Hiden Analytical Ltd. applications

Lyophilization, commonly referred to as freeze drying, is the process of removing water from a product by sublimation and desorption. The freeze drying process is optimised by the introduction of solvents and gas species to improve product quality and to enhance the drying process. Hiden's gas analysers provide detailed information about the gas/vapour composition during both the primary and secondary drying phases. Detection of the on-set of the secondary drying phase is readily detected. Analysis during the secondary drying phase enables a reduction in process cycle time and provides end point detection. Accurate determination of a user defined process 'end point' enables high consistency in product yield from batch to batch.

Hiden gas analysis systems provide for high sensitivity, wide dynamic range, real-time analysis of almost any gas and vapour. Hiden’s application specific gas analysis systems are tailored to meet the specific application requirements, and include a range of special sampling, vacuum pumping and vacuum accessories. Hot zone sampling accessories are included for evolved gas analysis from furnaces, and thermo gravimetric analysers, TGA, for example. Thermal analysis methods are vital for catalysis characterization. For thermal analysis including temperature programmed desorption TPD , temperature programmed oxidation TPO, and temperature programmed reduction TPR, studies, Hiden gas analysis systems include enhanced pumping for hydrogen and special close coupled sampling to the TPD/TPO/TPR reactor for optimum thermal analysis response...

Hiden offers optimized interface coupling to a range of thermal analysis systems including: TGA-MS and TGA/DTA-MS systems: Hiden Isochema IGA - intelligent gravimetric analyser, PerkinElmer-TA Instruments- Netzsch- Mettler Toledo- Seteram Calorimetry: Mass spectrometry for simultaneous evolved gas/calirometry analysis. Evolved gas analysis compliments the calorimetric data providing reaction kinetics data and speciation of reaction off gas. Solid Insertion Probe: An integrated solid insertion probe mass spectrometer system for in-situ TPD studies. Hiden Catlab: An integrated microreactor/mass spectrometer for catalyst characterisation.

In pilot plant and production scale fermentors, information relating to yield of product is of high importance. Hiden's gas analysers are configured with a multiport Off-Gas analysis manifold enabling simultaneous sampling from multiple fermentors. Data is used for the calculation of the respiratory quotient, carbon production rate and oxygen uptake rate. The Off-Gas measurement provides the respiratory quotient in a time and space averaged form and with good response time. By comparison data from multiple dissolved species probes are more specific and can provide information about stirring efficiency, aeration and feed distribution within the fermentor. Dissolved gas measurements have the advantage of giving direct information on gas uptake and for dissolved output rates. Hiden Analyticaloffers systems with either Off-Gas or dissolved species inlets or both.