Methane gas measurement

Methane (CH₄) is a organic gas belonging to the hydrocarbon family. It is the main component of natural gas and biogas, but can also be emitted during biological processes (anaerobic fermentation, digestion) or industrial processes (refining, waste storage, chemical processes).
Due to its high global warming potential (GWP = 28 to 34 times that of CO₂), the accurate measurement of methane has become crucial for the energy, environmental, and agri-food.

Measuring gaseous methane thus allows us to assess:

• The performance of anaerobic digesters and the quality of the biogas produced,
• Leaks or fugitive emissions in industrial processes,
• The composition of fermentation or packaging gases,
• of Environmental monitoring emissions into the air, soil or effluents.

Analytical methods for measuring methane

At YesWeLab, the measurement of gaseous methane is carried out by gas chromatography (GC), a reference method for the separation and quantification of volatile compounds.

The main approaches used are:

• GC-TCD (thermal conductivity detector) : a robust and universal method for measuring methane in gas mixtures or biogas without complex pretreatment.
• GC-FID (flame ionization detector) : a technique adapted to matrices containing light hydrocarbons for finer quantification.
• GC-MS (gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry) : recommended for complex samples requiring specific identification of methane or its associated compounds (ethane, propane, CO₂, H₂S).

These analyses are carried out according to international standards such as ISO 6974-1:2012 (analysis of natural gas by chromatography), ASTM D1945, or EN 15446 for fugitive gas measurements.

Industrial and environmental applications

Methane measurement is used in many fields:

• Biogas and energy recovery : monitoring of production and yield of methanizers, evaluation of the calorific value of biogas.
• Food processing industry : control of gaseous emissions during fermentation, storage or packaging under a protective atmosphere.
• Environment and climate : measurement of methane emissions in the air, soil and water, particularly in wastewater treatment plants, landfills or agricultural operations.
• Packaging and materials : detection of permeability or gas release in polymer films used for food packaging.

Regulatory framework and compliance issues

Methane monitoring is governed by several mechanisms:

• European Directive 2010/75/EU (IED) on industrial emissions,
• Regulation (EU) 2018/842 on greenhouse gas emission reductions,
• ISO 14064 standard on the quantification and verification of greenhouse gases.

The industries concerned must measure, report and reduce their CH₄ emissions, as part of their environmental commitments or ISO 14001 certifications.

Matrices involved

• Biogas, natural gas and fermentation gas
• Packaging atmospheres and storage chambers
• Gaseous effluents, ambient air, or environmental samples
• Polymer materials and containment systems

Recommended related analyses

For a complete assessment of gaseous composition and material behavior, YesWeLab recommends combining methane measurement with other complementary analyses:

• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) analysis : an essential joint measurement in biogas and fermentation processes.
• Ethane and propane analysis : characterization of light hydrocarbons in natural and industrial gases,
• Permeability testing of polymer films : control of airtight packaging,
• Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and DSC : characterization of materials subjected to gas release.

YesWeLab Expertise

Since 2020, YesWeLab has been supporting companies in managing and conducting their environmental and industrial analyses.
Thanks to a network of accredited partner laboratories (ISO 17025, COFRAC) and its digital platform, YesWeLab simplifies the ordering, tracking, and delivery of analyses.

• Rapid sample handling
• Selection of the laboratory best suited to the matrix,
• Reliable and traceable results in accordance with international standards.

Need to measure the methane content in your gaseous samples or materials?
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