The Importance of High-Purity Gases in University Lab Applications

Most of the breakthroughs the world benefits from today were once conceived in a university or research lab. These hubs of innovation are where ideas are tested, theories are refined, and new technology is born. But for all this to work as intended, the tools and materials used must meet the highest standards.

Among these essential resources are high-purity gases, whose role in academic research is often underestimated but always critical. The presence of high purity gases is what ensures experiments run smoothly, data remains accurate, and researchers can push the boundaries of discovery with confidence.

The Many Applications of High-Purity Gases

Industrial-grade and high-purity gases serve several important functions in lab settings. The most common gases used to drive crucial research include: 

• Argon: Stable and cost-effective, argon helps researchers conduct experiments while preventing unwanted chemical reactions. The gas is commonly used in plasma spectroscopy or gas chromatography. 
• Carbon Dioxide: Though often associated with environmental concerns, carbon dioxide plays a vital role in lab research. It supports the growth of bacterial, animal, and plant cells in incubators and bioreactors, and is also used in processes like supercritical fluid chromatography.
• Nitrogen: A versatile gas used across many disciplines, nitrogen is employed to create inert atmospheres, purge systems, and preserve samples. Liquid nitrogen is also used for cryogenic freezing of biological materials and for cooling sensitive instruments like NMR and MRI machines.
• Oxygen: High-purity oxygen is used in cell culture processes to support aerobic growth conditions and in combustion analysis for determining elemental composition. It’s also a key contributor to medical research.  
• Hydrogen: Often used as a carrier gas in gas chromatography, hydrogen is valued for its high thermal conductivity and efficiency. It’s also used as a fuel gas in processes like atomic absorption spectroscopy.
• Helium: Known for its low reactivity and excellent thermal conductivity, helium is a common carrier gas in gas chromatography and is used in leak detection systems. In liquid form, it’s essential for cooling superconducting magnets in MRI machines and other cryogenic applications.

Each of these gases must be supplied at the correct purity grade — often 99.999% or higher — to prevent contamination, protect equipment, and ensure data integrity. Choosing the right gas, with the right specifications, is critical to the success of any high-precision research.

Fuelling Research Across Disciplines 

Given the wide range of applications, it’s no surprise that researchers and students across numerous disciplines rely on high-purity gases in their daily work. These gases are essential in environmental science, where they enable precise monitoring of air quality and the detection of trace pollutants — a critical area of study in light of today’s climate challenges.

In the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, high-purity gases support the development of new medicines and therapies, ultimately contributing to improved health outcomes. The biotechnology industry also depends heavily on these gases to spur medical breakthroughs and find new innovative treatments.

Even the technology we use every day, such as smartphones and laptops, is shaped by high-purity gases. Semiconductor manufacturing relies on gases like nitrogen, argon, and hydrogen to create controlled atmospheres, clean surfaces at an atomic level, and facilitate precise etching processes — all critical for building circuits and chips.

How nexAir Helps Universities Forge Forward

For over 80 years, nexAir has helped universities Forge Forward with high-purity gases that support all these processes and more. Our team’s extensive KnowHow and commitment to quality have made us a trusted partner to laboratories and research facilities across the Southeast. Visit the nexAir Now store today to explore our high-purity gas offerings and find the right solutions for your lab.

References: 

• https://www.nexair.com/learning-center/back-to-school-with-nexair-how-universities-rely-on-gases-for-research-and-labs/
• https://www.nexair.com/learning-center/nexairs-contribution-to-research-and-development-providing-high-quality-gases-for-lab-work/
• https://www.nexair.com/learning-center/back-to-school-promo-how-nexair-supports-university-labs-with-dry-ice-and-specialty-gases/
• https://www.nexair.com/learning-center/understanding-gas-purity-why-it-matters-in-industrial-applications/
• https://www.nexair.com/learning-center/catalyzing-scientific-discovery-how-nexairs-pure-gases-fuel-university-research/
• https://www.nexair.com/industry/universities-research/
• https://air-source.com/blog/the-critical-importance-of-high-purity-gas-supply-in-springtime-research/