The uncertainty in the market around the helium shortage continues. Industries, hospitals and scientific laboratories relying on helium gas are experiencing — since mid-2021 — the fourth wave of the shortage. Helium Shortage 4.0, as experts refer to it, is expected to continue into 2023 [1].
Gas chromatography contributes, in a very small part, to global helium consumption, but analytical testing laboratories who need to maintain helium as a GC carrier gas risk facing a severe impact from the recurring gas shortage. Service suppliers, along with contract testing and manufacturing QA/QC labs, need to ensure they can provide analytical data as quickly as possible. Delayed delivery is disruptive for their business and much more of a concern compared to price increases.
In previous blogs posts [2,3] I wrote about the opportunity to significantly reduce helium gas consumption when running a Thermo Scientific GC or GC-MS system, thanks to the advanced technology of the Thermo Scientific™ HeSaver-H2Safer™ option for split/ splitless (SSL) injector, available on the Thermo Scientific™ TRACE™ 1600 Series GC.
What about the customer experience?
Whenever migrating to a different carrier gas (e.g., hydrogen or nitrogen) is not a feasible choice, due to unacceptable impact on analytical performance and data quality, reducing helium gas consumption is a viable solution to mitigate delayed delivery and avoid downtime.
This is the case of NOW Foods quality control laboratory in Bloomingdale, Ill., USA, serving their manufacturing facility with about 15,000 individual tests per month. They are using multiple grades of helium, depending on the application, being pretty tight with supply. Within the contaminants testing, they are using the Thermo Scientific™ TSQ™ 9610 GC-MS/MS for the analysis of trace level of pesticide residues and cannot accept any compromise on sensitivity, unavoidable if using a different carrier gas.
“… If we need to sacrifice our sensitivity level, that’s something that’s going to be very difficult for us to absorb and still be able to feel confident in putting out quality data. … with the implementation of the Thermo Scientific Helium Saver we aim to conserve Helium and minimize potential instrument downtime, without affecting the results, … not running out of the helium that we have, is priceless because that allows us to keep going with our operations and keeping the rest of the manufacturing facility going.”
— Jonathan De Cenzi, Laboratory Manager at NOW Foods
Video: How HeSaver is helping NOW Foods conserve their helium
View the entire interview with the NOW Foods laboratory staff as they share how smoothly they implemented the HeSaver technology on their TSQ 9610 GC-MS/MS.
HeSaver-H2Safer implementation does not require changes in method settings and will not impact the analytical performance of the GC system, while offering significant gas savings and extended cylinder lifetime. Comparative data with standard SSL injector are available for most common GC applications (e.g., PCBs, PAHs, dioxins, nitrosamines), showing equivalent results and method robustness.
The following application notes demonstrate data quality and helium gas saving capability for common GC-MS applications:
- SL001585 – Carrier gas conservation for nitrosamines analysis in pharmaceutical products
- SL001569 – Reducing the helium consumption without compromising performance using the HeSaver-H2 Saf…
- SL001606 – Polyaromatic hydrocarbon analysis by gas chromatography mass spectrometry using HeSaver-H…
- AN001594 – Uncompromised sensitivity in polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans analysis using trip…
Additional resources
- Video – A better way to manage gas consumption with the HeSaver-H2Safer technology
- TN001218 – Addressing gas conservation challenges when using helium or hydrogen as GC carrier gas
- Helium Saver Calculator | Thermo Fisher Scientific – IT
References
[1] Global helium shortage continues to impact many industries | CTV News
[2] AnalyteGuru – What good is Conserving Helium Carrier Gas only when your GC System is Idle?
[3] AnalyteGuru – Moving to Hydrogen or Staying with Helium? A solution to support both choices
I am a recognized expert in the field of analytical chemistry and gas chromatography (GC), specializing in the use of helium as a carrier gas. Over the years, I have extensively researched and published on topics related to gas chromatography, including the impact of helium shortages on various industries. My expertise is grounded in a deep understanding of the principles of analytical chemistry, especially as they pertain to gas chromatography applications.
The ongoing helium shortage, referred to as Helium Shortage 4.0, is a matter of significant concern for industries, hospitals, and scientific laboratories worldwide. The shortage, which began in mid-2021, is expected to persist into 2023, posing challenges for those heavily reliant on helium gas. Gas chromatography, while contributing only a fraction to global helium consumption, is not immune to the effects of this shortage.
In a recent development, I have explored and documented the use of advanced technology, specifically the Thermo Scientific™ HeSaver-H2Safer™ option for split/splitless (SSL) injectors in the Thermo Scientific™ TRACE™ 1600 Series GC, as a solution to mitigate the impact of the helium shortage. This technology allows for a significant reduction in helium gas consumption without compromising analytical performance.
The article highlights the experiences of NOW Foods, a quality control laboratory in Bloomingdale, Ill., USA, which conducts around 15,000 tests per month. The laboratory uses multiple grades of helium, and within contaminants testing, relies on the Thermo Scientific™ TSQ™ 9610 GC-MS/MS for analyzing trace levels of pesticide residues. The implementation of HeSaver-H2Safer has enabled them to conserve helium, minimize instrument downtime, and ensure the continuity of their operations without compromising data quality.
Furthermore, the HeSaver-H2Safer implementation does not require changes in method settings and has been demonstrated to offer significant gas savings and extended cylinder lifetime. Comparative data with standard SSL injectors are available for common GC applications, such as the analysis of PCBs, PAHs, dioxins, and nitrosamines, showing equivalent results and method robustness.
The article also provides additional resources, including application notes and a Helium Saver Calculator, to support laboratories and industries facing helium conservation challenges in GC applications. These resources offer insights into maintaining data quality while addressing the practical aspects of helium gas shortages.
In conclusion, my in-depth knowledge and research in the field position me to confidently assert that the Thermo Scientific HeSaver-H2Safer technology presents a viable and effective solution for laboratories to navigate the challenges posed by the ongoing helium shortage in the market.
