Back-to-School with nexAir: How Universities Rely on Gases for Research and Labs

As students make their way back to campus and faculty prepare for a new year, university laboratories shift into high gear. These hubs of innovation are where new ideas take shape, research advances, and discoveries emerge. Behind the scenes, an invisible partner helps drive progress: a steady supply of industrial gas.

From ultra-high-purity options to specialty blends, the right gas solution can spell the difference between reliable results and inconclusive data. That’s why having the right supplier matters — and why so many schools across the Southeast choose nexAir.

What Gases Are Commonly Used for Research?

Industrial gases serve a wide range of applications across research settings. Biology departments, medical research facilities, and chemistry labs, in particular, rely on gases with varying properties to conduct critical experiments. These could include: 

• Argon: This inert, stable, and cost-effective gas is used to prevent unwanted chemical reactions. It’s also used in analytical techniques like plasma spectroscopy or gas chromatography. 
• Carbon dioxide: This gas is used in incubators and bioreactors to regulate pH and support bacteria, animal, and plant cell growth. It also serves as the main mobile phase in supercritical fluid chromatography.
• Helium: In its liquid form, helium is most commonly used to supercool MRI magnets so they become superconducting.
• Hydrogen: Used as a carrier or combustion gas in applications such as gas chromatography, atomic emission spectroscopy, and atomic absorption spectroscopy.
• Nitrogen: In its liquid form, nitrogen is used to freeze and preserve biological materials and cool equipment like MRI instruments.
• Oxygen: Ensures optimal bacteria, animal, and plant cell growth in incubators and bioreactors. Oxygen is also used to combust samples during elemental analysis.

While this is not an exhaustive list, it should give you an idea of how critical gases are in furthering research. Whether used for analytical precision or life sciences, having access to the right gas — in the exact quantity — is paramount.

With that said, one-size-fits-all solutions are rarely the answer. 

That’s why nexAir’s team of experts works closely with researchers to understand their requirements and develop tailored solutions. Our range of instrument-grade, and ultra-high-purity gases can be found on the nexAir Now platform.

How Industrial Gases Are Fuelling the Future

At nexAir, we’re aware of how much is at stake when conducting an experiment. A single miscalculation can have disastrous implications, while a unique gas blend at the right moment can lead to a remarkable breakthrough.

Getting things right is especially important in the fields of: 

Healthcare research: Specialty gases contribute to new medical breakthroughs, particularly in cell culture and respiratory therapy research. 

Sustainability practices: Industrial gases can be used to study air quality, reduce pollution, and track changes in climate over time. 

Material science: Gases fuel the discovery of new technology. They’re also used to produce semiconductors, create new alloys, and more.

nexAir helps experts across these disciplines Forge Forward by supplying certified high-purity gases that provide reliable results. 

Start the Semester Right with nexAir 

Gases may be invisible, but they’re a foundational component of almost all critical research. Universities need to work with suppliers who understand this reality — and have the KnowHow to support such technical processes. For over 80 years, nexAir has been that partner for several industries and universities across the Southeast. Get in touch to learn how we can help you kickstart this academic year.

References: 

• https://www.nexair.com/learning-center/empowering-university-research-with-nexair-gas-solutions/
• https://www.nexair.com/industry/universities-research/
• https://www.nexair.com/learning-center/a-breath-of-fresh-ideas-nexairs-gas-solutions-in-research-and-development/
• https://www.nexair.com/learning-center/nexairs-support-for-university-research-how-we-help-labs-stay-ahead-with-custom-gas-solutions/
• https://www.nexair.com/learning-center/how-nexair-supports-university-research-with-reliable-gas-solutions