Correction Factors for Nitrous Oxide in the Infrared Analysis of Carbon Dioxide

Abstract

The magnitude of errors due to spectral overlap and collsion broadening by nitrous oxide in the infrared analysis of carbon dioxide were separately determined in a group of Godart Capnographs. Errors caused by spectral overlap ranged from 0.08 to 0.7 per cent apparent CO2 when 70 per cent N2O was analyzed. These were sufficiently variable to necessitate determination by each investigator for his own equipment. Errors resulting from collision broadening were lees than 0.5 per cent apparent CO2 when 5 per cent CO2 was analyzed with 70 per cent N2O as the background gas. These errors were not sufficiently variable to necessitate individual determination. Machine age was not significantly correlates with the magnitude of error due to either effect.