In this study, a proof of concept was conducted for an on-line tar analyzer based on photo ionization detection (PID). Tar model compounds (naphthalene, acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, fluorene, indane and indene) were used for the initial investigation of the analysis method. It was found that the analysis method has a high sensitivity and a linear behavior was observed between the PID response and the tar concentration over a wide concentration span. The on-line tar analysis method was successfully validated against the solid phase adsorption (SPA) method using a real producer gas. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.