Oxygen Analysis: Purity and as Impurity in Other Gases

Oxygen purity testing is essential in many industries to ensure safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. Butterworth uses a Servomex MultiExact 4100 Gas Analyser with two distinct sensor technologies: paramagnetic for oxygen assay and zirconium for impurity levels in other gases.

In healthcare, medical oxygen must meet strict purity standards to assure patient safety. Butterworth can conduct Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) testing of oxygen for purity to support compliance with European Pharmacopoeia (Ph.Eur.), United States (USP) specifications. This analytical service can also support a wide range of other industries, including aerospace life support, semiconductor manufacturing and industrial gases, with testing tailored to individual client requirements.

Routine calibration of the instrument allows quantification from 10 ppm oxygen impurity to 99.99% assay, while specific calibration can be applied to obtain a wider concentration range. In practise, trace levels of oxygen can be quantified in many other gases. An example of this is the determination of trace levels of oxygen in nitrogen, again to support compliance with European Pharmacopoeia (Ph.Eur.), United States (USP) specifications.

Other Gases

We have worked with clients to develop analyses of many different gas mixtures, including hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, argon, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, using Gas Chromatography (GC) with a Thermal Conductivity Detector (TCD). We have also developed procedures for analysing very low-ppm gas levels using the more sensitive Barrier Ionisation Discharge (BID) GC detector. An example here would be the determination of 5ppm carbon monoxide in air. Butterworth also has 30 years of experience in the analysis of fire suppression and refrigerant gases, such as Halons, to a variety of standards, including ISO and ASTM – see our Fire suppression & refrigerant testing in applications.

Sample Containers

Most pressurised gas cylinders, Tedlar bags and other sample vessels can be accommodated. A routine sample volume of one litre is required for Servomex analysis. In contrast, very low sample volumes (<1 mL), as required for blister pack analysis, can be accommodated by GC analysis. Please get in touch with us if you have unusual containers or low-volume samples, in which case our modified atmospheric packaging service application may be applicable.

Why choose Butterworth Laboratories?

• GMP, MHRA, and FDA-compliant laboratory with a proven track record of supporting pharmaceutical, healthcare, and chemical manufacturers with high-quality analytical testing.
• Experienced gas analysis specialists with extensive expertise in method development, validation, and routine analysis, providing technical assurance and dependable results.
• Reliable, high-quality data for regulatory submissions, product development, and ongoing quality control, giving you confidence in meeting both internal specifications and external compliance requirements.