Efficient Circulation: The magnetic drive plunger pump ensures gas mixing time under a wide pressure range is always <10 minutes, preventing concentration gradients that might affect the accuracy of product detection.
High Gas Tightness: The average oxygen leakage is <0.1 µmol/h, making it especially suitable for precise oxygen analysis in photocatalytic CO₂ reduction reactions using H₂O as the electron donor.
Fully Automated Online Analysis: Effectively eliminates human errors and saves manpower, ensuring more precise reaction durations.
Stable Light Intensity: Effectively prevents experimental errors caused by natural light intensity decay.
Labsolar-6A All-Glass Fully Automatic Online Trace Gas Analysis System is a reaction system that integrates sample pretreatment unit, reaction unit, gas circulation unit, automatic sampling, and injection unit.
1. Low Adsorption, High Circulation Efficiency Glass System for Repetitive and Linear Injection
Unlike vacuum systems used in photocatalytic water splitting experiments, photocatalytic CO₂ reduction experiments typically operate under atmospheric pressure or slight vacuum. In these cases, the raw gas concentration is high, and since CO₂ is a major component, uniform gas mixing can't be achieved solely through the free diffusion of gases. Thus, gas circulation is crucial for the accuracy of photocatalytic CO₂ reduction experiments.
The Labsolar-6A All-Glass Fully Automatic Online Trace Gas Analysis System uses a closed-loop gas pipeline system. CO₂, CO, CH₄, H₂, O₂, C2H₄, and other gases, driven by the magnetic drive plunger pump, always flow in one direction. The pump is compatible with a wide range of gas pressures, providing strong gas circulation. With fast gas flow, a small volume of the system's circulation pipeline, it can achieve rapid and uniform mixing of CO₂, CO, CH₄, H₂, O₂, C2H₄, preventing errors caused by concentration gradients.
Figure 1. Schematic diagram of the gas circulation in the Labsolar-6A All-Glass Fully Automatic Online Trace Gas Analysis System
The main material of the Labsolar-6A All-Glass Fully Automatic Online Trace Gas Analysis System is high-boron-silicate glass. It possesses high chemical inertness and low gas resistance. During photocatalytic CO₂ reduction experiments, it does not adsorb any gases, accurately reflecting the intrinsic activity of the photocatalyst.
Mixing time for H₂, O₂, CO₂, CO, CH₄ gases is <10 minutes. Linear regression R2 > 0.9995 for the standard curve, and for the same concentration, the relative standard deviation (RSD) is <3% for four consecutive injections.
Figure 2. Linear regression and repeatability of the Labsolar-6A All-Glass Fully Automatic Online Trace Gas Analysis System
2. Carefully Designed Sealing Structure with Oxygen Leakage Rate Below 0.1 µmol/h
The Labsolar-6A All-Glass Fully Automatic Online Trace Gas Analysis System uses multifunctional composite glass valves combined with imported vacuum grease. It can achieve an average oxygen leakage of <0.1 µmol/h within 8 hours, effectively ensuring the accuracy of quantitative analysis of gas products. This feature is especially suitable for precise oxygen analysis in photocatalytic CO₂ reduction reactions using H₂O as the electron donor.
Figure 3. Oxygen leakage test curve of the Labsolar-6A All-Glass Fully Automatic Online Trace Gas Analysis System
3. Fully Automated Sampling and Injection System for Labor-Saving and Efficient Experiments
The Labsolar-6A All-Glass Fully Automatic Online Trace Gas Analysis System is an entirely automated online analysis system, making it easy to use and time-saving. All parameter settings can be done on the system's built-in 4.5-inch TFF color touch screen. This touch screen displays real-time parameters such as internal reaction pressure and ambient temperature. It also controls the actions of the glass valves, gas chromatograph, and vacuum pump.
The automatic sampling and injection unit of the Labsolar-6A All-Glass Fully Automatic Online Trace Gas Analysis System is controlled by software to rotate the mechanical arm and achieve fully automated sampling and injection functions. It's a "one-click" trigger, eliminating tedious operations, saving research time, and avoiding human errors. When used with the Microsolar 300 xenon lamp light source, it can achieve long-term experiments without human intervention, making it especially suitable for long-term photocatalytic CO₂ reduction experiments.
Figure 4. The automatic sampling and injection unit of the Labsolar-6A All-Glass Fully Automatic Online Trace Gas Analysis System
4. Reactor
The Labsolar-6A All-Glass Fully Automatic Online Trace Gas Analysis System comes with a 370 mL reactor, with recommended volumes between 50-150 mL. Customized reactors with other volumes can be provided according to the reaction system's requirements. The reactor's quartz window is clamped securely to ensure gas tightness. The reactor also features a standard sample port for producing standard curves and injecting CO₂.
Figure 5. Reactor of the Labsolar-6A All-Glass Fully Automatic Online Trace Gas Analysis System
5. Temperature Control Structure
The Labsolar-6A All-Glass Fully Automatic Online Trace Gas Analysis System uses a serpentine condensation tube to reduce the entry of low-boiling components like water vapor, acetonitrile, and triethanolamine into the circulation pipeline, protecting the gas chromatograph. It can be equipped with a cold trap for further separation of low-boiling components and an extended vacuum pump lifetime.
6. Light Shielding Cover
The all-glass fully automatic online trace gas analysis system comes with a metal protective enclosure, which offers some protection against potential gas leaks. It can be equipped with a light shielding cover, effectively preventing light pollution and discomfort caused by strong light.
Figure 6. Light shielding cover for the Labsolar-6A All-Glass Fully Automatic Online Trace Gas Analysis System
| Gas Circulation Parameters | |
| Gas Mixing Time | H₂, O₂, CH₄, CO mixing time <10 minutes |
| Linear Regression of Standard Curve | R² > 0.9995 when H₂ content is in the range of 100 µL to 10 mL |
| Repeatability | RSD < 3% for four consecutive injections of the same concentration |
| Non-Powered Magnetic Drive Plunger Pump | Displacement of 6 mL per cycle, provides excellent circulation driving force from negative pressure to atmospheric pressure |
| No wires are connected in the pipeline, no risk of hydrogen explosion, and no interference from electrolytic water in the production of hydrogen | |
| With one-way valve structure, it can achieve one-way circulation for all pipelines | |
| Sampling Method | Quantitative sampling using a multiport glass sampling valve, non-chromatographic sampling |
| Circulation Pipeline | The narrowest inner diameter is 3 mm, a low-resistance gas pipeline |
| Exterior Structural Parameters | |
| Reactor | Adaptable for photocatalytic, photoelectrocatalytic, and photothermal reactions |
| Customizable according to actual experimental requirements | |
| Overall Dimensions (mm) | 490(L) × 520(W) × 740(H) |
| Metal Protective Enclosure | Offers some protection against potential gas leaks |
| Light Shielding Cover | Portable light shielding cover, effectively prevents light pollution |
| System Pipeline Parameters | ||||
| Absolute Vacuum Level | ≤1.5 kPa | Operating Pressure Range | 0 kPa ~ Atmospheric pressure | |
| Number of Valves | 7 | Pipeline Volume | 65 mL, strong system enrichment capacity | |
| Gas Tightness | ≤ 1 µmol/24 h @ O₂, meets the oxygen production requirements for photocatalysis | |||
| Pipeline Material | High borosilicate glass, highly chemically inert, non-adsorptive | |||
| Valve Process | High borosilicate glass material, valve plug and valve seat with precision grinding | |||
| Vacuum Grease | Imported Dow Corning vacuum grease, chemical resistance, low vapor pressure, low volatility, working temperature: -40 ~ 200°C | |||
| Quantitative Loop | 0.6 mL, 2 mL optional, system sensitivity adjustable | |||
| Gas Storage Cylinder | 150 mL, for system expansion and storage of reaction gases like CO₂ | |||
| Pipeline Temperature Control | Both circulation pipeline and sample introduction pipeline can be temperature-controlled, up to 200°C | |||
| 10-stage program temperature control, temperature control accuracy ±0.1°C | ||||
| Condensation Tube | Spherical | Adequate condensation, prevents water vapor from entering the gas chromatograph and vacuum pump | ||
| Serpentine | ||||
| Trap (Optional) | Separates low-boiling point components, extends the vacuum pump's lifespan, and enhances system vacuum level | |||
| Control Unit Parameters | ||||
| Software Module | 32-bit control software and 4.5-inch TFF color touch screen, real-time display of internal system parameters such as reaction pressure and environmental temperature | |||
| Embedded instrument methods for controlling glass valve actions, gas chromatograph, and vacuum pump start/stop, easy operation | ||||
| In automatic control mode, real-time display of valve positions, with safety protection and warning for sensor-based vacuum grease replacement | ||||
| Secondary encryption debugging program for equipment debugging, internal method setting, and flexible use by experienced users | ||||
| Automatic Sampling Valve | High borosilicate glass material, built-in quantitative loop | |||
| Multi-port compound sampling valve, reduces system circulation volume | ||||
| Supports manual, automatic, and semi-automatic operation modes | ||||
| Vacuum Pump | Pumping rate: 6 L/s | |||
| System control software automatically controls start/stop, intermittent operation, low noise | ||||
| Includes a unidirectional solenoid valve to prevent oil backflow | ||||
| Detection Parameters | |
| Detection Range | Various trace gases such as H₂, O₂, CH₄, CO |
| Limit of Detection (μmol) | H₂: 0.05; O₂: 0.1; CH₄/CO: 0.0005 |
| Liquid Phase CO₂ Reduction Reaction System and Related Equipment | Main Functions |
| Labsolar-6A All-Glass Fully Automatic Online Trace Gas Analysis System | Reaction unit, fully automatic sampling and introduction unit |
| Gas Chromatograph | Qualitative and quantitative analysis of reaction products such as CO, CH₄, H₂, O₂, C2H₄, CH₃OH, etc. |
| Ion Chromatograph/High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph | Qualitative and quantitative analysis of formic acid (HCOOH) generated in the reaction |
| Low-Temperature Constant Temperature Bath | Control of reaction solution temperature |
| Institution | Published Journal | References |
| Jiangsu University | Applied Catalysis B: Environmental | [1] |
| University of Electronic Science and Technology | ACS Nano | [2] |
| Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications | Chemical Engineering Journal | [3] |
| Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics | Chemical Engineering Journal | [4] |
| Three Gorges University | Applied Catalysis B: Environmental | [5] |
| Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Engineering | Angewandte Chemie International Edition | [6] |
Figure 1: Catalytic Activity Evaluation of CO₂ Photoreduction by Dong Fan's Research Group, University of Electronic Science and Technology[2]
Figure 2: Catalytic Activity Evaluation of CO₂ Photoreduction by Ye Liqun's Research Group, Three Gorges University[5]
Figure 3: Catalytic Activity Evaluation of CO₂ Photoreduction by Wang Dan's Research Group, Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Engineering[6]
