Afrox has unveiled its own genie in a bottle in the form of Genie® Helium N6.0. With a guaranteed minimum purity of 99.9999%, this speciality gas is a certified Helium N6.0 product, and also offers smart technology and portability in a revolutionary new packaging.

Andisha Dukkan, Head of Specialised Markets for Afrox, says that Helium N6.0 is supplied by Afrox’s parent company Linde in Europe and represents the highest purity gas ever manufactured by the enterprise, with Afrox at the forefront of launching this precision enabling gas in South Africa.

The total amount of impurities in Helium N6.0 is below 1 part per million, making it as close as possible to pure helium and the ideal carrier gas to achieve accurate analytical and laboratory results. Analysers can therefore be assured of more consistent and reliable outcomes.

Helium N6.0 is the preferred carrier gas for hyper sensitive detection techniques such as Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC MS) and GC with pulsed discharge helium ionisation detectors (PDHID). In these applications high gas purity is of absolute importance as impurities show up in the base line as noise and can potentially mask important components. 

Helium N6.0 can be used to determine ultra-low parts per billion measurements which was previously never achievable with other less pure helium.

Other applications where Helium N6.0 can be utilised include medical applications, metals cutting and welding, metals refining and mining, fibre optics, electronics, instrument calibration, emissions control, radioactivity detection and environmental monitoring.  

Dukkan notes that in a radical departure from standard steel cylinders, Helium N6.0 will be supplied in the new Genie® cylinder, a steel lined carbon fibre wrapped pressure vessel, encased in a tough, all-weather, recyclable high density polyethylene jacket. The ‘genie’ in the bottle is the built-in digital intelligence unit display, which indicates levels of usage and remaining gas, and has a low contents alarm which sounds when gas levels are dwindling.

The Genie® cylinder is more portable than standard cylinders, with two easy grip handles that also double as guards, and optional detachable wheels that enable users to move the cylinders effortlessly.

The 20 litre Genie® cylinder with a fill pressure of 200 bar is a Linde patented technology and also features gas identification rings with colour coding that allows for easy recognition of gas types. The Genie® cylinder weighs only 22 kg which is significantly lighter than the standard 20 litre cylinders while their wider construction makes them more stable and minimises the risk of cylinders accidentally falling over. Optional extendable handle units further increase their portability.

Dukkan says that Afrox is currently well stocked with Genie® Helium N6.0 and the company is ready to fill client orders. The cylinders are available for collection or delivery. “We are excited to be introducing this new gas and smart technology cylinder to South Africa as they combine to create a very innovative and user friendly package.”

She adds that Afrox has further innovative products in the pipeline that will be unveiled in the coming months.

Afrox is the largest industrial gases and related technologies company in sub-Saharan Africa, and backed by The Linde Group, continues to actively support innovation and maintain a strong and leading market presence in the region. The Linde Group is the largest gases and engineering company in the world, renowned for their innovative drive and commitment to excellence.