Catalytic vapor filters, catalytic strippers and related products from Catalytic Instruments can make a world of difference when trying to make accurate and repeatable particle measurements. Catalytic Instruments GmbH develops, manufactures and markets world leading products for engine exhaust measurements, indoor air quality measurements, outdoor air quality monitoring and other research applications.

Catalytic Strippers

Their catalytic strippers break down hydrocarbons in the air and remove all unnecessary non solid particles before accurate measurement of the solid particle number concentration can be made.

Catalytic Vapor Filters

To further increase safety and health around the measurement process, a catalytic vapor filter converts all butanol vapor into harmless CO2 and water. With improved air quality readings, researchers can make the most accurate assessments and provide a solid basis for legislation cleaning up the air we all breathe.

Butanol Removal

Measurement of ultrafine particles with a condensation particle counters (CPC) or scanning mobility particle size analysers (SMPS) commonly requires the use of butanol as working liquid.  Butanol based CPC’s are widely used througout Australasia and the world as they are generally very reliable and are not as maintenance intensive as other types of CPC’s. Water also does not condensate on oil or other oleophilic materials, making it impossible to use certain types of CPC`s for many measurement applications.

Indoor Measurements

In laboratories and indoor environments butanol vapor from butanol based CPC’s and other equipment is generally released into the atmosphere as an environmental pollutant or it is released into the laboratory, where it is a potential health hazard. Some organizations do vent this exhaust outside however others dont or cant. Using a portable catalytic vapor filter in conjuction with a butanol based CPC, SMPS system or other equipment can remove 99.99% of the butanol vapor emitting clean CO2 and H20 gas only.

Having your own portable catalytic vapor filter in your laboratory provides tremendous flexibility. Our catalytic vapor filters can be used with any butanol based CPC, SMPS system and or related equipment on the market. You wont be locked in to using one piece of equipment from any manufacturer. These devices may be used indoors or outdoors allowing customers to utilize existing or new butanol based devices for quality particle measurements. Many of the world’s leading metrology institutes, universities and aerosol research groups already use these devices and Catalytic Instruments technology is used inside or alongside many particle instruments provided by global particle equipment manufacturers.

Outdoor Measurements

Environmental agencies measure ultrafine particles especially in areas with heavy traffic. Ethene is commonly used as tracer for traffic and is monitored by the ambient air stations. The instrument used to measure the concentration of Ethene in the range of ppm is highly cross-sensitive to butanol. Hence no butanol vapor can be present when measuring Ethane. In order to remove 99.99% of the butanol vapour emitted by CPCs, a catalytic vapor filter is the method of choice. The catalytic vapor filter oxidizes the butanol vapor to CO₂ and H₂O and effectively removes the butanol, making accurate measurements of Ethene possible.