Air Products says it is setting a new standard in hydrogen purity by launching the first hydrogen gas product to be supplied in the UK with its unique BIP technology
With its assurance of ultra-high purity, this premium hydrogen gas product will have applications in a wide range of industries - in particular, it will improve analytical accuracy and offer lower levels of detection in laboratory applications for the environmental management, pharmaceutical and petrochemical sectors.
Gary Yates, Air Products's European product manager analytical and laboratories, said: "This is the purest hydrogen gas product currently available in the UK - containing less than 20ppb of water, less than 100ppb of oxygen and less than 10ppb of total hydrocarbons - making it perfect for analytical applications".
BIP technology was originally developed by Air Products in 1993 and since then has been successfully used to supply pure helium, nitrogen and argon.
The technology encompasses an internal purifier and patented valve design to deliver ultra-high purity gas to the user.
The main benefits of the technology include improved analytical accuracy, lower levels of detection and enhanced cost efficiency, due to extended column life and the added convenience of not having to use separate purifiers at the point of use.
These benefits are now being extended to hydrogen BIP cylinders for the first time.
For companies involved in environmental emissions control, for example, the new hydrogen BIP cylinders can be used as a carrier gas in gas chromatography, where it is especially important that critical impurities are kept as low as possible to ensure that industrial processes stay within specified emissions limits.
Where flame ionisation detectors (FID) are used, the ultra-high purity hydrogen BIP will bring further performance benefits such as reduced baseline noise and improved accuracy.
Gary Yates concluded: "For those involved in the most critical analytical applications, it is reassuring to know that this is the purest hydrogen available, delivering improved accuracy and the lowest possible limits of detection".
The new hydrogen BIP gases are part of Air Products's Experis range of specialty gases and gas handling equipment and they have been endorsed by the Research Institute of Chromatography in Belgium.
