(181b) The Applications of Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) in Process Safety

Gas Chromatography (GC) is a fundamental analytical tool widely used for analyzing gases and volatile compounds in various fields, including environmental monitoring, petrochemical analysis, food quality control, pharmaceutical testing, and forensic analysis. Due to its ability to separate complex mixtures, unambiguously identify components, and provide high detection sensitivity, GC combined with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is extensively utilized in process safety to identify and monitor potentially hazardous chemicals in industrial processes. This includes detecting leaks in pipelines, storage tanks, and equipment; analyzing process vent emissions or off-gases; monitoring contaminant buildup in product streams; and ensuring compliance with safety regulations by identifying and quantifying harmful substances in raw materials, finished products, and workplaces. This paper focuses on GC-MS experimental studies related to fire risk assessment, chemical hazard evaluation, and transportation safety conducted in our lab using standard testing methods.

Examples include:

1. Compositional analysis of flammable gas emitted from battery thermal runaway per UL 9540A, a UL standard for evaluating thermal runaway fire propagation in battery energy storage systems. The data obtained is used to determine the fire and explosion protection required for the installation of battery energy storage systems and equipment, as mandated by NFPA 855, IFC 608, and UL 9540.

2. Quantification of flammable gases to assess whether polymeric beads, expandable plastics, or molding compounds need classification as UN 2211 and UN 3314 during handling, transport, and storage. Substances of Class 9 with encapsulated blowing agents are tested according to UN Test U.1 in the UN Manual of Test Methods and Criteria to determine if evolving flammable vapors can develop dangerous concentrations, potentially leading to a flammable atmosphere in closed containers.

3. Incident investigation using ASTM E1618, the Standard Test Method for Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts from Fire Debris Samples by GC-MS. Identifying ignitable liquid residues in samples from fire scenes can enhance the understanding of the fire's origin, fuel load, and incendiary nature.

Additional applications of GC-MS in process safety include verifying the concentrations of refrigerant blend components, a mandatory requirement for safety classification under ASHRAE Standard 34. GC-MS can confirm and quantify flammable and/or toxic gases emitted during Dangerous When Wet tests in the classification of dangerous goods transport by UN/DOT. Combining a calorimeter (e.g., ARC, VSP2, RC-1) with GC-MS provides real-time analysis of headspace gas/vapor and reaction mass in the laboratory, offering insights into thermal and mass balances, vent emission hazards, reaction mechanisms and kinetics that can inform scale-up processes, thereby helping to prevent accidents and mitigate risks in processing conditions. Experimental data and results will also be presented.