlet. The sensor array is based on the differential sorption properties measured using a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor array, a chemiresistor array, or a combination of the two.

According to one embodiment, a sensor includes a handhole part, a sensor module, and a holder. The handhole part includes an inner wall. The sensor module is provided in the handhole part. The sensor module includes a housing, a sensor circuit provided in the housing, the sensor circuit including a gas sensor element, and a battery configured to supply electrical power to the sensor circuit. The holder holds the sensor module so that a gap is formed between the inner wall and the housing and between the housing and a first member under the housing.

A method for the radiological characterisation of the radiation listing of mercury, comprising the Steps: a. preparing a predefined quantity of mercury, b. evaporating at least one fraction of the prepared mercury, and c. the radioactive γ-radiation emitted by the gaseous mercury.

According to one embodiment, a sensor includes a handhole part, a sensor module, and a holder. The handhole part includes an inner wall. The sensor module is provided in the handhole part. The sensor module includes a housing, a sensor circuit provided in the housing, the sensor circuit including a gas sensor element, and a battery configured to supply electrical power to the sensor circuit. The holder holds the sensor module so that a gap is formed between the inner wall and the housing and between the housing and a first member under the housing.

The invention provides a method and device for measuring mercury isotopes in natural gas. The method includes the following steps: (1) primary enrichment: subjecting natural gas to a three-stage cascading absorption with an acidic potassium permanganate aqueous solution, and collecting all of the acidic potassium permanganate aqueous solutions in which natural gas is absorbed in step (1); (2) mercury purification and enrichment: reducing the mercury absorbed in the step (1) to mercury vapor with a stannous chloride solution, and then purifying and enriching the mercury vapor by using an acidic potassium permanganate aqueous solution; (3) detecting the acidic potassium permanganate solution in which the mercury vapor is enriched in step (2) to determine the total mercury content therein; and (4) detecting the acidic potassium permanganate solution in which the mercury vapor is enriched in step (2) to determine the composition/content of stable mercury isotopes therein.

A method and device for detecting mercury isotopes in an oil-gas source. The device includes at least one enrichment-absorption system for mercury in crude oil/hydrocarbon source rock, an enrichment-absorption system for mercury in natural gas and at least one secondary purification-enrichment system for mercury. The enrichment-absorption system for mercury in crude oil/hydrocarbon source rock includes three air-absorption bottles, a pyrolysis/cracking system, five impact samplers, and a vacuum pump, which are connected in series by pipe lines. The enrichment-absorption system for mercury in natural gas includes five impact samplers connected in series, wherein the first impact sampler is connected to the natural gas outlet from the natural gas well and the last impact sampler is connected to the cumulative gas flow meter.

Apparatus and methods are provided for quantitative detection of mercury vapor in gas samples using a film of nanoparticles. The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of an amalgam nanoparticle is sensitive to adsorbed mercury mass. The equilibrium mass of mercury on a gold nanoparticle is a function of the surrounding vapor concentration and the temperature of the gold. A device that introduces a temperature-controlled gold nanoparticle film to a controlled flow of sample gas responds predictably to a given mercury vapor concentration when optically probed in situ. Controlling the temperature of the film allows for control of adsorption and desorption rates. Equilibrium plasmonic mercury detection, described herein, removes the cycling necessary for many gold-based mercury analyses. Methods are given for the operation and analysis of the temperature-stabilized gold nanoparticle mercury sensor. The disclosed mercury-detection apparatus and methods find use in a variety of applications, including, for example, mercury detecting applications.

Apparatus and methods are provided for quantitative detection of mercury vapor in gas samples using a film of nanoparticles. The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of an amalgam nanoparticle is sensitive to adsorbed mercury mass. The equilibrium mass of mercury on a gold nanoparticle is a function of the surrounding vapor concentration and the temperature of the gold. A device that introduces a temperature-controlled gold nanoparticle film to a controlled flow of sample gas responds predictably to a given mercury vapor concentration when optically probed in situ. Controlling the temperature of the film allows for control of adsorption and desorption rates. Equilibrium plasmonic mercury detection, described herein, removes the cycling necessary for many gold-based mercury analyses. Methods are given for the operation and analysis of the temperature-stabilized gold nanoparticle mercury sensor. The disclosed mercury-detection apparatus and methods find use in a variety of applications, including, for example, mercury detecting applications.

Apparatus and methods are provided for quantitative detection of mercury vapor in gas samples using a film of nanoparticles. The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of an amalgam nanoparticle is sensitive to adsorbed mercury mass. The equilibrium mass of mercury on a gold nanoparticle is a function of the surrounding vapor concentration and the temperature of the gold. A device that introduces a temperature-controlled gold nanoparticle film to a controlled flow of sample gas responds predictably to a given mercury vapor concentration when optically probed in situ. Controlling the temperature of the film allows for control of adsorption and desorption rates. Equilibrium plasmonic mercury detection, described herein, removes the cycling necessary for many gold-based mercury analyses. Methods are given for the operation and analysis of the temperature-stabilized gold nanoparticle mercury sensor. The disclosed mercury-detection apparatus and methods find use in a variety of applications, including, for example, mercury detecting applications.