Air air generator ZA2A

zerolaboratoryfor gas chromatography

Overview
Zero‑air generators supply a continuous flow of hydrocarbon‑free air (< 0.05 ppm as methane) with stable pressure and low contamination levels. Designed for analytical laboratories, they replace gas cylinders as a safer, cost‑efficient source of oxidising or flame‑supporting air for GC detectors.

For precise analytical applications
These units provide a steady, low‑noise air source to minimise baseline drift and improve signal‑to‑noise for sensitive detectors, supporting reproducible results in routine and trace analysis.

What is zero‑air?
Zero‑air is specially treated ambient air with residual hydrocarbon content below 0.05 ppm (as methane). Treatment combines particulate filtration and a heated precious‑metal catalyst that oxidises hydrocarbons, producing clean, dry and stable air suitable for analytical instrumentation.

Advantages

• Continuous supply of hydrocarbon‑free air
• No manual cylinder changes or supply interruptions
• Consistent air quality for reproducible analyses
• Lower operating cost compared with cylinder solutions
• Compact benchtop design with small footprint

Applications in gas chromatography
Used as an oxidising or flame‑supporting gas, zero‑air is essential for reliable operation of detectors such as:

• Flame ionisation detector (GC‑FID)
• Flame photometric detector (GC‑FPD)
• Atomic emission spectrometer (GC‑AES)
• Nitrogen‑phosphorus detector (GC‑NPD)

Variants

• ZA2A — zero‑air generator with integrated compressor (A‑025) for installations without central compressed air; up to 2,000 ml/min at up to 6 bar.
• ZA4 — zero‑air generator without compressor for use with existing compressed air supply; up to 4,000 ml/min at up to 6 bar.

ZA2A – Zero‑air generator with integrated compressor

• Independent operation where no compressed air is available
• Integrated A‑025 compressor for plug‑and‑play installation
• Hydrocarbon content < 0.05 ppm (as methane)
• Flow up to 2,000 ml/min at up to 6 bar
• Low baseline noise for precise analyses
• Compact, stackable benchtop footprint

ZA4 – Zero‑air generator without compressor

• Designed to work with central or existing compressed air systems
• Hydrocarbon content < 0.05 ppm (as methane)
• Flow up to 4,000 ml/min at up to 6 bar
• Eliminates variability and handling associated with gas cylinders
• Compact design for laboratory integration

Compressed air solution for ZA4
The SICOLAB 038 mini compressor station is recommended as a compatible, oil‑free, low‑noise, compact and portable compressed air source for ZA4 installations; delivered as a plug‑and‑play solution.

Features and Technology

• Efficient catalytic removal of hydrocarbons
• Integrated particulate filtration down to 0.01 µm
• Intelligent catalyst heating management for long service life
• Durable, low‑maintenance construction
• Compact, stackable benchtop systems

Technical data

• ZA4 — Flow: up to 4,000 ml/min; Pressure: up to 6 bar; Hydrocarbon: < 0.05 ppm; Example electrical: 230 V, 2.3 A, 0.5 kW; Protection: IP54; Noise: ~49 dB(A); Weight: ~19.0 kg; Dimensions (L x W x H): 450 x 550 x 270 mm.
• ZA2A — Flow: up to 2,000 ml/min; Pressure: up to 6 bar; Hydrocarbon: < 0.05 ppm; Integrated compressor A‑025; Example electrical: 230 V, 3.3–4.6 A, 0.77 kW; Protection: IP54; Noise: ~54 dB(A); Weight: ~25.0 kg; Dimensions (L x W x H): 450 x 550 x 270 mm.
• Filtration: down to 0.01 µm; Protection class: IP54; Typical noise range: 49–54 dB(A).

Notes
Hydrocarbon removal combines particulate filtration and oxidation over a heated precious‑metal catalyst. ZA2A includes an integrated compressor (A‑025) where external compressed air is unavailable.

Technical specifications

• Hydrocarbon content: < 0.05 ppm (as methane)
• Filtration: down to 0.01 µm
• ZA2A flow: up to 2,000 ml/min at up to 6 bar (integrated compressor)
• ZA4 flow: up to 4,000 ml/min at up to 6 bar (requires external compressed air)
• Electrical examples: 230 V; current 2.3–4.6 A
• Motor input examples: 0.5 kW (ZA4), 0.77 kW (ZA2A)
• Protection class: IP54
• Noise levels: approx. 49–54 dB(A)
• Weights: approx. 19.0 kg (ZA4), 25.0 kg (ZA2A)
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 450 x 550 x 270 mm