Gas Generators
Problem: In almost any laboratory or scientific research facility today, there are numerous devices, instruments or processes that require cryogenic fluids or gases supplied from cryogenic sources. The past quarter-century has seen cryogenic liquid cylinders expand from a rarity in laboratories with relatively few applications, to become the dominant mode of supplying high-purity gas and cryogenic fluids.
"More laboratories are opting to generate their own gas, on-site," said John Speranza, Vice President of Global Sales at Proton OnSite. "For Gas Chromatographers (GC) who are struggling to source inexpensive helium gas, hydrogen is the superior carrier gas alternative..."
Helium is commonly used as the makeup gas for flame ionization detection in gas chromatography;
however, dramatic increases in cost and limited availability in recent years have led many chromatographers to use nitrogen in its place.
Chemical processing and analysis are fueling a resurgence of interest in highly purified specialty gases. Novel gas-phase chemical reactions reduce the number of unit operations and side products while eliminating the disposal of toxic solvents.
Gas generators have become an alternative to high-pressure gas cylinders for supplying laboratory applications with high purity hydrogen, nitrogen, and zero-air. Until now, there has been no generator option for supplying high purity oxygen. Small pressure swing adsorption (PSA)-based oxygen generators are available for medical applications but do not offer the high purity generally required in the laboratory.
The business benefits of on-site hydrogen generation for gas chromatography
The new Parker Balston H2PEMPD Hydrogen Generator will replace dangerous, expensive cylinders of hydrogen fuel gases and helium carrier gases in the laboratory, allowing users to supply, control, and automate all hydrogen gas supplies.
If you’ve had to lug a tank of gas to an experiment station and secure it in place, you know the hassle and danger involved.
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is the fastest-growing GC method. Mass detection, which can take a variety of forms based on the MS component, provides a dimension that conventional thermal conductivity or flame ionization detectors cannot.
