Measurements of sulfur compounds in CO2 by diode laser atomic absorption spectrometry

Two simple methods for the analysis of the total concentration of sulfur in CO2 by diode laser atomic absorption spectrometry of excited, metastable sulfur atoms in a direct current discharge are presented. In the first method, the CO2 sample gas is mixed with the plasma gas (Ar or He) while the second is based on reproducible measurements of the sulfur released from the walls in a helium discharge after being deposited as a result of operating the discharge in pure CO2 sample gas. The detection limits obtained satisfy the requirements for the control of sulfur compounds in CO2 used in the food and beverage industry.