Production of pharmaceuticals is typically done by mixing components in a reactor, which can range from small, tabletop glass labware all the way to large, industrial sized vessels with mixers. Many components can be explosive or flammable, and to prevent danger the contents will be covered with a blanket of inert nitrogen. This nitrogen ensures that the minimum oxygen concentration of whatever solvent vapors may be present is not reached.
Creating a nitrogen blanket can be done by continuously feeding nitrogen into the headspace of the vessels, however being able to measure O2 levels to determine if the vessel needs more gas can save nitrogen, which would lower costs. Using an analyzer along with a PLC or DCS system allows the flow of N2 to be shut off when the atmosphere reaches a safe oxygen level.
The OMD-150 is suited for constant, inline headspace analysis, as it can be configured to measure the percent levels of oxygen required to ensure safety in pharmaceutical processes and is housed in a NEMA 4X/IP66 enclosure so it is able to be hosed down while cleaning. The OMD-480 provides the same precision electrochemical sensing technology in a rugged, portable package suitable for spot-checking the headspace of tanks.
