The quantification of fugitive methane emissions from extended sources such as landfills is problematic due to the high temporal variability and spatial heterogeneity of the emission. Additionally, the relationship between the emission rate and the gas concentration at a given location is dependent on the meteorological conditions and local topography, preventing accurate quantification of…

Describes recent developments in GC-C-CRDS-based instrumentation applied to isotope measurements in large molecules.

Describes the flexibility of Picarro's fast water isotope analyzer for applications requiring very short sample-to-sample measurement times and shows data taken in lab and field measurements.

Describes recent developments in CRDS instrumentation in the mid-infrared spectral region for applications using N2O isotopologue and trace concentration measurements.

Describes field work conducted with Picarro water isotope analyzer for both water vapor and liquid water samples.

Describes use and methods for stable isotope-based food adulteration testing using Cavity Ring-Down Spectrometry.

Describes application and function of a the LIAISON, a new Picarro universal interface for high throughput analysis.

Describes a field campaign wherein a Picarro water isotope analyzer was used to measure isotopes in water vapor over a corn field in China for the purpose of studying evapotranspiration. The Picarro sampled vapor along with a cold trap sampling system and the real-time Picarro data was compared to offline analysis of the trapped vapor.

The regulation of Earth’s climate and its ability to sustain life are critically linked to water as it exists in all three of its phases (gas, liquid, and solid). Earth’s water cycle, its movement between the hydrosphere, biosphere, and the atmosphere, and how it undergoes phase changes, is incredibly complex. While we continue to gain insight into the water cycle, there remains…

Cavity Ring-Down spectroscopy is becoming a gold standard for atmospheric monitoring. High sensitivity and precision coupled with low drift characteristics ensure optimal operation even in remote field stations or on aircraft and ships. However, current platforms have been limited to two or three species simultaneous observation. Research and development at Picarro have been focused on…

Hydrothermal fluids from two vent sites along the East Scotia Ridge, E2 and E9, were analyzed for their hydrogen and oxygen isotopic values using a Picarro L1115-i CRDS. The fluids display varying salinity, sulfate and hydrogen sulfide content. None of the samples analyzed in this work showed any signs of spectroscopic interference. Isotopic values of the fluids were combined with…

The world’s first continuous flow isotopic TIC/DOC-CRDS measurements are reported here with remarkable achieved precisions. A measurement precision of the isotopic ratio in the range of 0.2 ‰ to 0.4 ‰ was achieved in minutes of measurement time. Such precision readily distinguishes the isotopic DIC and DOC signatures from a set of three different streamwater samples collected from various…

The recent development of a field deployable water isotope analyzer using CRDS technology was used to directly measure the vapor isotopes in real time and at multiple heights above the crop canopy. This technique was coupled with additional samples gathered using conventional techniques and a new xylem water extracting apparatus developed by the IAEA.

In a paper published by the Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS), the drift performance of 47 Picarro analyzers of 3 different generations were compared (Yver Kowket al, Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., 8, 4219–4272, 2015). The results show that methane drift (the minimum of the Allan standard deviation) was much better in first-generation G1000 analyzers.

High-salinity waters such as Seawater poses an operational and maintenance challenge to the measurements of water stable isotopes via Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy. As liquid samples are evaporated in the vaporizer peripheral before being sent to the CRDS analyzer, salt precipitates accumulate in the vaporizer chamber. As a result, the sample-to-sample memory performance degrades over time…

Soil flux chamber measurements are a key tool for determining production and sequestration of direct and indirect greenhouse gases. The Picarro G2508 Cavity Ring-down Spectrometer radically simplifies soil flux analyses by providing simultaneous measurements of five gases: CO2, CH4, N2O, NH3, and H2O, and by ready field deployment. The Picarro Soil Flux Software (SFP) …

With a global warming potential of nearly 300, N2O is a critically important greenhouse gas, contributing about 5 % of the US total GHG  emissions.  Agriculture soil management practices are the dominant source of anthropogenic N2O emissions, contributing nearly 75 % of US N2O emissions.  In urban areas, vehicle tailpipe emissions and waste water treatment plants are…

The necessity for constant monitoring of greenhouse gases (GHGs) is clearly evident now more than ever. Moreover, interpreting and understanding the processes that dictate the production and consumption of these gases will allow for proper management of GHGs in order to mitigate its detrimental climate effects. Presence of oxygen, or lack of it, is the driving force for determining pathways…

This white paper outlines testing performed using Picarro’s continuous emissions monitoring system (CEMS) on a LESNI EO Catalytic Abatement Plant (CAP). This testing was performed at a medical device manufacturer and sterilizer facility in the United States during an active sterilization process. Ethylene oxide (EtO, EO) concentrations were measured in real time upstream of the Catalytic…

The A0314 User Manual Small Sample Introduction Module 2 (SSIM2) User Manual provides information regarding intended use, key features, safety, contents, installation and syringe requirements, hardware and software setup, coordinators, measurement, GUI descriptions, calibration, best practices, troubleshooting and more.

While litter traits have been used for decades to predict decomposition rates through the Leaf Economics
Spectrum (LES) acquisitive to conservative trait lens, litter trait and litter mixture effects on soil carbon (C)
priming effects (PE) is less known. To assess whether the LES can predict soil C PE during the decomposition of
litter mixtures from complex ecosystems, a 99-day…

A common practice within the current regulatory framework for gas distribution uses an approach where operators report their network emissions by applying an average emission factor for all leaks, sometimes sorted by pipe material and type of assets. Such an approach has two drawbacks: first, it does not account for the specificities of the gas systems and the maintenance processes of…

This paper outlines the regulatory framework behind the upcoming changes in the Commercial Sterilizer NESHAP (40 CFR 63 Subpart O). We will discuss how the US EPA decided on the continuous emissions monitoring requirements – including what those requirements are. Many in the sterilization industry have concerns about how to meet these requirements as previous technologies have struggled to…

PS-19 Test Results Show Picarro CRDS Far Outperforms OE-FTIR 

The US EPA recently finalized the updates to 40 CFR 63, Subpart O (otherwise known as the Commercial Sterilizer National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants/NESHAP).  …

New Mid-IR Analyzer Delivers Industry’s Highest Precision, Lowest Drift for Nitrous Oxide and Carbon Monoxide Measurements

Santa Clara, CA, April 4, 2024 — Picarro Inc., a leading provider of gas concentration and stable isotope analyzers that empower the world with timely, trusted, and actionable data, today released the…

Standard Delivery Module (SDM) User Manual provides information on safety, installation, operation, calibration, best practices, and troubleshooting.

Combustion Module (CM-CRDS) User Manual includes information on inspection and setup, base unit overview, keyboard commands and operations, reactors and traps, signal cable, CM operating parameters, and sample preparations.

This manual provides details on the installation and operation of the Picarro A0211 High Precision Vaporizer when used in conjunction with Picarro L2130-i, L2140-i instruments, or A0325 autosampler.

A0213 Induction Module - CRDS User Manual provides information on installation, operation, coordinator data columns, best practices, tuning, troubleshooting, and maintenance.

A0214 Micro-Combustion Module (MCM) User Manual includes information on safety, installation, operation, cartridge replacement, sample preparation, coordinator software, and troubleshooting.

A0217 Continuous Water Sampler User Manual provides installation, operation, calibration and performance, data files, service, and maintenance information. 

The A0702 closed system measurement package recirculates samples through the analyzer cavity in a closed loop with minimum leakage. This makes it ideal for monitoring gas evolution from soils or vegetation or the incorporation of stable isotope labels into living organisms. This manual includes an overview, safety, packing materials, installation, instrument and pump leak test, and…

A2100 Caddy Interface User Manual provides hardware and software setup.

High-accuracy continuous measurements of greenhouse gases (CO₂ and CH₄) during the BARCA (Balanço Atmosférico Regional de Carbono na Amazônia) phase B campaign in Brazil in May 2009 were accomplished using a newly available analyzer based on the cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) technique. This analyzer was flown without a drying system or any in-flight…

Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing are transforming energy production, but their potential environmental effects remain controversial. We analyzed 141 drinking water wells across the Appalachian Plateaus physiographic province of northeastern Pennsylvania, examining natural gas concentrations and isotopic signatures with proximity to shale gas wells. Methane was detected in 82% of…