ORSAT

APPARATUS
The Orsat apparatus is used for analyzing the flue gases.

The burette A is graduated in cubic centimeters up to 100,

and is surrounded by a water jacket to prevent any change in
temperature from affecting the density of the gases being
analyzed.

There are 4 pipettes B,C,D,E.

Pipette B contain a solution of caustic potash for absorbing

carbon dioxide.

Pipette C contain an alkaline solution of pyrogallol for

absorption of oxygen.

Pipette D & E contain acidic solution of cuprous chloride for

absorbing carbon monoxide.
Gas is drawn into the burette through the U-tube H, filled with
spun glass, to clean the gas.

To discharge any air or gas in the apparatus, cock G is opened

to air and bottle F is raised until water in the burette reaches
100 cm mark.

The cock G is then turned so as to close the air opening and

allow gas to be drawn through H, the bottle F being lowered for
this purpose.

The gas is drawn into burette to a point below the zero mark,
cock G then being opened to air and excess gas expelled until
level of the water in F and in A are at zero mark. It is necessary to
obtain the zero reading at atmospheric pressure.

The apparatus should be tested for leakage as

well as all connections leading thereto.
Before taking a final sample for analysis, burette A should
be filled with gas and emptied once or twice, to make sure
that all the apparatus is filled with the new gas.

Analysis of CO

Cock G is closed and the cock I in the pipette B is opened

and the gas is driven over into B by raising the bottle F.
The gas is drawn back into A by lowering F and when the
solution in B has reached the mark in the capillary tube,
the cock I is closed and a reading is taken on the burette,
the level of the water in the bottle F being brought to the
same level as the water in A.
Operation is repeated until a constant reading is
obtained, the number of cubic centimeters being the
percentage of CO in the flue gases.

Analysis of O

The gas is then driven over the pipette C and a similar

operation is carried out. The difference between the
resulting reading and the first reading gives the
percentage of oxygen in the flue gases.
The next operation is to drive the gas into the
pipette D, the gas being given a final wash in E, and
then passed into the pipette C to neutralize any
hydrochloric acid fumes which may have been given
off by the cuprous chloride solution, which, if old, may
give off such fumes, thus increasing the volume of
gases and making the reading on the burette less than
the true amount.
The process must be carried out in the order named,
as the pyragallol solution will also absorb CO, while
the cuprous chloride solution will also absorb O.
The analysis made by the Orsat apparatus is
volumetric. If the analysis by weight is required, it can
be found out from volumetric analysis as follows:

Multiply the percentage by volume by either the

densities or the molecular weight of each gas.
Divide the products by the sum of all products.
The quotients will be the percentages by weight .