

Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Purity Measurement Device
This device is used to measure the purity of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in gas samples or gas mixtures. Various methods are available for determining CO₂ purity, with the most common including Gas Chromatography (GC), Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy, and Electrochemical Analyzers.
Measuring CO₂ is crucial for indoor air quality monitoring, respiratory performance assessment (e.g., capnography devices), and numerous industrial processes.

What is CO₂ Purity?
CO₂ purity refers to the volumetric or weight percentage of carbon dioxide in a gas sample or mixture. It indicates how much of the gas consists of pure CO₂ and how much is made up of impurities. Common impurities in CO₂ may include water vapor, hydrocarbons, oxygen, nitrogen, and trace gases. Higher purity levels indicate fewer contaminants, making the gas suitable for applications that require high-grade, uncontaminated CO₂.
Why CO₂ Purity Matters

Types of CO₂ Purity Measurement Devices and Their Operating Principles
Accurate CO₂ purity measurement is critical across industries such as food, healthcare, oil & gas, electronics, and environmental monitoring. Various instruments have been designed for this purpose, each operating on specific principles. Here are the main types:
Operating Principle:
– The gas sample is injected into the GC system and carried by a carrier gas (typically helium or nitrogen) through a chromatographic column.
– Different gas components, including CO₂ and impurities, are separated based on their interaction with the stationary phase in the column.
– After separation, CO₂ is detected using a detector (e.g., TCD or FID) and its concentration is quantitatively measured.
Topic | Details | ||
Applications: | – Pharmaceutical Industry- Gas Refineries- Scientific Research | ||
Advantages: | – Very high accuracy, even at low concentrations- Simultaneous detection of multiple gases- Suitable for quality control laboratories | ||
Disadvantages: | – Requires precise calibration- Time-consuming analysis- High equipment and maintenance costs | ||

Non-Dispersive Infrared Spectroscopy (NDIR)
Principle of Operation:
Topic | Details | ||
Principle of Operation | – CO₂ molecules absorb infrared (IR) light at 4.26 µm wavelength.- The device emits an IR beam through the sample and measures absorption.- Higher CO₂ concentration results in greater light absorption. | ||
Applications | – Emission control systems- Greenhouses- Beverage industry | ||
Advantages | – Fast and continuous measurement- Non-destructive sampling- Suitable for industrial environments | ||
Disadvantages | – Can be affected by other gases with similar absorption (requires filtration)- Lower accuracy at very low concentrations | ||
Electrochemical Sensors
Principle of Operation:
Category | Details |
Applications | Environmental monitoring; HVAC systems; Smart agriculture |
Advantages | Portable and lightweight; Low cost; Fast response |
Disadvantages | Limited lifespan (typically 1–3 years); Requires periodic calibration; Lower accuracy compared to GC and NDIR |
Mass Spectrometer (MS) Analyzer
Principle of Operation:
Category | Details |
Applications | Semiconductor industry; Space research; Advanced laboratories |
Advantages | Extremely high accuracy; Ability to detect trace impurities (even ppb) |
Disadvantages | Very high cost; Requires skilled operator |
Ultrasonic Analyzers
Principle of Operation:
Category | Details |
Applications | Petrochemical industry; Gas transmission systems |
Advantages | No direct contact with gas; Resistant to contamination |
Disadvantages | Low sensitivity to minor impurities |
Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS) Devices
Principle of Operation:
Category | Details |
Applications | Industrial flue gas monitoring; Atmospheric research |
Advantages | High accuracy; Measurement possible under varying pressure and temperature |
Disadvantages | Relatively high cost |
Titration Methods
Principle of Operation:
Category | Details |
Applications | Educational laboratories; Chemical industries |
Advantages | Simple; Low cost |
Disadvantages | Time-consuming; Cannot measure continuously |
Summing up and choosing the best device
Device | Accuracy | Speed | Cost | Main Application |
Gas Chromatography (GC) | Very High | Medium | High | Advanced laboratories |
NDIR | High | Fast | Medium | Food industry & environmental monitoring |
Electrochemical Sensor | Medium | Fast | Low | Environmental monitoring |
Mass Spectrometer (MS) | Extremely High | Fast | Very High | High-tech industries |
Ultrasonic Analyzer | Medium | Fast | Medium | Oil & gas industry |

Applications of CO₂ Purity Measurement Devices

CO₂ Sensor Maintenance Guidelines
CO₂ sensors are critical tools for measuring gas concentrations in air and biological processes. Their applications provide fundamental information for chemistry, medicine, biology, geology, and climate research. While many CO₂ measurement methods are described in the scientific literature, only a few are practically adopted. The principles and applications of CO₂ measurement focus on in-situ sensors, which can be directly integrated into industrial or laboratory processes.