FTIR instrumentation requires an environment free from water and CO2 to protect the optical and electronic components and to assure high signal to noise ratios. This can be achieved by operating in a nitrogen environment or with a purge gas generator. Balston purge gas systems, which have been specifically designed for FTIR instruments, offer several advantages over nitrogen. The generators eliminate the storage and safety problems associated with nitrogen dewars, they are cheaper than nitrogen and, most important, they are more effective. Users experience cleaner backgrounds with Balston purge gas systems than can be achieved with nitrogen. Water vapor is removed to –100°F (-73°C) dew point with no suspended impurities larger than 0.01 microns and CO2 is reduced to less than 1ppm. All systems are designed for 24 hour per day continuous operation. Payback vs. nitrogen can be less than one (1) year.
Purge gas systems are available for use with your laboratory instrument air supply or with self contained oil free compressors. Self-contained systems are available for use with 110 volt and 220 volt current with country-specific cord sets.