Air Server™: on-line / canister automation

Series 2 Air Server options include:

3- or 8-channel modules offering round-the-clock on-line air/gas monitoring
The 8-channel CIA 8 unit; featuring thermostatted flow path and internal standard addition for automated and method-compliant canister/bag analysis

Air Server (AS)-3 and AS-8 modules are integrated onto the side of UNITY. The CIA 8 is housed in a separate box.

All series 2 Air Server options add to any (ULTRA-)UNITY 2 system to allow a controlled flow of air/gas to be introduced directly into the electrically cooled focusing trap of the desorber. The combined systems offer state-of-the-art canister analysis and on-line air/gas monitoring. They operate cryogen-free, offer optimum analytical performance/sensitivity and include method-compliant tube desorption capability as an integrated bonus.

Series 2 Air Server main features:

Minimum 3 channels for sequencing between sample, zero and standard air/gas streams during unattended on-line monitoring
Low gas consumption for reduced running costs and higher uptime
Retention of ultra-volatiles such as acetylene from up to 1.5 L air combined with peerless high-resolution capillary GC (even under splitless conditions) ensure optimum sensitivity to ppt levels
Small footprint: Especially useful for installation in mobile labs
8-channel options offer high throughput analysis of canisters, bags, etc.
Thermostatted flow path and internal standard addition options for compliance with US EPA Method TO-15 and other canister standards
Flexible splitting options and negligible carryover allow analysis of both high and low concentration samples
Versatile water management options for analysis of both dry and humid air/gas samples
Connects to any GC/GCMS, process MS or e-nose system.

Key applications – odour and environmental

The state-of-the-art electrically-cooled focusing trap at the heart of series 2 UNITY-Air Server meets and exceeds the demands of ambient air monitoring standards. Regulated methods/applications addressed by this system include:

Ozone Precursors – on-line monitoring of hydrocarbons from acetylene to tri-methyl benzene.
- Typically addressed using UNITY 2 with integrated 3-channel Air Server option
- quantitative retention of acetylene from 1500 mL of air and the option of splitless desorption offer FID detection limits below 10 ppt for many target compounds.
- Series 2 UNITY-Air Server compatible with both single and dual column analytical options
Analysis of Air Toxics in canisters (US EPA Method TO-15).
- Includes ~100 target VOCs known as "Air Toxics" ranging in volatility from methyl chloride and freons to hexachlorobutadiene
- Series 2 UNITY- CIA 8 with GCMS offers, cryogen-free automated canister analysis with peerless chromatographic performance/sensitivity and complementary tube desorption capability
- The thermostatted flow path and internal standard addition of CIA 8 ensure method compliance
On-line monitoring of industrial and land fill odours
- Typically addressed using UNITY 2 with integrated 3- or 8-channel Air Server option and customized focusing trap. Systems operate on-line and round-the-clock.
- Target analytes typically include volatile reduced sulphur compounds (hydrogen sulphide, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl sulphide and dimethyldisulphide)
- Markes systems are field-proven to provide repeatable and reliable performance at low to sub-ppb concentrations.

Industrial applications

Industrial gas streams:

Series 2 UNITY-Air Server systems can be combined with conventional GC(MS) or process analysers (GC, MS, ensose) to monitor industrial gas streams. Examples include:

Trace benzene and oxygenates in food-grade CO₂
Freons such as C₂F₆ in stack and vent gases

Health and safety:

Some chemical processing activities involve extremely toxic compounds. These processes need monitoring continuously to minimize risk to personnel

Technical and commercial information on UNITY 2 Air Server options

For part numbers and pricing please contact your local Markes distributor

Relevant technical support publications from Markes International can be automatically downloaded from this web site (registration required). Examples include:

Brochure – Series 2 UNITY
Brochure - Series 2 ULTRA and variants
Brochure – Series 2 Air Server options
TDTS 15 - On-line process control of speciated organic chemicals in carbon dioxide and other industrial gases at sub-ppb levels
TDTS 16 - Round the clock, on-line and cryogen-free monitoring of hydrocarbons from acetylene to trimethyl benzene in ambient air
TDTS 32 Analysis of sulphur compounds using TD-GC(-MS)

Other thermal desorption instrumentation available from Markes International includes:

UNITY 2 platform thermal desorber for single tubes
ULTRA 2 multi-tube autosampler for UNITY 2 TD
ULTRA 50:50 Automated thermal desorber with single autosampler re-collectionAuto-DAAMS TD system for the analysis of 4.5-inch DAAMS tubes in chemical warfare agent analysis
AutoSecureTD system - Fully automated system
Mass Flow Control Accessory
TT24-7 near real time monitoring

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