Thus, the solution is...recycle it!
http://www.airproducts.com/NR/rdonlyres/E44F8293-1CEE-4D80-86EA-F9815927BE7E/0/ChallengestoHeliumSupply111003.pdf

Tiziano.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gerard Olack" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2007 1:41 AM
Subject: Re: [ISOGEOCHEM] why He is in short supply


> HI Pier--
>
> Brief synopsis--He use is growing, supplies are not. The He is mainly
> isolated from natural gas supplies, and those wells are not producing
> like they were. New supplies (north Africa) are not as abundant as was
> expected. US is selling off it's strategic He supply, but that will
> eventually run out. And some current plants will be going off line for
> maintenance, so up to 20% world supply will be offline for a little bit.
> The outlook is for a few more years of really tight supplies, and
> hopefully new fields will come on line then. So conserve where you can.
>
> take care
>
> gerry
>
> Pier de Groot wrote:
> > Hi Paul,
> >
> > Your link to the publication is only for subscribers... And I have no
> > subscription!
> >
> > Can you give in short why? It interest me to learn why we have He short
> > supply. Since the overwhelming part of light element stable isotope
analysis
> > is 'CF' related nowadays, it is of high importance to learn about this
for a
> > large group of analysts - briefly said, the majority of this list will
be
> > interested.
> >
> > Thanks anyway for bringing up this matter.
> > Best regards,
> > Pier.
> >
> > ****************************************************************
> > Delta Isotopes Consultancy
> >
> > Dr. Pier A. de Groot
> > Pastoor Moorkensstraat 16
> > 2400 Mol - Achterbos
> > Belgium
> > Tel. +32 (0)14 326 205
> > e-mail: [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]
> >
> > Associate editor for stable isotopes of eEarth on-line magazine
> > http://www.electronic-earth.net
> >
> > Head of Isotopes in Geosciences of the European Geoscience Union (EGU).
> > EGU Home web-site: http://www.copernicus.org/EGU/EGU.html
> >
> > Organization Committee member of BASIS (Benelux Association of Stable
> > Isotope Scientists).
> > http://www.basis-online.eu/
> >
> > Visit my WEB-site about my ³Handbook of Stable Isotope Analytical
> > Techniques², with a link to the Elsevier web site on the handbook
(marked:
> > ŒOrder Now¹):
> > http://users.pandora.be/handbook/index.html
> > last update: August 15, 2005
> > Volume I is now available. Volume II is expected to be available in
2008.
> >
> > ****************************************************************
> >
> >
> >
> >> From: Paul Brooks <[log in to unmask]>
> >> Reply-To: Stable Isotope Geochemistry <[log in to unmask]>
> >> Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:46:28 -0700
> >> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >> Subject: [ISOGEOCHEM] why He is in short supply
> >>
> >> Helium users:
> >>
> >> I just ran across this article that may be of interest to He users:
> >>
> >> http://pubs.acs.org/isubscribe/journals/cen/85/i41/html/8541bus3.html
> >>
> >>
> >> Paul Brooks.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> At 10:19 AM 10/24/2007, you wrote:
> >>
> >>> Dear Charlotte,
> >>> I agree with Wolfram. The ion beams might have two maximums for some
> >>> voltages.
> >>> I prefer to do the manual search first and then finish with autofocus.
The
> >>> algorithm for autofocus (I think) searchs only for the nearest
maximum,
> >>> next to
> >>> the start point.
> >>> Regards,
> >>> Sergey.
> >>> --
> >>> Sergey Oleynik, PhD
> >>> Dept. Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
> >>> Purdue University
> >>> 550 Stadium Mall Drive
> >>> West Lafayette, IN 47907
> >>> Phone: 765-494-3274
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Quoting Wolfram Meier-Augenstein <[log in to unmask]>:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> Dear Charlotte,
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> When you change the filament, could you have a look at the filament
> >>>>
> >>> wire with
> >>>
> >>>> a magnifying lens to see if the wire is still straight or has sagged
a bit?
> >>>> Similarly, could you look for uneven wear and tear (thinning of the
> >>>>
> >>> wire)? In
> >>>
> >>>> addition, before you remove the screw could you have a look to see if
the
> >>>> filament assembly has some freedom of movement however slight?
> >>>>
> >>>> Anything that moves the filament wire from the ideal centre plane
(usually
> >>>> downwards) will lead to a dramatic loss in sensitivity and sometime
even
> >>>> isotopic linearity. I guess what I am saying here is don't throw the
> >>>>
> >>> filament
> >>>
> >>>> away if the filament wire looks OK but if the assembly (ceramic
holder) may
> >>>> have dropped just a teensy weensy bit
> >>>>
> >>>> Also, if it's not too late already, before you go filament changing,
> >>>>
> >>> give the
> >>>
> >>>> focus suggestion one more try but this time do not use the default
> >>>>
> >>> auto-tune
> >>>
> >>>> settings. Either tune manually or increase the step width (and the
> >>>>
> >>> number of
> >>>
> >>>> iterations).
> >>>>
> >>>> No offence to Bremen but the auto-focus feature is only half as
intelligent
> >>>> as it would have us believe. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who
has
> >>>> seen a signal improvement of -500mV (!) or worse after an auto-focus.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Best,
> >>>>
> >>>> Wolfram
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> *****************************************************************
> >>>> "Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."
> >>>>
> >>>> Aldous Huxley, "Proper Studies", 1927
> >>>> *****************************************************************
> >>>>
> >>>> Dr W Meier-Augenstein
> >>>> Senior Lecturer in Stable Isotope Forensics
> >>>>
> >>>> Environmental Forensics & Human Health Research Group
> >>>> EERC, S.P.A.C.E.
> >>>> Queen's University Belfast
> >>>> David Keir Building
> >>>> 39-123 Stranmillis Road
> >>>> Belfast, BT9 5AG
> >>>> United Kingdom
> >>>>
> >>>> Tel.: +44 (0)28 9097 4015
> >>>> Fax: +44 (0)28 9066 3754
> >>>> Email: [log in to unmask]
> >>>> URL (Isotope Lab): http://www.qub.ac.uk/eerc/facilities/siff.htm
> >>>> URL (Research):
> >>>> http://www.qub.ac.uk/eerc/people/academic_staff/wma/wm_a/efnhh.htm
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>> From: Stable Isotope Geochemistry [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> >>>>
> >>> Behalf
> >>>
> >>>> Of Charlotte Lehmann
> >>>> Sent: 24 October 2007 15:55
> >>>> To: [log in to unmask]
> >>>> Subject: Re: [ISOGEOCHEM] Dramatic Sensitivity Decrease
> >>>>
> >>>> Thanks for the suggestions everybody.
> >>>> The box and trap values are as they should be 0.7-0.8 mA.
> >>>> The slow magnet scan indicates that peaks are in the same positions
> >>>> that they have been.
> >>>> The peak shape looks "flat, symmetrical, and not noisy".
> >>>> Autofocusing improves the intensities but does not give anywhere near
> >>>> the values I was getting and the linearity check shows that it isn't
> >>>> linear.
> >>>> So, as per the Thermo service engineer, I am going to change the
filament.
> >>>> --
> >>>> Charlotte Lehmann
> >>>> Assistant in Instruction
> >>>> Bates College
> >>>> Department of Geology
> >>>> 206A Carnegie Science Building
> >>>> 44 Campus Avenue
> >>>> Lewiston, ME 04240
> >>>> Phone: 207-786-6485
> >>>> FAX: 207-786-8334
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Quoting "Bolotin, Jakov" <[log in to unmask]>:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> Hi Charlotte,
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Your Box and Trap currents should both be around 0.7-0.8 mA. If the
> >>>>> difference between those currents is high (for example: 1.1 and 0.4)
> >>>>> then you should clean your source. If the currents are OK, I would
too
> >>>>> suggest trying "autofocus".
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Regards
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Jakov
> >>>>>
> >>>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>>> From: Stable Isotope Geochemistry [mailto:[log in to unmask]] O
n
> >>>>> Behalf Of Charlotte Lehmann
> >>>>> Sent: Dienstag, 23. Oktober 2007 21:43
> >>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
> >>>>> Subject: Re: [ISOGEOCHEM] Dramatic Sensitivity Decrease
> >>>>>
> >>>>> We have just experienced a dramatic sensitivity decrease as well and
I
> >>>>> am wondering, while I await ideas from our Thermo service engineer,
what
> >>>>> ideas the list might have. Here's what transpired with our DeltaV
> >>>>> Advantage:
> >>>>> Everything had been running well with intensities for masses
44-45-46 in
> >>>>> the 4000-5000-6000 mV ranges and for masses 28 and 29 in the 2000
and
> >>>>> 1500 ranges, respectively. The filament was replaced and everything
> >>>>> tuned to good linearity on 9/10/07. Fresh column and water trap
fillings
> >>>>> were installed in the EA. And the EA GC-oven was baked out at that
time.
> >>>>> The helium tank was switched on 9/24/07. No problems seen. The
source
> >>>>> tripped off to that enigmatic HV reading of 0.35 kV on 10/2/07. But
> >>>>> everything looked okay after I turned the source back on and ran
okay
> >>>>> until now. A new Oxygen tank was put on-line on 10/11/07. Vacuum
> >>>>> readings with valves open and closed continue to look great. On
10/15/07
> >>>>> I noticed that the source and inlet heaters were not turned on; so I
> >>>>> turned them on. Not sure when they got turned off.
> >>>>> Nearly 500 samples were run, with the ash trap being emptied as
needed.
> >>>>> Last Weds. I emptied the ash trap in the Costech ECS4010.
> >>>>> Shortly thereafter I checked the intensities of masses 44-45-46 and
they
> >>>>> were 4418, 5060, and 6160, respectively. Five days later, a sequence
run
> >>>>> was initiated, and the intensities were 270, 310, and 380 mV
> >>>>> respectively, with a corresponding drop in BGD values for masses
> >>>>> 44-45-46. Masses 28 and 29 show only 153 and 114 mV respectively;
again
> >>>>> with corresponding drop in BGD values as well.
> >>>>> I have leak checked everything with a GOW-MAC CO2 and He detector. I
> >>>>> can't get a peak center on mass 40 since the sensitivity is so low
> >>>>> (normally without leaks we are at 8 mV or so).
> >>>>> I have checked the ConfloIII to make sure everything is working
properly
> >>>>> there.
> >>>>> I have "fiddled" with the EA valve, but it didn't improve anything
to
> >>>>> open and close it. This was the service engineer's only suggestion
so
> >>>>> far, and now I wait for other ideas...
> >>>>> I have checked from the GC Trace-GCC-III side to see if the
sensitivity
> >>>>> loss is observed from there as well and IT IS. So, it appears to be
a
> >>>>> problem with the source or source electronics.
> >>>>> I also tried shutting down the software and the computer and
restarting
> >>>>> with no change in the situation.
> >>>>> Today I took the the opportunity to refresh the columns and water
trap
> >>>>> in the EA while things were not going to be running (we often do
this
> >>>>> about every 500-750 samples anyway). The copper wire was as normal
about
> >>>>> half spent. There was NO brown film in the SS connector tube (from
> >>>>> combustion to reduction column) this time as there has been
recently.
> >>>>> These changes in the EA have not affected the issue, because it is
> >>>>> clearly is in the IRMS source.
> >>>>> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Again, the only change
between a
> >>>>> good run and the loss of sensitivity was that I emptied the ash trap
in
> >>>>> the EA. I guess I will try turning on the analyzer heater while I
wait
> >>>>> for ideas. I really hate the thought that the filament has gone
belly up
> >>>>> in less than six weeks!
> >>>>> --
> >>>>> Charlotte Lehmann
> >>>>> Assistant in Instruction
> >>>>> Bates College
> >>>>> Department of Geology
> >>>>> 206A Carnegie Science Building
> >>>>> 44 Campus Avenue
> >>>>> Lewiston, ME 04240
> >>>>> Phone: 207-786-6485
> >>>>> FAX: 207-786-8334
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Quoting Herbert Tobias <[log in to unmask]>:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>> Hello All,
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> I have a question about a MAT 252 IRMS.  I vented the instrument to
> >>>>>> replace the sampling capillary.  I let it pump down for ~2hrs.
When
> >>>>>> testing CO2 gas pulses from a dual inlet volume and injected CO2
from
> >>>>>> a GCC interface, the signal was 10x lower than normal.  This means
its
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> the IRMS itself.  I tuned the lenses, and now got 4x lower signal
than
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> normal, better but not good.  The voltages and currents on the
> >>>>>> filament are normal.
> >>>>>> Has anyone seen this problem and know how to resolve it?
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Thanks in advance...
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> cheers,
> >>>>>> -Herb
> >>>>>> Cornell University
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>
> >> Center for Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry
> >> Valley Life Science Building Room 3060
> >> Integrative Biology - MC3140
> >> Berkeley CA-94720
> >> Phone: (510)-643-1748
> >> Fax: (510)-643-1749
> >> [log in to unmask]
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>
> -- 
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