Improve Process Measurements with SIFT-MS
Quality Control and Process Monitoring is always a compromise between the number of samples you would like to test (all of them?) and the number of samples you can actually test (cost, time, destructive nature of analysis?). The inability to test all samples can lead to gaps in your knowledge, which could mean that critical differences or changes are being missed.
If we can measure things faster, we can make more measurements and we can be sure not to miss important details. More testing equals more information known. The following graphic shows what I mean…
Collecting more data means we spot important details we would otherwise miss.
In an ideal world we would like our analytical methods to have the following characteristics:
- A measurement time in seconds
- Be highly selective for compounds of choice
- Have zero cost for additional samples measured
- Be non-destructive
- Be useable by staff working in the production process
If this were true, then all samples could be tested as they come off the production line; any out-of-specification results fed directly back to the Process Engineers immediately and corrections to the process made with the minimum cost. There would be no need to send a selected subset of samples to an external testing laboratory – with all the time, cost and quality implications that entails!
Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS) has these characteristics.
Syft Technologies’ Voice200ultra is capable of highly selective, continuous monitoring of VOCs to very low levels (pptv) – in seconds. The way SIFT-MS operates means that making multiple measurements adds very little extra cost to the product (it uses only nitrogen gas and a small amount of water).
For a moment, just think about the improvements in product quality that could flow from being able to test every product with immediate feed-back.
Then compare this to testing one in ever-so-many and having to wait ages for the answer.
If you are interested in learning more about SIFT-MS, especially its use in a factory environment, either email enquiries@anatune.co.uk or phone us on +44 (0)1223 279210.