Description
Description
The GX-6100 multigas detector is a powerful hand-held instrument capable of simultaneously monitoring up to 6 gases. In addition to the standard 4 confined space gases which include combustibles, O2, CO, & H2S, the GX-6100 has 2 additional smart channels that accept PID, PPM, IR or super toxic sensors. The updated GX-6100 can measure combustible gases in PPM range and %volume in the same monitor.
Equipped with a strong internal sample pump, a man-down alarm, a panic alarm, an LED flashlight, and large auto rotating LCD display, the GX-6100 can operate as a single gas PID unit or a multifunctional tool utilizing all 6 channels. The GX-6100 with a PID sensor will come equipped with a library of over 600 VOC gases to choose from as standard. Choosing from the library is easy with a personalized favorites list of 30 commonly used VOC’s as well as a list of 8 of the most recently used VOC’s. A benzene-specific version is available using a pre-filter tube for detecting low levels of benzene. Four PID sensors are available, 10.0 eV, 10.6 eV (low or high range), and 11.7 eV. Any combination of two PID sensors can be installed. GX-6100 PID sensors are also resistant to humidity.
The GX-6100 multigas detector has a rugged design built for the nastiest environments. It is equipped with a removable impact-resistant rubber boot and a dust and water resistant enclosure with an IP-67 rating. With 5 bright LED lights on 3 sides of the instrument, alarms are easily seen from a variety of perspectives. With vibration and loud audible alarm, GX-6100 will easily alert users when needed.
Sensors available: LEL, Cl2, CO, CO2, HCN, H2S, NH3, NO2, PH3, SO2, Ammonia, Chlorine, Hydrogen Cyanide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Phosphine, Sulfur Dioxide, Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Hydrocarbon, Hydrogen Sulfide, Carbon Monoxide, Oxygen, % volume measurement of combustibles, and VOC (volatile organic compounds).
6 Operating Modes
- Normal Mode
- Barhole Mode
- Inert Mode
- Leak Check
- Snap Log Mode
- Benzene Specific
Tags: CO Carbon Monoxide Gas Detector, H2S Hydrogen Sulfide Gas Detector, O2 Oxygen Gas Detector
Benzene Detection
Benzene and Where is it found?
Benzene (C₆H₆) is a volatile, colorless, and highly flammable aromatic hydrocarbon composed exclusively of carbon and hydrogen atoms, placing it within the chemical class of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Its molecular structure—a ring of six carbon atoms with alternating double bonds—contributes to both its chemical stability and its ability to evaporate easily into the atmosphere.
Benzene is a naturally occurring component in crude oil and petroleum-based products and is widely encountered across the entire oil and gas value chain, including:
- Upstream operations (eg: drilling platforms, wellheads)
- Midstream processes (eg: pipelines, storage tanks, compressor stations)
- Downstream facilities (eg: refineries, chemical plants)
Health and Safety Implications
Benzene is classified as a Group 1 human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). It has been definitively linked to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and other blood disorders due to its ability to disrupt bone marrow function, even at relatively low concentrations.
The American Petroleum Institute (API)stated as early as 1948: “It is generally considered that the only absolutely safe concentration for benzene is zero.”
The compound’s high volatility means that inhalation is the primary route of occupational exposure, especially in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.
Regulatory exposure recommendations include:
- OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL): 1 part per million (ppm) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA)
- NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 0.1 ppm TWA over 8 hours
- NIOSH Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) level: 500 ppm
- ACGIH TLV: 0.02 ppm TWA over 8 hours
Due to the hazardous nature of benzene, NIOSH recommends the use of supplied-air respirators or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) when concentrations exceed the REL. In addition, continuous gas monitoring is essential for protecting workers during operations involving potential benzene release.
RKI’s Solution for Benzene Detection: The GX-6100 with PID Technology
RKI Instruments offers a targeted and effective solution for benzene detection through the GX-6100 multi-gas monitor, equipped with a 10.0 eV Photoionization Detector (PID) and specialized benzene filtration tube.
Benzene-Specific Detection Using 10.0 eV PID + Filtration Tube
Benzene’s ionization potential is low enough to be effectively ionized by a 10.0eV PID lamp, while many other interfering compounds with higher ionization energies are excluded. When used in combination with RKI’s benzene-specific filter tube, this system removes common VOC interferences, allowing the PID to focus solely on benzene molecules.
Benzene Measuring Mode Uses Temperature to Determine Sampling Time
The GX-6100 can utilize the 10.0 PID lamp in a normal VOC monitoring mode with the ability to detect 300 different VOC’s including benzene. In Benzene Specific Mode, the GX-6100 will automatically determine the appropriate sampling time to measure benzene through the filter tube based on the current temperature, which can be anywhere from 35 to 135 seconds.
Dual PID Function
The GX-6100 is the only gas monitor with the capability of operating 2 PID lamps in one instrument! Add a second PID lamp to the GX-6100 alongside the benzene specific 10.0 PID lamp and now this instrument is doing the work of 2 gas monitors. This provides monitoring for a broad range of VOC’s with a library of over 600 VOC compounds, to work in concert with the ability to switch to Benzene Specific Mode at any time.
Smart Sensor Wells
The GX-6100 has 2 smart sensor wells where PID (4 lamp options available), IR, and EC sensors can be switched and automatically recognized by the instrument. This flexibility tailors the GX-6100 to match a variety of specific applications from a single instrument.
Versatile Multi-Gas Monitoring Platform
The GX-6100 is more than just a PID monitor. It supports up to six simultaneous gas sensors, allowing for comprehensive atmospheric monitoring in a single device. Available sensor configurations include:
- LEL/%Vol/ppm Hydrocarbons (combustible gas detection)
- Oxygen (O₂)
- Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S)
- Carbon Monoxide (CO)
- Smart EC toxic sensors for: NH3, Cl2, HCN NO2, PH3, & SO2
- Photoionization Detectors (PID) with four optional lamps:
– 10.6 eV (broad range VOCs low range)
– 10.6 eV (broad range VOCs high range)
– 11.7 eV (high-sensitivity VOCs)
– 10.0 eV (benzene-selective with filter tube)
