Rapid BET Measurement & Evaluation Software BELCONTROL
The performance and quality of many manufactured materials such as silicas, aluminas, carbons, and zeolites are directly related to the surface area of the material. To measure the BET surface area of a material, a surface area analyzer will first need to measure the free space of the sample cell with helium to accurately calculate volume. The instrument then doses precise amounts of nitrogen gas to the sample cell and calculates the amount of nitrogen adsorbed from the measured free space. This is a valuable tool for validating material properties, but typically these measurements are very long. Fast response times of BET surface area results and reliable precision are crucial in production environments, so adsorption analyzers that can determine surface area quickly are highly desired. The new BELCONTROL software for the BELSORP adsorption analyzers is specifically designed to satisfy these high throughput industry needs.
Введение BELCONTROL
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The BELSORP BET surface area analysers have unique models with up to 4 sample ports, each with dedicated pressure transducers for simultaneous measurements. With the new and improved BELCONTROL software, the BELSORP MINI X is now the smallest, lightest, and fastest multi-point BET surface area analyzer available. All gas adsorption analysers require a free space measurement to accurately calculate the volume of gas adsorbed. Measuring the free space can be a lengthy process for each sample and issues with throughput and precision can arise if a dead volume value is entered instead of measured. In process control and quality control environments, reducing measurement time is crucial to fast feedback with production. Some equipment can take longer than an hour to determine the dead volume of a sample cell, and then even more time is needed for the isotherm. With BELCONTROL, the BELSORP MINI X, MAX G, and MAX X can now measure the free space, the isotherm, and calculate the BET surface area in less than 30 minutes for up to 4 samples simultaneously. Whether the surface area criteria requires five points, three points, or a single point to calculate the BET surface area, the new BELCONTROL software is designed for quality control testing to maximize sample throughput without sacrificing precision.
The BELMASTER 7 software is a powerful analysis tool for calculating pore size distributions and BET surface area from an isotherm. However, measuring isotherms and then analyzing data can slow the response time of the results and introduce variability in the report, which is not ideal for quick responses in process control. With BELCONTROL, there is no need to use the analysis software. Instead, the BET range can be set in the measurement template. The software automatically generates a PDF of the BET results immediately after isotherm completion to remove analysis time and ensure data integrity.
In addition to fast and precise analysis, our software gives users complete control over dozens of measurement parameters to meet their needs. If the instrument is shared by multiple researchers, it can be difficult to track changes made to these parameters over time. To ensure the instrument settings are the same regardless of the operator, clients can enable the optional security feature with BELCONTROL. The modular user level function lets administrators customize which parameters each operator has access to, eliminating the possibility of modifications to measurement conditions without permission. Each operator can be assigned a login with password protection and the software records recent login information for data tracking and audits. Crucial calibration and data files can be encrypted with password protection as well with this security feature to ensure data integrity.
Whether researching new materials or testing multiple batches for quality assurance, optimizing parameters for a BET isotherm can be time consuming. Operators can select different templates to conveniently meet their experiment needs and save time. If multiple samples are being characterized, each port can have its own target pressure and dosing settings. With a fully customizable measurement template, the measurement time and precision are greatly improved regardless of the material composition, surface area, or number of data points. The Gas Dosing Optimization (GDO) simplifies this even further. For repeat analysis testing, no premade templates are necessary. A previous isotherm can be loaded in and the dosing parameters are automatically calculated based on the uptake and BET surface area. No need for optimization or trial and error.
Lab space is a limited resource so using equipment with a small footprint leaves room for more instrumentation. The BELSORP MINI X is the smallest and lightest multipoint BET analyzer available. Only 11 inches wide, this tool minimizes space requirements and maximizes efficiency. The MINI X occupies a fraction of the volume that the competitors offer with even more sample ports for multiple simultaneous measurements.
Four MINI X analyzers can replace the space of one typical BET analyzer.
Our team of experts is happy to demo this and other BET surface analyzers based on your application.
The BET surface area measurement time depends on several factors such as how many samples are being measured simultaneously, how many data points are collected, and the surface area of the sample. If a previous free space is loaded in, the BET surface area can be determined in less than 10 minutes. But entering a free space can introduce inconsistencies due to variations in the free space from day to day. The free space measurement takes less than 15 minutes for up to 4 samples with BELCONTROL.
The Free Space is the volume of the sample cell excluding the volume of the sample. The only way to calculate the BET surface area is to first measure volume of the sample cell. This is done with helium because helium typically does not adsorb to any material even at cryogenic temperatures.
Gas adsorption and BET surface area is important for any material where solid-gas interactions are relevant. Zeolite catalysts used for oil refining, carbon adsorbents for filtration, silica or alumina supports for catalysis or separations, MOF or COF adsorbents for gas storage and separations, and battery materials. The surface area of these materials directly relates to their performance in the end application, and a reliable BET surface area characterization is important for quantifying that performance.
