Seeing the Invisible: Alkali Detection in Industry
Alkali metals are difficult-to-measure substances that occur in small amounts but cause major industrial problems. By making them visible in real time, our research enables more stable operation, efficient climate technology and lower resource use.
Green industry requires not only new processes, but also better ways to understand and control them. In carbon capture, bioenergy and recycling, small amounts of alkali metals can affect operational stability, material lifetime, energy use and product quality. Yet measurements that are fast, sensitive and robust enough for industrial environments are often lacking. Our research has led to a technology that tracks alkali metals in real time and at very low levels. It has been used, among others, by GoBiGas during biomass gasification, by IVL to track particle emissions from traffic, and in energy plants to prevent corrosion and deposits. The measurement acts as insurance against costly shutdowns, resource losses and inefficient operation.