HCN hydrogen sensor

exhaustelectrochemicalfor real-time measuring

Product Overview
Smart cartridge designed by Kunak that integrates a sensor capable of accurately and reliably measuring hydrogen cyanide levels.

• HCN sensor with GasPlug TECHNOLOGY and patented design
• Provides reliable real-time data on hydrogen cyanide (HCN)

Where is it found?
Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is a colorless, highly volatile, and flammable liquid that evaporates quickly. It occurs both naturally and as a result of industrial activities.

• Found in mines, specifically gold mining operations
• Present in combustion processes, such as vehicle exhaust and biomass burning
• Used in industrial applications, especially in the production of plastics (like acrylonitrile), synthetic fibers, dyes, pesticides, and electroplating

Why measure it?
HCN is extremely toxic due to its interference with the body’s ability to use oxygen. Acute exposure can lead to headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, rapid breathing, and loss of consciousness. High concentrations can cause seizures, respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, and death within minutes. Long-term, low-level exposure can lead to neurological problems, respiratory issues, and thyroid dysfunction.
Due to its high toxicity and volatility, hydrogen cyanide is classified as a highly hazardous air pollutant and is strictly regulated in occupational and environmental settings.
HCN Cartridge Features
The HCN cartridge features an integrated electrochemical sensor capable of detecting both low concentrations of HCN (below 1 ppm) and higher levels, up to 50 ppm, with an accuracy of ±0.10 ppm. However, the HCN sensor exhibits significant cross-sensitivity to SO₂ and NO₂.
To ensure maximum accuracy when high concentrations of NO₂ and SO₂ are expected, it is recommended to use NO₂, O₃, and SO₂ cartridges alongside the HCN cartridge. This setup allows the Kunak algorithm to compensate for cross-sensitivity and deliver more precise measurements.
Technical specifications
Type: Electrochemical
Unit of measurement: mg/m³, ppm
Measurement range: 0 – 50 ppm
Resolution: 0.01 ppm
Operating temperature range: -20 to 45ºC
Recommended RH range: 0 to 99 %RH
Operating life: > 24 months
Guarantee range: 200 ppm
Limit of Detection (LOD): 0.02 ppm
Repeatability: 0.03 ppm
Response time: < 160 sec
Typical accuracy (MAE): ±0.1 ppm
Typical intra-model variability: < 0.1 ppm

• Measurement range: concentration range measured by the sensor.
• Resolution: smallest unit of measurement that can be indicated by the sensor.
• Operating temperature range: temperature interval at which the sensor is rated to operate safely and provide measurements.
• Operating RH range (Recommended RH range): humidity interval at which the sensor is rated to operate safely and provide measurements.
• Operating life: time period during which the sensor can operate effectively and accurately under normal conditions.
• Guarantee range: concentration range covered by Kunak's guarantee.
• LOD (Limit Of Detection): measured at laboratory conditions at 20ºC and 50% RH. The limit of detection is the minimum concentration that can be detected as significantly different from zero gas concentration, based on the metric from the Technical Specification CEN/TS 17660-1:2022.
• Repeatability (measured at laboratory conditions at 20ºC and 50% RH): closeness of the agreement between the results of successive measurements of the same measure carried out under the same conditions of measurement, based on the metric from the Technical Specification CEN/TS 17660-1:2022.
• Response time: time needed by the sensor to reach 90% of the final stable value.
• Mean Absolute Error: it is the average mean absolute error (MAE) obtained between the device hourly measurements and reference instruments for 1 to 8 months field test between -10 to +30ºC in different countries.
• Typical intra-model variability: calculated as the standard deviation of the three sensor means in 1 to 8 months field test between -10 to +30ºC in different countries.

Characteristics / Technical Specifications

• Type: Electrochemical
• Unit of measurement: mg/m³, ppm
• Measurement range: 0 – 50 ppm
• Resolution: 0.01 ppm
• Operating temperature range: -20 to 45ºC
• Recommended RH range: 0 to 99 %RH
• Operating life: > 24 months
• Guarantee range: 200 ppm
• Limit of Detection (LOD): 0.02 ppm
• Repeatability: 0.03 ppm
• Response time: < 160 sec
• Typical accuracy (MAE): ±0.1 ppm
• Typical intra-model variability: < 0.1 ppm