Multicomponent Mixtures - Stability Study to Support Carbon Metrology

The European project EPM SRT-v01 – MetCCUS (Metrology for Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage) represents the first metrology-focused initiative dedicated specifically to CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage). Developed within the scope of the European Green Deal, this project addresses the urgent need for accurate and traceable measurements to support the deployment of CCUS technologies. CCUS is identified as a strategic area for achieving the EU’s climate objectives, namely the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 55 % by 2030 and the attainment of carbon neutrality by 2050. By strengthening the metrological infrastructure related to CO₂ measurement and analysis, MetCCUS plays a key role in enabling reliable monitoring, verification, and regulation of carbon capture processes. Funded by EURAMET, the MetCCUS project addresses the metrological challenges identified by industry. It aims to provide primary standards, measurement methods, and good practice guides to support the essential measurements required in this field. Additionally, it seeks to develop a robust metrological infrastructure for monitoring and detecting carbon dioxide leaks in energy and industrial processes, as well as in transport networks. This infrastructure will also contribute to a better understanding of the carbon dioxide life cycle. As part of the project, four binary gas mixtures were successfully characterized: two of SO₂ in a CO₂ matrix and two of H₂S in a CO₂ matrix. Moreover, four multicomponent mixtures were also characterized: two containing SO₂ + CO + O₂ in a CO₂ matrix, and two with H₂S + CO + CH₄ + O₂ in a CO₂ matrix. All mixtures were prepared in cylinders at approximately 40 bar and subjected to a one-year stability study. This stability assessment was conducted using statistical analysis based on the Normalized Error (En) function, in accordance with ISO 13528:2022, which specifies statistical methods for interlaboratory comparisons and performance evaluation.