Methods and systems for managing gas purification

A method for extending useful life of a sorbent, the sorbent being for purifying a gas by sorption of an impurity, the method comprising:

• generating an electrical discharge within the gas to obtain a spectral emission representative of a concentration of the impurity Ci in the gas;
• gradually lowering the concentration of the impurity Ci in the gas by conversion to a secondary impurity having a greater affinity to the sorbent than the impurity, to obtain a pre-treated gas,
• determining the concentration of the impurity Ci according to the spectral emission as the concentration of the impurity is being gradually lowered;
• determining the difference between the concentration of impurity Ci and a known polluting concentration Cp, of the impurity with respect to the sorbent, the polluting concentration Cp being a concentration above which the sorbent is damaged by the impurity, and allowing sorption of the impurity onto the sorbent when Ci<Cp, by contacting the pre-treated gas with the sorbent, to obtain a purified gas;
• or
• preventing the sorption of the impurity onto the sorbent when Ci≥Cp, by preventing the gas from contacting the sorbent, further lowering the concentration of the impurity Ci in the gas, and allowing sorption of the impurity onto the sorbent when Ci<Cp, thereby extending the useful life of the sorbent.