1.    What is the nature of your business? What are your roles & responsibilities?

We are an academic research group that is interested in synthetic and mechanistic organometallic chemistry. Primarily, we are focused on the design of novel transition metal complexes capable of mediating unusual reactions. Our group addresses three main topics: synthesis, reactivity, and mechanistic studies addressing unprecedented transformations. As a principal investigator, I am responsible for overseeing and advising undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral researchers. I am also responsible for maintaining laboratory equipment that must be maintained under inert atmospheres, meaning under very pure (dry and oxygen free nitrogen).

2.    Typically, what areas of the business use nitrogen gas (i.e. what do you use your i-Flow generator for)? What prompted you to purchase an i-Flow gas generator?

A majority of our research involves the use of chemicals that are air and moisture sensitive. As a result, we require large amounts of high purity nitrogen to supply our glove box systems and preserve an “inert atmosphere”. Previous to the purchase of an i-Flow gas generator, we relied on purchasing nitrogen in cylinders. However, this proved to be expensive and time consuming. In addition, 1/5 of these cylinders nearly always contained O2 or water since the tank (or boiler) was never evacuated or purged before refilling. Space was also an issue since these 240L cylinders took a large amount of space and often damaged the floor as well as the surrounding when being transported from floor to floor. As such, we decided to invest in a system that would consistently provide nitrogen without hassle.

3.    How long has the i-Flow generator been supplying gas to your site? Compared with your previous methods of nitrogen gas supply, what difference has the i-Flow made to the costs of using nitrogen for your company’s manufacturing processes?

Our Peak i-Flow generator has been supplying nitrogen to our facilities for approximately one year. At this point, we cannot accurately determine the difference in cost between our previous (cylinder purchase) method and our current (generator method). However, we predict that at the rate that we use nitrogen gas in our glove box systems, our nitrogen expenses will gradually decline over the next several years to a fraction of what we spent on nitrogen prior to the installation of our i-Flow generator. On average we used to spend 1,200 $ in cylinders. Now, we are usually around 300-400$ instead of the 1200. However, the purity and inconvenience of having a bad dewar has vanished and we no longer need to purge or regenerate our gloveboxes (as frequently) due to poor quality nitrogen. We hope in the long run, that this system will extend the life of the purifier used in our gloveboxes.

4.    How easy did you find the experience of working with Peak Gas Generation, in terms of purchasing the equipment, installation & implementation into your facility?

We have found our experiences with working with Peak Gas Generation to be very pleasant. Initially, there was a bit of a barrier since Peak was not aware of the quality and level of purity we needed. However, once this was explained the system used was up to par with our needs. Whenever we had questions or concerns with our generator, the Peak staff was extremely prompt with communication, and helpful in providing essential information. Purchasing the generator was easy and the Peak staff was sure to recommend a product that best suited our specific needs. Installation was accomplished relatively quickly once Peak saw what setup we really required, and the technical managers spared no effort into ensuring that we made the most out of our generator with little to no hassle.

5.    Compared to your past methods of nitrogen gas supply, what has been your general experience of using & servicing the Peak Gas Generation i-Flow generator?

Our general experience of using the Peak Gas Generation i-Flow generator has been great. In terms of efficiency, our lab group no longer needs to transport excessive amounts of gas cylinders, which allows for maximum productivity. Servicing the generator has been very convenient, and a visit from our Field Service Engineer is not only helpful in the sense that we are sure that the generator is operating well, but also helpful in the sense that he is sure to explain the “Ins and Outs” of the generator so that we know how to maintain the system before any issues may arise.

6.    How do you feel Peak Gas Generation's i-Flow generators can help you meet any future plans for expansion?

The Peak Gas Generation i-Flow generator was set up to accommodate our current glove box set ups, and is conveniently designed such that any expansion can be accomplished with little infrastructural change. Our current system operates such that we are never in demand of high purity nitrogen, and we predict that any future expansions will not be hampered as a result of lacking a suitable nitrogen supply. In the future, we hope we can make better use of the compressed as well as nitrogen supply to our fume hoods.

7.    How would you recommend Peak Gas Generation’s i-Flow generators, in terms of being an end-to-end solution to other industries and what key benefits would you highlight from your experience?

We would recommend the Peak Gas Generation i-Flow generator to academic research groups and industrial research groups alike, as the system is convenient, efficient, and reliable for any type of chemical process that requires an inert atmosphere. We are most pleased with the quality of nitrogen that the generator is able to provide. We experience no fluctuations in quality, which is good for our facilities, and thus, our research objectives. Since nitrogen gas is an important component of our work, it is essential that we have a system in place that allows for a large supply of nitrogen available at any point in time. Additionally, we are extremely pleased with our interactions with all of the Peak staff, who display excellent professionalism and expertise. We would recommend this system to any group that desires high quality nitrogen with no hassle. It will save a great deal in transportation and energy because the nitrogen we generate is of high purity and we use right away. We don’t worry about the lifetime of the boiler or high pressure dewars, which often overpressurize and leak N2 up to 1/3 to ½ its original volume (in days!). This system circumvents all the inconveniences of ordering dewars.