What is the Halogen?

The elements that make up group 7A of the periodic table and are completely nonmetals are called halogens. At room temperature, fluorine and chlorine are gases and bromine are liquid. Iodine and astatine are solids. Halogens are very reactive elements. The reactivity of halogens decreases from fluorine to astatine. Halogens are not found in nature in elemental form. Due to their high reactivity, they exist in the environment only as ions or compounds. Halogens are used in many areas in industry such as chemistry, water and sanitation, plastic, pharmaceutical, paper, textile, military, and petroleum.

Why is the Detection of Halogens Important?

While halogens can provide benefits in many industries, they also pose many risks. Halogens can cause many dangers such as global warming, environmental problems, fire, disease, and death. Therefore, the use of halogens in industries is carried out in accordance with many standards. In order to determine the amount of halogen in the products, preliminary sample preparations of the halogens that are harmful to health in the samples can be made by using the halogen burning unit.

Why is the determination of Halogens (Especially Chlorine) in the Coal Important?

Halogens in coal cause slag, pollution and corrosion in coal combustion boilers, reducing the life of coal bunkers and reducing the combustion efficiency of coal. Especially the chlorine element in the coal content causes the boilers to corrode in a short time. For this reason, the amount of chlorine in the coal content should be determined. At the same time, the boilers to be used and their lifetimes should be determined, and precautions should be taken depending on the coal content. In this way, the boiler equipment can be used for a longer time and more efficient energy can be obtained from the burned coal.

Determination of Halogen in the Samples

Halogen detection or halogen analysis in samples is carried out using a halogen combustion unit. A halogen analyzer is used to determine the amount of halogen in solid waste. At the same time, halogen detection is needed in industries such as plastics, cement, electronic boards, cables and main components. Halogen analysis is also carried out in order to determine the halogen amounts in diesel, waste oil and flammable liquids.

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Working Principle of Halogen Combustion Unit

Halogen Combustion Unit produced and developed by Debye Technic is used in laboratories for the purpose of detecting halogen in samples. 1 gram sample in a quartz or base-metal alloy crucible is placed in a stainless-steel decomposition vessel that is resistant to fire and high. Oxygen at 30 bar is pressed into the decomposition vessel. Before the combustion process, the analysis chamber, where the decomposition vessel is located, is automatically filled with water. Then, the sample in the decomposition vessel is ignited with high pressure oxygen (30-40 bar) via electrodes. After the sample is burned, the water in the analysis chamber is automatically emptied. At the end of combustion process, the decomposition vessel, electrodes, and crucible are washed into a beaker using distilled water. As a result of this process, the burned sample is ready for the ion selective electrode analysis to be applied to detect the halogens in it.

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Which Standards Does the Halogen Combustion Unit Carry out Combustion Process?
The halogen incineration unit performs the incineration process in accordance with the ASTM D-4208 Standard and EPA Method 5050.