DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

HERBERT HOOVER, SECRETARY

BUREAU OF MINES
SCOTT TURNER, DIRECTOR

SAMPLING AND EXAMINATION
OF MINE GASES AND NATURAL GAS

A REVISION OF BULLETIN 42

BY

GEORGE A. BURRELL AND FRANK M. SEIBERT

REVISED BY G. W. JONES

PRICE 25 CENTS
Sold only by the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office

Washington, D. C.

WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

1926

Library

CONTENTS

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Foreword.

Acknowledgments----------

Introduction to Bulletin 42

Collection of samples of mine gases.

Sampling by the vacuum method-------

Sampling where there is appreciable air movement---

Sampling in still air.-

Sampling by air displacement----------

Sampling by water displacement ---

Water as displacing fluid------

Procedure for sampling------------------------

Checking the reading of a flame safety lamp---

Determination of moisture

Use of wet and dry bulb thermometers-------

Laboratory apparatus for the determination of moisture in mine air..

Analysis of mine atmospheres_--------

Reasons for using precise methods----

Older types of apparatus.--

Modified Haldane apparatus.----------

Application and use ---

Factors affecting the accuracy of analysis_-

Change of temperature and pressure during the analysis.--

Change of water-vapor content-

Solubility of gas in confining liquid.

Solubility of gases by absorbents---

Graduation of the burette-------

Description of apparatus_

Burette and pipettes-------

Transfer of samples_

Electric connections---

Other parts of apparatus ---

Preparing the apparatus for use.

Greasing the stopcocks.

Testing for tightness--------

Preparation of solutions_-

Caustic potash solution------

Caustic soda solution-----

Alkaline pyrogallate solution.-

Potassium pyrogallate solution.-

Sodium pyrogallate solution --

Procedure for analysis.--

Taking gas into apparatus----

Test for carbon dioxide-----

Removal of oxygen.-

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Analysis of mine atmospheres—Continued.

Modified Haldane apparatus Continued.

Determination of combustible gas.

Calculations for determining combustibles.

Methane and carbon monoxide_.

Methane and hydrogen..

Hydrogen and carbon monoxide--------

Hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide.

Calculation of results_--------

Ratio of black damp to air-----

Precautions in manipulation of apparatus_

Mercury--

Necessity for moisture---

Capillary manifold..

Temperature of burette jacket---

Checking the apparatus_-

Effect of drafts--------

Corrections for water vapor-----

Cleaning the apparatus_-

Attention to stopcocks-----

Apparatus for determination of methane in mine air.

Gas detector------------

Verifying safety-lamp tests ---

Haldane apparatus for precise analysis of methane--

Portable apparatus for the determination of methane in mine air----

Use of a storage battery or resistance bank---------

Portable apparatus for the determination of carbon dioxide and

methane---------

Simple portable gas-analysis apparatus for complete analysis of

mine air

Apparatus-------------

Measurement----

Determination of carbon dioxide_-

Determination of oxygen---

Determination of carbon monoxide..

Combustion.-

Precautions_---

Copper oxide apparatus for complete analysis of ga

Advantages of apparatus-----

Reasons for discarding the explosion pipette

Description of apparatus.------

Burette---------------------------------------

Slow-combustion pipette-------

Copper oxide tube and manifold --

Electric heater-

Operating procedure--.

Testing apparatus for tightness---

Measuring the sample_-

Carbon dioxide---

Unsaturated hydrocarbons or illuminants

Oxygen-

Carbon monoxide and hydrogen----

Methane and ethane-------

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Analysis of mine atmospheres—Continued.

Copper oxide apparatus for complete analysis of gases—Continued.

Notes on operation of apparatus.--

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Use of water in burette and combustion pipette----

Solubility of gases in absorbents ----

Solubility of methane and ethane in fuming sulphuric acid and

cuprous chloride solution---

Action of fuming sulphuric acid on Pittsburgh natural gas---

Elimination of errors due to physical absorption_.

Graduation of the burette-

Capillary error of the apparatus-----

Formation of oxides of nitrogen.-

Distillation of mercury----

Description of mercury still.

Description of still with electric heater---.

Electric heater----

Care of apparatus---

Laboratory container for holding gases over mercury-

Simplified apparatus for determining carbon monoxide..

Description of apparatus__

Iodine pentoxide apparatus using liquid air--------

Determination of carbon monoxide by the pyrotannic acid method.

Apparatus necessary for test.

Procedure for testing for carbon monoxide_

Sampling the gas---

Analysis.

Corrections_---

Detection of carbon monoxide in mines_

Use of birds in mines and the laboratory-----

Determination of oxides of nitrogen in mine air.-

Nitron method--------

Phenol-disulphonic acid method.--

Procedure

Reagents for determination_

Phenol-disulphonic acid.-

Standard nitrate solution -

Ammonia solution --

Caustic soda solution -----

Hydrogen peroxide-------

Use of the gas interferometer--

Description of laboratory type--

Calibration of instrument.

Results from use of the instrument--------

Effect of lowering oxygen content of mixtures analyzed-------

Conclusions regarding the interferometer.

Apparatus for analyzing natural gas_-

Constituents of natural gas_----

Method of sampling-----

Simplified apparatus used in analyzing natural gas_

Procedure of analysis----

Combustion analysis--

Precautions -

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