Gas chromatography (GC) is a widely used technique in separation science that plays a vital role in analyzing and quantifying individual components in sample mixtures. This technique involves vaporizing the sample and introducing it into a column filled with solid or semi-solid packing material.
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The unique physicochemical properties and interaction of each component with the solid phase cause them to elute from the column at different rates, allowing for the thorough characterization of mixed samples using a detector, such as a flame ionization detector (FID) or a mass spectrometer (MS).
However, the accuracy of any gas chromatograph heavily relies on the reliability of the system, which can only be verified through gas calibration.
Conventional calibration gas mixtures, although widely used, have several issues. They can represent a significant and ongoing cost, which can account for a large portion of a laboratory’s budget for consumable resources.
Laboratories are not guaranteed consistent gas mixtures when sourcing cylinders. Fortunately, a cost-effective and reliable alternative is available in the form of custom gas mixers.
These mixers enable users to blend two or more gas flows to produce a specific mixture in-house, providing significant benefits for gas calibration. In this article, five crucial advantages of using bespoke gas mixing systems will be discussed.
Tailored to the User’s Needs
A consistent and repeatable mixture of gases can be produced using gas mixers, unlike cylinders, whose gas composition can vary due to changes in pressure and temperature.
Improved Accuracy and Flexibility
In addition to improving the consistency of gas mixtures, a custom gas mixer also enhances the accuracy of calibrations. Moreover, a custom system enables the adjustment of gas mixtures on-the-fly, which is not possible with pre-filled cylinders.
Enhanced Safety
Using a gas mixer eliminates the need to handle and store multiple cylinders, which significantly reduces the risk of hazards and accidents.
Standard gas mixing systems have intrinsic safety benefits, but custom systems can be engineered to include specific safety features suitable for the application, further mitigating workplace risks.
Greater Efficiency
Customized gas mixers are optimized for individual processes and requirements, providing significant efficiency gains across the entire workflow.
A better mixing process that involves reduced mixing periods frees up operator time and enables greater efficiency throughout the laboratory. Additionally, it is possible to optimize gas mixers for ease of maintenance, which reduces downtime and repair costs.
Lower Costs
Although the initial investment cost of purchasing a custom gas mixer can be high, it quickly justifies the expense by eliminating the need to purchase multiple cylinders.
Depending on the number and types of cylinders required for GC calibration, this approach may also lead to reduced waste and greater overall resource efficiency.
The Series 4000: An Affordable Gas Mixing Solution
Environics has been a global supplier of gas mixers to laboratories for more than 20 years, assisting users in gas chromatography calibration. The company’s gas mixers are capable of generating precise gas calibration standards for research applications that require specific mixtures.
Environics’ Series 4000 is a cost-effective, flagship gas mixing system used to produce gas calibration standards, atmospheric gases, and gas mixtures for research purposes.
The system can be connected to a computer through USB or Bluetooth, offering remote control capabilities, canister filling, and optional alarms through an easy-to-use application.
The Series 4000 is a versatile solution suitable for various applications, with the ability to mix up to seven gases simultaneously. Additional gas circuits are also available, and there are a range of operating modes to choose from.
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Environics, Inc.
For more information on this source, please visit Environics, Inc.