Press Release - High Pressure Gravimetric Sorption Analysis

Ref: MSL208
Date: 13 October 2008

Press Release

High pressure gravimetric sorption analysis from Merrow Scientific

Instruments incorporating highly accurate magnetic suspension balances from Rubotherm are available in the UK from Merrow Scientific. Being able to measure the mass of a sample remotely at high precision makes them ideal for gravimetric analysis in sorption measurements, such as in research into the storage of hydrogen in new materials.

Another application is thermogravimetrics, for example in corrosion testing of materials at high temperatures and pressures. Other possible uses are the investigation of gasification processes of biomass or coal, and highly accurate density measurements of gases and liquids.

A key advantage of the Rubotherm instruments is that they use a patented magnetic coupling and control system, which allows samples to be subjected to high pressures or temperatures and corrosive fluids without affecting the measurement. Conventional instruments have a physical link between the sample and the high precision balance, which limits their range of application to pressures of typically 20 bar, whereas the Rubotherm instruments can operate as high as 2000 bar or 2000 deg C.

Masses or mass changes can be measured down to a resolution of 1 microgram, with +/- 2 microgram reproducibility. Using these measurements it is possible to determine transport quantities and state quantities very easily and accurately (sorption, diffusion, surface tension, density), chemical reactions can be investigated (corrosion, decomposition, combustion etc) or production processes can be simulated (polymerization, coating, drying etc).

In addition to fundamental research work and material testing, the magnetic suspension measuring methods can be applied to many processes to design or optimise a great number of industrial operations, such as exhaust gas cleaning, purification and storage of natural gas and hydrogen, gasification of coal, production of plastics, soil detoxification, supercritical fluid extraction, waste incineration, material synthesis and foodstuff manufacturing.

Merrow Scientific will be exhibiting the instruments on Stand 124 at the ChemEng08 exhibition on 28-30 October 2008 at the NEC, Birmingham, UK.

Please contact Merrow Scientific for further information.

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Rubotherm instruments from Merrow Scientific have highly accurate magnetic suspension balances.

Notes for editors

Merrow Scientific is a UK based supplier of laboratory instruments and equipment, inline sensors and processing systems. It supplies these products to the pharmaceutical, chemical, food, petrochemical and other associated industries in the UK and Ireland.

Merrow Scientific Ltd, 195A Epsom Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 2QY, UK