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Updated: Aug 23, 2025

Continuously-stirred Anaerobic Digester to Convert Organic Wastes into Biogas: System Setup and Basic Operation
Published on: July 13, 2012
Characterization of Fourier Transform Infrared, Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy, and Optical Feedback Cavity-Enhanced
Lucy P Culleton1, Elena Amico di Meane1, Michael K M Ward1
1National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Hampton Road, Teddington, MiddlesexTW11 0LW, U.K.
Abstract:
Novel traceable analytical methods and reference gas standards were developed for the detection of trace-level ammonia in biogas and biomethane. This work focused on an ammonia amount fraction at an upper limit level of 10 mg m-3 (corresponding to approximately 14 μmol mol-1) specified in EN 16723-1:2016. The application of spectroscopic analytical methods, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, cavity ring-down spectroscopy, and optical feedback cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy, was investigated. These techniques all exhibited the necessary ammonia sensitivity at the required 14 μmol mol-1 amount fraction. A 29-month stability study of reference gas mixtures of 10 μmol mol-1 ammonia in methane and synthetic biogas is also reported.
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