O2 Platinum Analyzer offers film cells for material testing.
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Press Release Summary:
OpTech(TM) uses platinum fluorescent material to measure oxygen (O2) transmission rates and supports film cells as optional add-ons, enabling measurement of perforated flexible packaging structures and high-barrier alternatives. Offered in 50 and 100 cm² sizes, film cells integrate fluorescing sensor that responds to oxygen concentration. This enables O2 measurement down to 10 ppm over 0.001 to 25% range with operation insensitive to ambient light.
Original Press Release:
Mocon's Standard-Setting Optech(TM) O2 Platinum Analyzer Now Offers 'Film Cells' for Flexible Material Testing
Minneapolis, MN (December 1, 2009) - MOCON, Inc. (NASDAQ: MOCO) is introducing film cells as optional add-ons to its recently launched cost-effective OpTech(TM) - O2 Platinum analyzer.
The additional capability sets the performance bar even higher for the unit which uses platinum fluorescent material to measure oxygen (O2) transmission rates. Coupled with state-of -the-art electronics, OpTech(TM) provides significant advantages over other O2 fluorescent-based analyzers.
This capability makes MOCON instrumentation the first to accurately measure perforated flexible packaging structures, as well as high-barrier alternatives. (Micro-perforated materials have become more prevalent recently-particularly for fresh vegetable applications which need to respirate for optimum shelf life.)
The optional film cells come in two sizes-50 cm2 (12 cc) and 100 cm2 (500 cc). The cell's sensor responds to the concentration of oxygen. As such, the smaller cell accommodates high barrier structures and the larger cell is ideal for perforated materials. Typical applications for these flexible packaging structures include food, pharmaceutical and medical disposables where barrier and other key performance attributes are critical to reaching shelf life goals.
When testing flexible materials, the structure is placed on the lower half of the two-piece nickel-plated aluminum cell, which contains the platinum sensor. The top piece is clamped down via a thumb screw. The test cell is then flushed to a low level of oxygen. Next, the cell is sealed off and the oxygen permeating the test film is then accumulated and monitored automatically by the sensor.
The platinum sensor will "fluoresce" or give off light in an amount which is directly proportional to the amount of oxygen present to determine the film's transmission rate. This fluorescence is read by the unit's "detector," making it ideal for non-destructive permeation analysis, headspace and dissolved oxygen analysis as well as leak determination in flexible and rigid packaging.
"This breakthrough technology, coupled with the instrument's design will have a
dramatic impact on how companies conduct oxygen analysis," explains Doug
Lindemann, vice president, MOCON. "The OpTech(TM) - O2 Platinum offers a very complementary method of oxygen analysis to MOCON permeation, headspace and leak
detection systems. It allows the user to evaluate what is happening to a final package under real-life conditions."
One of the major advantages of the OpTech(TM) - O2 Platinum over similar systems is ability to measure oxygen down to 10 parts per million (ppm) making it significantly more useful for permeation analysis. In addition, the system has an increased range from 0.001 to 25% O2. Functionally, the platinum material is very stable over a long period of time, is not sensitive to ambient light and is less temperature sensitive than other chemistries, increasing the accuracy of the reading.
The OpTech(TM) - O2 Platinum also features enhanced usability. The optical reader employs a visible light to read the platinum fluorescence and allows for greater "non-contact" readability (up to a distance of 15mm), resulting in superior performance.
The OpTech(TM) - O2 Platinum is an ideal multi-purpose O2 analyzer for a variety of beverage, biopharmaceutical and food products.
MOCON is a leading provider of instrumentation and consulting and laboratory services to medical, pharmaceutical, food and other industries worldwide. See www.mocon.com for more information.
