Laboratories and research labs need our mass spectrometers for both qualitative and quantitative analysis, as well as our CRDS gas analyzers for high purity measurement.  We have many independent and institutional laboratory installations. With the continuous transformation in the Research industries especially now due to COVID-19, there is a growing need for fast, reliable, high performance analytical instrumentation and solutions for these laboratories.   Our analytical technologies and solutions will help you make better process control adjustments, increase product quality, improve reliability, and reduce risks to your plant, personnel, and the environment. 

Process Insights:  We are revolutionizing measurement everywhere™!

Metrology

The scientific study of measurement, metrology, is an important component of numerous industries around the world.  They use high-purity and specialty gases, calibration gas mixtures, and pure gases, and gas distribution systems.

We are a Swiss Accreditation Service ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory (SCS 0125) for humidity and temperature calibration. The uncertainties of our calibration are amongst the lowest available, and we provide fast turnaround times for the calibration of any type of hygrometer or thermometer. We are also an accredited calibration laboratory (D-K-21411-01) for humidity and temperature accredited by the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS) according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025. 

Our TIGER OPTICS™ Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) Technology is a standard bearer for a growing number of major research centers and national metrology institutes around the globe. Now our CRDS gas analyzers are in 22 national metrology institutes worldwide. They serve as transfer standards and for research into such issues as global warming and acid rain, and prized for their proven precision, excellent stability, rapid response, and dynamic range (four+ orders of magnitude).

• Humidity standards and generators, calibration transfer and reference standards, test method validation, and sensor calibration
• ppt – ppb – ppm levels of O₂, H₂O, HCl, CH₄, NH₃ and more
• Oxygen safety monitoring

Academic & Advanced Research

Researchers studying the use of catalysts strive to better understand how they function and respond under different conditions. Tracking the inlet and outlet of the reactor helps the investigator develop an understanding of the catalytic reaction.  Extrel provides a wide range of gas analyzer solutions for catalysis research and development.

Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) is used to detect and characterize trace elements at or near the surface of a solid or thin film allowing researchers to understand the chemical composition of the surface.  This surface science technique requires the use of systems with very high sensitivity and the ability to perform high resolution energy analysis. SIMS is useful for a wide variety of surface analysis. For example, SIMS can be used to detect and analyze contaminants on a surface, analyze materials and devices to ensure the quality of specific products, and study atomic scale defects that may occur in the manufacturing of semiconductor chips or other materials.   

Temperature Programmed Desorption (TPD) is one of the most widely used surface analysis techniques available for materials research scientists. To analyze material compositions, surface interactions and surface contaminates.

Scientists involved in the study of Materials Research are analyzing the surfaces, structures, and properties of various materials for many industries. This requires the use of a mass spectrometer with not only high sensitivity and resolution, but also precise ionization control and energy analysis capabilities.  Scientists rely on our EXTREL™ quadrupole mass spectrometer systems and components for surface analysis of various materials that are used every day in an array of industries including semiconductor, aerospace, biomedical, nuclear, ceramics, automotive and medical/surgical. 

Materials & Catalysis Research

Materials and catalysis improve the properties of materials through computational design, experimental characterization, and synthetic approaches, and industrial processes (methanol synthesis, Fischer Tropsch synthesis, hydroisomerisation, ammonia synthesis, epoxidation and other selective hydrogenation and oxidation reactions in both gas and liquid phase). Our analytical components, instruments and systems for catalysis development address research areas ranging from ultra-fast, ultra-high vacuum desorption studies to the quantification of reaction gas products in real time.

Our quadrupole mass spec solutions offer:

• TPD/R/O Research Gas Analysis – system configurations are available to match a wide range of reactor designs and experimental conditions.
• Thermal Analysis Mass Spectrometry – equipped to import a start-of-heating signal from the TGA, and can be configured to perform calculations and trend data, or output the data for viewing and manipulation on a different platform.
• Laboratory Gas Analysis – provides true quantitative analysis of complex gas mixture, can monitor an unlimited number of components with an analytical precision of +/-0.0025% (on 1% argon signal) and 30-day stability of just +/-0.005%.
• UHV Temperature Programmed Desorption – fully configured UHV compatible quadrupoles that allow for detection of partial pressures at the 10-16 mbar level, with both axial and right-angle sampling options to suit chamber geometry.
• Cluster Size Selection & Deposition – ranges as high as 16,000 amu and with resolution sufficient enough to separate single atom differences in clusters for atoms larger than 20 amu.
• Transient Kinetic Analysis – tri-filter quadrupole MS system which ideally suited to steady state isotopic transient kinetic analysis, offers ultra-fast digital detection, achieving measurement speed up to 10,000 data points/sec. Data acquisition is synchronized with gas pulse valves via the on-board input/output channels from the spectrometer control system.
• Molecular Beam Sampling – crossbeam sampling configuration which significantly improves signal-to-noise over axial sampling arrangements, and deflects the ionized gas phase species through 90°, separating them from photons, metastables, particulates and molecular beam gases.
• Pure gas analysis, packaging, TGA (and other thermal processes), laser ablation, plasma studies, outgassing studies, clusters research, reaction monitoring, loading/unloading, inhibitor breakthrough, and purifier development
• O₂, H₂O, H₂, C1-C10+ hydrocarbons, chlorides, and other compounds

LASER ABLATION

Materials that are analyzed using the Laser Ablation application include those among the following industries: Semiconductor, Aerospace, Nanomaterials, Biomedical, and Nuclear. To perform surface analysis, surface cleaning, and the removal and redistribution of specific materials, deposition and Carbon Nanotube production, researchers rely on the application of Laser Ablation. Laboratory scientists depend on our MAX System Mass Spectrometers for most of these applications. Coupled with high performance and high speed, these detection systems also provide high sensitivity and high abundance sensitivity to monitor low level components in a high background.

We also offer Plasma Analysis/Molecular Beam Systems that give our MAX-LT Systems the ability to monitor higher pressure applications. Various mass range options allow the user to measure all parameters necessary, from measurements of atomic hydrogen levels to Carbon Nanotubes.

OUTGASSING STUDIES

Analysts use Outgassing Studies to determine the chemical and physical properties of materials that are under various temperature and pressure conditions.  Outgassing research analyzes materials used in the production of aerospace and semiconductor devices. This application is also well-suited to analyze devices such as medical/surgical equipment, automotive parts and high precision ceramics, where high quality results are critical for successful research studies.

To perform Outgassing Studies, Mass Spectrometers that provide high sensitivity and high resolution are needed. Our MAX-QMS™ and MAX-LT™ Mass Spectrometer Systems meet these needs. Along with high sensitivity up to 6 mA/Torr, the MAX-QMS and MAX-LT Systems give users the ability to measure both water and other possible contaminants. The Merlin Automation™ Data System provides the user with the ability to monitor outgassing during a short experiment, continuously for days or even weeks.

HELIUM SCATTERING

One technique used to characterize the physical and electronic properties of the surface of a material is Helium Scattering using mass spectrometry. A beam of atoms, usually Helium, is aimed at a surface, and atoms from the surface are ejected. Mass Filters are used to measure the atoms that are scattered, and to pinpoint the angle and time at which the scattering atoms are being released (time of flight analysis). Since the events of this non-destructive surface science method happen quickly, this application requires the use of mass filters that provide high stability and fast response times. Our Quadrupole Mass Filters and RF/DC Power Supplies are the ideal choice for Scattering applications.

Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry 

Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) is used to detect and characterize trace elements at or near the surface of a solid or thin film allowing researchers to understand the chemical composition of the surface. 

This surface science technique requires the use of systems with very high sensitivity and the ability to perform high resolution energy analysis. SIMS is useful for a wide variety of surface analysis. For example, SIMS can be used to detect and analyze contaminants on a surface, analyze materials and devices to ensure the quality of specific products, and study atomic scale defects that may occur in the manufacturing of semiconductor chips or other materials. 

TEMPERATURE PROGRAMMED DESORPTION

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is a powerful approach to the study of the thermal behavior of solid and liquid samples.  The interface of TGA with a quadrupole mass spectrometer allows the researcher to characterize and quantify the compounds in the off-gas in real-time along with each mass loss.

Pure Water & Wastewater

Ultra-pure water (UPW) is water that has been purified to high levels of specification. Ultra-pure water is essential to every laboratory.  UPW must not contain any detectable endotoxins. This level of purity makes it a perfect reagent for laboratory work.  UPW is used in the semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries. The quality of water is defined through a series of measurements of conductivity (µS/cm) or resistivity (MΩ-cm), Total Organic Carbon (TOC) in parts per billion (ppb), and bacterial count (CFU/ml).

• Water influent and effluent discharge control
• Process control, high purity, oil in water, cooling water, condensate return, water-steam cycles, and environmental compliance
• Total Organic Carbon (TOC) in water

Fuel & Energy

Fuel cells are seen as a future alternative to fossil fuels. Many institutions are performing fuel cell research with a focus on commercializing the technology. Typically, an experiment includes a bench scale version of a catalytic process reaction in which the inlet composition is tightly controlled, and the outlet components vary based on fuel cell conditions.   In order to determine conversion and efficiency, researchers need to be able to measure the composition of the fuel cell inlet and outlet. Typical laboratory mass spectrometers have been used for years to identify the unknowns.

Our MAX300-LG Laboratory Mass Spectrometer has the ability to continuously measure the known components, as well as the unknowns, is what makes the MAX300-LG the ideal analyzer for fuel cell research. This laboratory mass spectrometer provides the sensitivity and detection limits needed for these types of reactions, especially for hydrogen measurements.

Our TIGER OPTICS™ CRDS gas analyzer, Prismatic™ 3, is ideally suited for fuel-cell hydrogen purity monitoring throughout the entire hydrogen supply chain—from production to transportation and storage to the fueling station. This compact CRDS gas analyzer offers simultaneous detection of H₂O, CO, CO₂ and CH₄ from parts-per-billion to parts-per-million levels to ensure purity requirements in line with SAE J2719 and ISO 14687:2019.

Sterilization

A sterilant gas is ethylene oxide gas or hydrogen peroxide that can destroy or inactivate many types of microorganisms.  Sterilant gas monitoring is the detection of hazardous gases used by health care and other facilities to sterilize medical supplies that cannot be sterilized by heat or steam methods. Continuous gas analyzers are used as part of the safety program to provide prompt alerts to nearby workers in the event that there is a leak of the sterilant gas.  

• Measure sterilant gas concentration in real-time under ambient or vacuum conditions
• Monitor H₂O₂ and H₂O, Ethylene Oxide, NOx for cycle development of sterilization chamber, filling isolators and resistometers
• Optical RH and relative saturation measurements
• Sterilization process control, logging, or troubleshooting
• Independent reference for potential load production release

Our GUIDED WAVE™ ClearView db® HPV Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor analyzers can be used in sterilization and virus deactivation processes to monitor the concentration of hydrogen peroxide vapor, which is commonly used as a disinfectant. Here is how they work:

1. Hydrogen peroxide vapor is introduced into the sterilization or decontamination chamber to disinfect the area.

2. The guided wave hydrogen vapor photometer uses a light source to produce a beam of light that is transmitted through the vapor in the chamber.

3. The hydrogen peroxide molecules in the vapor absorb some of the light at a specific wavelength, which causes the intensity of the transmitted light to decrease.

4. The photometer measures the decrease in light intensity, which is proportional to the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the vapor.

5. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide is displayed on a monitor, allowing the operator to monitor the sterilization or decontamination process.

Environmental Research, Safety & Compliance

Laboratories contain significant risks, and the prevention of laboratory accidents requires great care and reliable instrumentation and analytical solutions.  Laboratory operations use hazardous chemicals and equipment, which may pose health hazards and physical hazards to laboratory personnel. Gas leaks in the laboratory are often difficult to detect and cause serious consequences.  Some risks include asphyxiation, fire or explosion from compressed gases.  The Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) was created specifically for non-production laboratories.

• Ambient air analysis, pyrolysis, natural materials, isotopic analysis, greenhouse gas monitoring
• Full composition and trace gas analyzers for atmospheric chemistry and environmental research
• River water, contamination, and wastewater monitoring
• Climatic chamber and glovebox moisture, temperature and dew point sensor validation
• Trace gas analyzers for compounds, including H₂O, O₂, H₂, CH₄, NH₃, CO, CO₂, N₂, Ar, He, VOC, HAPs, hydrocarbons, etc.