Abstract: A method and system for controlling plant and other gaseous emissions from processes and stacks by decomposing predetermined components, particularly vinyl chloride, of these emissions by exposure to ultraviolet radiation to form less hazardous materials which then are absorbed in a scrubber. This results in the substantial elimination of vinyl chloride and most of the other decomposition products from being ejected into the atmosphere.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing gaseous mixtures by decomposing predetermined components of a sample of the mixture with ultraviolet radiation and thereafter measuring the amount of decomposition products produced as an indirect determination of the composition of the original sample. In one embodiment, the apparatus can measure the presence of less than one part per million of vinyl chloride in air by scrubbing a sample of gas to remove interfering compounds, decomposing the vinyl chloride by exposure to ultraviolet radiation, measuring the decomposition products by absorbing them in deionized water, and determining the change in electrical conductivity of the resulting solution as a measure of the amount of vinyl chloride in the sample.