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Key Functions of a Nitrogen Glove Box
Inert Atmosphere Creation
The primary function of a nitrogen glove box is to replace the internal atmosphere with high-purity nitrogen (N2), effectively removing oxygen and moisture. This creates an anhydrous and anaerobic environment, ideal for handling air-sensitive materials.
Contamination Control
The glove box ensures that the internal environment remains free from micro-pollutants, such as dust, moisture, and oxygen, which can compromise experiments or processes. This is achieved through a closed-loop purification system that continuously circulates and purifies nitrogen.
Material Protection
By maintaining an inert atmosphere, the glove box protects sensitive substances, such as reactive chemicals, radioactive materials, or delicate electronic components, from oxidation, hydrolysis, or other forms of degradation.
Pressure Regulation
The glove box operates under slightly positive pressure relative to the external environment. This prevents external contaminants from entering the system, ensuring a stable and pure internal atmosphere.
User Safety
The glove box is equipped with integrated gloves that allow operators to handle materials safely from outside the enclosure, minimizing direct exposure to hazardous substances.
The nitrogen glove box operates on a closed-loop purification system, which continuously circulates nitrogen through a series of filters and catalysts to maintain a contaminant-free environment. Here’s how it works:
Gas Circulation
A fan or circulator forces nitrogen gas through the system, ensuring even distribution within the glove box.
Purification Process
The nitrogen passes through a purification column containing:
Active copper catalysts to remove oxygen.
Molecular sieves to absorb moisture.
These components ensure that oxygen and water levels are maintained below 1 ppm (parts per million).
Pressure and Atmosphere Control
A programmable logic controller (PLC) monitors and regulates internal pressure, temperature, and gas purity. The system automatically adjusts to maintain optimal conditions.
Regeneration of Purification Materials
Over time, the purification materials become saturated. The glove box’s control system can initiate automatic regeneration to reactivate the catalysts and molecular sieves, ensuring continuous performance.
Nitrogen glove boxes are essential in industries and research fields that need to protect air-sensitive materials or processes. They are widely used in chemical research for handling reactive chemicals, organometallic compounds, and conducting organic synthesis without oxygen. In pharmaceuticals and biomedicine, they help process hygroscopic drugs, biopharmaceuticals, and store sensitive biological samples. In electronics and materials science, they are used to manufacture photovoltaic cells, OLEDs, organic transistors, and develop advanced materials under controlled conditions. For nuclear technology, they provide a safe environment for handling radioactive materials and conducting experiments with radioisotopes. Additionally, they play a key role in battery research and development, enabling the assembly and testing of lithium-ion batteries and the safe storage of electrolytes and anode/cathode materials in a moisture-free environment.
This glove box has three gloves in main box, with an FFU high-efficiency filter on the top and double-column purification at the bottom, which can achieve 24-hour non-stop operation because the two purification columns can achieve alternate reduction and regeneration. This customized glove box is used for 3D printing. There is a butterfly valve outlet at the bottom left of the box, which is specially used for powder removal after cleaning. Another glove box is connected to the far left.
