Introduction

ECODIC is a system for the analysis of dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC) in aqueous solutions usable in laboratory and in mobile structures such as oceanographic vessels. The system consists of an acidification apparatus of an aqueous solution that can also be sea water or pore water, coupled with a carbon dioxide detector which, in this case, consists of a coulometer (UIC, USA).

Technical features

ECODIC is a system for the analysis of Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC) in aqueous solutions usable in laboratory and in mobile structures such as oceanographic vessels. The system consists of an acidification apparatus of an aqueous solution that can also be sea water or pore water, coupled with a carbon dioxide detector which in this case consists of a coulometer (UIC, USA). The acidification apparatus is composed of an acidification chamber, connected to a bidirectional gas flow atmospheric air purified by solid traps that retain carbon dioxide and other impurities), in which the solution to be analyzed and the acid are introduced manually. The gas flow allows the transport of the carbon dioxide produced by the acidification to the carbon dioxide detector. By inverting the gas flow (with a simple switch operating two solenoid valves, the exhausted sample is discharged.)

Possible Applications

• Analysis of Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC) in aqueous solutions, in particular in sea water or in pore water.

Advantages

• Simpler, safer and less expensive analysis (no gas bottles are used so costs are lower and work safety conditions increase);
• Faster, more precise and more accurate analysis;
• Absolute CO2 measurement without the need for a calibration curve that is therefore repeatable over the long term.