high REsolution Spectroscopy for Process AnalytiCs

Online process monitoring in chemical production processes is critical to achieve high production yields resulting in high resource efficiency and is also an important cost driver in production environments, such as petrochemical refineries.

Specifically chromatography is often used due to its selectivity, but the instruments require controlled environments and so-called shelters have to be built in refineries to house them and process streams also have to be re-routed to those shelters for on-line monitoring.The project RESPAC will prove feasibility of a broadband laser spectroscopy method in the mid-infrared for online process monitoring of complex mixtures by introducing a new mode of operation.

The spectroscopy method is called “dual-comb spectroscopy”, which has been successfully used for laboratory analysis, but current implementations either lack selectivity (near IR combs) or spectral resolution (Quantum Cascade Laser mid IR combs) or integration level (near IR to mid IR converted combs), preventing them from industrial use.The method is called “rapid-sweep” for Quantum Cascade Laser mid IR combs and is a result of the H2020 flagship project “Qombs”, where the method has been discovered and consists in a rapid sweep of the broadband laser over the empty space between laser lines to achieve the complete spectral information required for distinguishing multiple gas-phase species.The project will include a proof-of-concept measurement, raising interest with end-users and efforts to partner with a current supplier of process analytical instrumentation for market entry.