Clean dry air is essential for many different types of industrial applications. This air is supplied by compressors which draw in large volumes of air from the surrounding atmosphere containing contaminants. Typically, drying and hydrocarbon removal systems are in place prior to filtration and then release to the compressed air line system of the plant. However, having these treatments in place is no guarantee of their efficacy. In some cases the air compressor itself can add contaminants.
The presence of water, hydrocarbons, oil and solid contaminants in a compressed air system can affect compressed air quality (i.e. product sterility) and lead to rust, scaling, instruments clogging, valves sticking and process contamination.
The ISO 8573 standard test methods were developed to verify air quality in a compressed air system, and lay out a classification of purity levels, for the key parameters of Particles, Water, Oil and Microbiological contaminants.
Glenside Environmental can provide the client with a full suite of compressed gas testing in compliance with ISO 8573.
Non-viable particle counting is performed by connecting a Laser Particle Counter to an access point on the compressed air system, with instantaneous differential counts being measured for each of the specified ranges of particle size.
Viable organism testing is performed using a Slit to Agar sampler, where a high velocity of air through the sampler impacts upon a sterile agar plate allowing the air to deflect away from the plate while any particles remain in the collection plate. A 24-48 hour incubation period will then determine the presence, or otherwise, of any viable micro-organisms within the air system.
Dew Point/Water Testing is performed using a calibrated hygrometer connected to the compressed air system – giving instantaneous results.
Oil Testing is performed by sampling a known volume of air through a PVC filter with a laboratory determination of oil by FTIR (infrared spectroscopy) analysis. In addition, an instantaneous measurement for the presence of hydrocarbon vapours is performed using calibrated PID (photo ionization detector).
