Instantaneous Concentration Measurement, A First at Pfizer

Following an extensive series of calibration trials, pharmaceutical manufacturer Pfizer, from Sandwich, Kent, chose to purchase Canongate's DensiCheck system to measure concentration on a mixed nitrate feed to a manufacturing process.

This application represents a double first for Canongate. It is the first time a DensiCheck unit has been used on vessels and pipes where the product is sterilised to approximately 130°C for one hour and then allowed to cool over the next 12 hours to 50 °C while it is being used in the process. It was also the first time the system had been used to measure concentration in a mixed nitrate solution.

Commenting on the application, Canongate's Technical Director, Dr. Ian Forrest, said "Whilst the nitrate calibration was relatively easy, the temperature compensation over such a wide bank (80°) proved more difficult, but by no means impossible, samples of data required to complete the calculation took several weeks to collect".

Since its installation, DensiCheck, Canongate's high-accuracy, non-invasive continuous liquid concentration measurement system has been giving Pfizer critical concentration information instantaneously. This has allowed the company to optimise its process whilst saving on valuable lab time and resources.