Orsat Analysis Procedure

* This procedure assumes that all absorbent burettes are filled to the proper levels with the proper solutions.
Before beginning procedure, shut all valves to absorbent burettes.
** If CO2 absorbent solution has white crystal precipitate at bottom of burette, solution is likely spent, and
will need replacement.


1. Remove stopper from leveling bottle. Open sample valve, sample in, as indicated on diagram on
second page. Draw gas into analyzer by lowering leveling bottle.
2. Turn valve to manifold vent to atmosphere position, as indicated on diagram on second page,
and raise leveling bottle to expel sample. Care should be taken to avoid expelling water through
manifold and out the valve.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 four more times so that sample gas is flushed through analyzer, and water in
sampling bottle is saturated with gas to be sampled.
4. Open sample valve once more, and lower leveling bottle to draw sample gas into measuring
burette. Ideally, water level should be brought to lowest hash mark on burette, corresponding to a
100 milliliter sample. In any case, record volume of gas sample.
5. Shut sample valve, as indicated by closed position on diagram on second page, remove stopper
at back of CO
2
burette, and open valve to CO
2
absorber burette. Note, or mark, upper level of
solution in absorbent burette. Raise leveling bottle to flush sample through CO
2
absorber. Flush
sample through CO
2
absorber a minimum of six passes by lowering and raising leveling bottle.
Care should be taken to avoid drawing absorbent solution into measuring burette; this can occur
by lowering leveling bottle very far below measuring burette.
6. Lower leveling bottle to draw sample gas back into measuring burette, until upper level of solution
in absorbent burette is brought to level noted in step 5. Close valve to CO
2
burette, and note the
new volume of measuring burette. When taking this reading, it is important that the water level in
the measuring burette and leveling bottle are the same. This can be done more readily by bringing
the leveling bottle close to the measuring burette to make the comparison.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for the O
2
and CO absorbers.











Valve Positions. Note position of notch in valve knob.



CIVE 493
Laboratory Data Sheet
ORSAT ANALYSIS

Date:

1. Test Composition of Laboratory Room Air:

Beginning volume of sample: ml

Volume of O
2
: ml

Volume of N
2
ml

Dry Molecular Weight of Gas:

2. Test of Laboratory Combustion Gas:

Beginning volume of sample: ml

Volume of CO
2
: ml

Volume of O
2
: ml

Volume of N
2
ml

Dry Molecular Weight of Gas:

3. Repeat Test of Laboratory Combustion Gas:

Beginning volume of sample: ml

Volume of CO
2
: ml

Volume of O
2
: ml

Volume of N
2
ml

Dry Molecular Weight of Gas: