Visionary GC Developers Head to Antwerp

APIX Analytics SA (France) is the commercial culmination of 8 years of collaborative research between CEA (France) and California Institute of Technology (Caltech, USA). APIX develop and manufacture a new generation of multi-gas analysers combining conventional and new technologies for industrial (process monitoring, measurement of gas quality, oil & gas, petrochemicals ...), environmental (pollution, emissions of volatile organic compounds ...) and security/defense (nerve agents, chemical accidents ...) applications. This technology will be on display at PEFTEC, in Antwerp this November.

With these miniaturised systems, based on the full integration of silicon with the key functions of a conventional Gas Chromatography system (injection, separation & detection), APIX’s technology is able to perform in situ and real-time measurements, whilst keeping the initial investment and operational costs (carrier gas, small amount of sample, easier maintenance and use) low, despite improving the performance over conventional technologies.

The heart of APIX’ technology is a nano-metric resonating device (NEMS – Nano Electro Mechanical System) collectively manufactured, assembled and tested using state of the art semiconductor technology. The intrinsic sensitivity of this patented device (tens of ppb level for VOCs) and its ability to work with any kind of carrier gases without loss of performance makes APIX’s detection technology unique and highly competitive. Ambient air can thus be used as a carrier gas, thereby eliminating the need for expensive bottled gas.

APIX has already integrated injection and detection functions on silicon chips to pave the way for ultra-compact and high performance gas chromatography systems. With further silicon-based and innovative separation columns, APIX envisions a complete analytical chain integrated on a few cm² surface.

The system intelligence is currently fully integrated within a small footprint plug & play module enabling easier use, maintenance and quick analysis with multiplexed modules or wider application area with several specific modules assembled in a single system. Easy to connect and remove, these modules can be changed or recycled upon request and needs. This architecture changes the Gas Chromatography use model, enabling ultra-compact and evolving instruments, with lower Total Cost of Ownership due to easier maintenance and low carrier gas consumption.

APIX technology breakthroughs offer new products for analysis in industrial settings, following the always increasing safety and quality requirements for renewable development.

APIX is currently developing a multi-module analysis system in a 19 "rack which is compatible with industrial action bays. This system integrates up to 4 analytical modules for wide industrial applications ranging from BTU monitoring, heavier hydrocarbons measurements, sulphur compound etc… within a single system. Multiplexing identical analytical modules can also lead to high speed analysis in permanent mode. Each module can be easily removed and changed for future instrument upgrading or simple maintenance. Additional applications within the same system can also be considered by adding new modules without changing the whole instrument.

APIX is also working on an ATEX analysis system (MAX ONE) compliant for use in potentially explosive environments, paving the way for industry analysis at the heart of the process and enabling in situ deployment for real time, in-line analysis.

APIX products open new opportunities for multiple analytical applications requiring increased performance, robustness and safety, for better, safer process development in many industrial domains. Biogas analysis, natural gas measurements (quality of distribution, BTU…) or petrochemicals process monitoring (fuel gas) are among the potential applications targeted by APIX silicon-based multigas systems.