Testing of Nitrogen Gas Used in MAP
My experience has been for nitrogen to be delivered in liquid form and released / expanded as gas for use in the production line, and each of this
delivery comes with a COA from the supplier. With the plan of self generating the gas, we need to understand how nitrogen gas sampling and testing is being done.
Can anyone here with experience with using self generated nitrogen gas share their experiences?
We are really interested on finding out the processes involved in sampling, testing (on-line and qc related), test equipment involved.
Also equipment use in the laboratory for said sampling and test methods.
Thank you in advance for your replies. Cheers!
Foodie
Hello, did you ever figure this out? We are looking to do the same and have the same questions.
My partners work is actually having a nitrogen generator installed as I type
I will ask some questions and see what they will be doing re: testing
Very interested in this topic as well.
In plant nitrogen generation definitely appears to have some good payback instead of purchase of cylinders of food grade nitrogen.
In the end the main cost is the capital equipment, energy and replacement membranes as these are a consumable item (longevity depending upon throughput and purity level required). We have noted however that the purity levels on available systems varies depending upon your final application requirements and budget which in comparison to premade cylinder supplied nitrogen is usually 99.9% purity which is what you receive from the supplier.
I have only ever had experience using a Novatech branded Oxygen & Carbon Dioxide Analyser for food packaging testing with MAP blended gas mixtures. Unfortunately this company doesn't look like they produce a nitrogen food packaging tester so will need to find an alternative type of unit for testing headspace gas.
Needs to be Food Grade which is discussed/elaborated in some detail in previous threads here.