Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous Oxide, or laughing gas, is a relative newcomer to the list of industrial pollutants of concern to regulatory bodies monitoring climate change.  It has a stronger greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide and is produced as a by-product of many industrial processes.

The measurement techniques available for this gas are infra-red and electrochemical cell.  Both have their limitations.  The US EPA have produced guidelines on what they consider to be the reference method for measuring N₂O as part of the process of legislating for it to be measured and reported by engine and vehicle manufacturers and other industries. They suggest using an infra-red detector that uses a catalyst to oxidise CO, the strongest interferent.