Hiden Isochema announces its new automated turnkey Supercritical Fluid (SCF) system for use with its HTP range of instruments

Although the HTP volumetric and thermal desorption analysers are capable of working at pressures up to 200 bars, a number of gases are supplied from cylinders at much lower pressures. One significant example of this is carbon dioxide, which is typically supplied from cylinders at only 50 bars due to its near-ambient critical point: 31.1 °C, 71.9 bars. Thus, while researchers may be interested in gases in the supercritical phase, cylinders alone cannot supply sufficient pressures without an attached compressor.

The simplicity and convenience of the SCF delivery system means that users need not worry about external complications: It sits entirely within the HTP body, is easily operated using integral software routines, and is able to supply pressures of up to 200 bars without compromising the gas purity due to oil contamination, which is a crucial consideration for high accuracy sorption measurements.

The sorption of supercritical carbon dioxide is currently of significant practical interest, primarily for environmental purposes, namely carbon capture, sequestration and long-term underground storage. Yet pressures greater than 50 bars are required if conditions commonly found underground are to be replicated in the laboratory, which when combined with increased temperatures would force the CO₂ into the supercritical phase.

Image Courtesy of the Colorado Geological Survey

However, now, specifically in response to the demand for new equipment permitting high pressure research with carbon dioxide, Hiden Isochema have developed a low cost integrated supercritical fluid delivery system for the HTP1-V and HTP1-S volumetric and thermal desorption analysers. This delivery system can provide CO₂ pressures of up to 200 bars from a 50 bar cylinder, allowing the measurement of isotherms across the supercritical phase transition without the risk of oil contamination traditionally presented using oil-lubricated rotary compressors.

As the SCF compressor is integral to the HTP instrument, there is no need to worry about compatibility issues or re-routing gas supplies across your laboratory to and from an external compressor. The system functions automatically, controlled by a single click in the HTP software, and can operate continuously as long as the gas supply remains connected. For your safety, the system is fully protected against the possibility of over-pressurisation, with a number of fail-safe systems.

For more information on the HTP series and its new supercritical fluid compression system, please contact us now using our enquiry form or email us directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .