Glovebox Purification Column Replacement Cycle & Operation Process

Overview

Purification columns loaded with molecular sieve water removal and copper catalyst oxygen removal are the core of glovebox inert environment control. Regular regeneration and timely replacement keep O₂ and H₂O stably under 1ppm for battery OLED and organometallic labs.

1. Service Cycle Standard

Regeneration Cycle Reactivate Media

Heavy daily use Regenerate every 3–6 months

Normal use Regenerate every 6 months

Light intermittent use Regenerate every 6–12 months

One full automatic regeneration takes 12–24 hours.

Full Replacement Cycle

Standard lab environment Replace adsorbents every 2–3 years

High solvent dust working condition Replace every 1.5 years

2. When Must You Replace the Column

Replace media directly if complete regeneration cannot fix below issues

Oxygen and moisture fail to drop below 1ppm and rebound quickly
Circulation flow drops sharply or system pressure fluctuates abnormally
Internal adsorbents cake pulverize or blacken severely
Inert gas consumption surges abnormally

3. Step-by-Step Replacement Procedure

Safety Prep Stop circulation fan close isolating valves power off heating system fully cool down the column and release residual pressure.
Remove & Clean Old Column Mark gas inlet outlet direction detach KF flanges dump expired molecular sieve and catalyst clean column inner cavity and sealing surfaces.
Refill New Adsorbents Fill molecular sieve first then copper catalyst compact the filling material install new gaskets and evenly tighten all flanges.
Leakage Test Pressurize the loop to +10mbar use soapy water for bubble check and pass 30 minute pressure decay test pressure drop ＜2Pa.
Activate via Regeneration Run one full standard regeneration procedure with forming gas to activate new fillers fully purge residual hydrogen after cooling.
Resume Operation Restore valve connection and circulation wait until water and oxygen readings stabilize below 1ppm for formal use.

4. Key Notes

Vent regeneration exhaust outdoors to avoid hydrogen safety hazards no open fire nearby.
Do not interrupt regeneration abnormally wait over 6 hours to restart if power cut accidentally.
Store spare adsorbents airtight to prevent pre absorbing moisture and oxygen.
Match column maintenance with glove leak inspection and chamber seal replacement to extend service life.

Conclusion

Follow fixed regeneration intervals and replace failed purification media in standardized steps to avoid experimental failure caused by atmosphere breakdown. Contact us for original replacement columns and filler materials.

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