Quartz tube is an essential core component in modern laboratory analytical instruments. It is not only a reaction vessel for sample cracking, combustion, and atomization, but also an optical channel for spectral signal transmission and enhancement. As a professional custom quartz product manufacturer, Luverre Quartz provides high-purity temperature resistant quartz tubes for global petrochemical, environmental, pharmaceutical, and scientific research institutions, solving core pain points such as sample memory effect in high-temperature corrosive environments, low efficiency of complex sample pretreatment, and difficulty in detecting trace signals, helping to analyze data more accurately and stably.

Quartz tubes serve as a bridge between macroscopic samples and microscopic signals due to their excellent high temperature resistance (softening point of nearly 1700 ℃), high UV transmittance (>90% @ 200nm), and nearly perfect chemical inertness. In laboratory analytical instruments, it serves as a combustion cracking reaction cell, long path absorption cell, atomizer, and signal enhancement component, solving the core problem of carbon interference in trace sulfur determination in petrochemicals and the inability to balance corrosion resistance and sensitivity in trace metal analysis. We offer a full range of customized products, from capillary tubes with an outer diameter of 0.01mm to large reaction tubes with a diameter of 350mm, to maximize the performance of your analytical instruments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): How can we address your core needs?

Q1: When analyzing the sulfur content of petrochemical samples, the inner wall of the quartz tube always forms carbon, resulting in low results and requiring frequent shutdown for cleaning. What should be done?

A: Traditional straight through quartz tubes are prone to carbon deposition in the gasification section. We provide anti carbon structure quartz tubes. By optimizing the geometric design of the gas path and combining it with our high inner wall smoothness process (Ra<0.2 μ m), we can completely avoid sample adsorption and retention in the gasification section, without the need for reverse burning to remove carbon. The baseline stability time is shortened by more than 80%.

Q2: When measuring heavy metals (such as gold and cadmium) using atomic absorption spectroscopy, the sensitivity of ordinary quartz atomizers is insufficient, and corrosive acids can corrode tubelines. What are some good methods?

A: We provide high-purity quartz atomizers. The research confirmed that in the thermal spray flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (TS-FF-AAS), using a quartz tube with a small inner diameter as an atomizer can not only withstand strong corrosive media such as concentrated hydrochloric acid (far better than nickel tubes), but also significantly improve the atomic vapor density through geometric constraints, so that the detection sensitivity of gold element is improved to 0.004 μ g/mL, comparable to the graphite furnace.

Q3: When Raman spectroscopy is used to detect powder samples, the signal is too weak. How to enhance the signal without damaging the sample?

A: The standard Raman probe has low signal collection efficiency for dark or loose powders. Using our quartz tube enhanced Raman probe, a small customized quartz tube is integrated at the end of the probe. By utilizing its inner wall reflection and light field confinement effect, the sampling volume and collection efficiency can be maximized. Experimental results have shown that this design can increase the Raman signal intensity of sodium bicarbonate by 2.92 times and detect samples deep in the container.

Q4: In gas chromatography (GC) or microfluidic experiments, extremely fine tubeline connections are required and there should be no adsorption. Where can they be customized?

A: We are your best choice. We can customize quartz capillary tubes with an outer diameter of 0.01mm to 1mm, and the inner wall can be treated with inert passivation to effectively prevent strong polar drugs or proteins from adsorbing on the tube wall. Whether used as a capillary chromatography column or as a microinjection needle, it can ensure the complete recovery of the sample.

The core applications and advantages of quartz tubes in analytical instruments

Core application areas: from sample pre-processing to signal detection

Quartz tubes, due to their unique optical, thermal, and chemical properties, run through multiple stages of the analysis process

-Elemental analysis (combustion cracking tube): In carbon sulfur analyzers and microcoulometric sulfur analyzers, quartz tubes are used as high-temperature combustion chambers. The sample is in full contact with oxygen here, and is cracked at>1000 ℃ to convert the tested element into gas (such as SO ₂, CO ₂). Our quartz tube is resistant to sudden temperature changes and does not crack during repeated temperature fluctuations.

-Atomic Spectroscopy (Atomizer/Absorption Cell): Quartz tubes are commonly used as atomizers in Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) and Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopy (AFS). For example, the tested elements (such as As, Se, Hg) after hydride generation decompose into ground state atoms in a heated quartz tube. Its high transparency ensures efficient passage of light source energy, and its tolerance to inorganic acids is much higher than that of metal tubes.

-Molecular spectroscopy (long path gas cell/liquid phase cell): In gas analysis, quartz tubes can be made into multiple reflection long path gas absorption cells to detect trace amounts of ozone, sulfur dioxide, etc. using their ultraviolet transmission characteristics. In Raman spectroscopy, the small diameter quartz tube itself is a signal enhancing element.

-Separation science (chromatographic column/connecting tubeline): The core of gas chromatography - capillary column, with quartz as the substrate. Its flexibility and inertness ensure efficient separation of complex components such as essential oils and petroleum fractions without reaction.

Why choose us as a custom supplier?

-Ultimate purity, fearless of trace analysis: We use synthetic quartz raw materials and control metal impurities at ppb levels (such as Na, K, Fe are all<0.1ppm) to completely eliminate contamination of samples by impurity precipitation at high temperatures, ensuring the authenticity of trace analysis (μ g/L level) data.

-Tolerant across all temperature ranges and adaptable to complex working conditions: From a low temperature connection of -65 ℃ to a combustion analysis of 1200 ℃, our quartz tube has an extremely low coefficient of thermal expansion (5.5 × 10 ⁻⁷/℃), and does not deform or rupture during intense programmed heating.

-Chemical inertness, solving the "memory effect": The inner wall undergoes precision polishing and passivation treatment, resulting in extremely strong surface inertness. Even easily decomposable pesticides or easily adsorbed proteins can pass through without loss, greatly reducing the flushing time for alternating analysis of high and low concentration samples.

-Optical grade transparency, signal maximization: With a transmittance of over 85% in the deep ultraviolet region (185nm), there are no bubbles or stripes. When used as a spectral detection window, it minimizes background interference and improves signal-to-noise ratio to the greatest extent possible.

Comprehensive customization service: infinitely approaching your ideal design

We are well aware of the complexity of laboratory instruments and offer full-size customization ranging from micrometers to meters

-Size customization:

-Capillary grade: inner diameter 0.01mm-1.0mm, wall thickness starting from 0.005mm, used for chromatography, microfluidics, and precision injection needles.

-Reaction tube level: outer diameter 3mm-100mm, used for combustion furnaces and atomizers.

-Industrial grade large tube: outer diameter 200mm-350mm, wall thickness up to 35mm, used for semiconductor diffusion furnaces or large reaction vessels.

-Customization of Shape and Structure:

-Complex shaped tubes: U-shaped tubes, spiral tubes, T-shaped/Y-shaped tees with branch tubes/flanges, and one end sealed tubes.

-Functional integrated tube: Flow cell with standard threaded interface, sample tube with scale line, hollow core optical fiber coated with metal on the inner wall.

-Assembly: Transition sealed welding of quartz and metal (such as tungsten, stainless steel) to meet the requirements of high vacuum or high pressure environments.

Customer Application Cases

Case 1: Efficiency improvement of trace total sulfur determination in a large petrochemical enterprise

-Background of demand: The quality inspection center of the enterprise needs to detect trace sulfur content in a large amount of propylene and xylene every day. After one week of use, the original microcoulometric quartz tube showed significant carbon deposition in the gasification section, resulting in a decrease in the conversion rate of the standard sample from 90% to 70%. It required a 2-hour shutdown and backfiring every day, seriously affecting the production rhythm.

-Solution: After on-site investigation by our engineers, we have provided a new type of anti adsorption quartz cracking tube. The tube has optimized the inner diameter gradient of the gasification section and adopted ultra high precision polishing technology to reduce the dead zone of sample residence.

-Final effect: After continuous use for one month, there is no obvious carbon deposition on the inner wall upon inspection. The conversion rate of the standard sample remained stable at over 95%, and the instrument calibration time was shortened from 1 hour to 10 minutes. This scheme has been adopted as its enterprise standard configuration and promoted to all analysis teams.

Case 2: A certain environmental monitoring organization - breakthrough in sensitivity of heavy metal detection in water

-Background of demand: This institution is responsible for the distribution research of trace gold (Au) in the water environment of a certain watershed. The traditional flame atomic absorption method (FAAS) has insufficient sensitivity, while the graphite furnace method (GFAAS) has a slow analysis speed and requires complex sample digestion pretreatment. They attempted to use nickel tubes for online atomization, but the aqua regia medium quickly corroded the tubeline.

-Solution: We have customized a special quartz atomizer for the hot spray flame furnace, which is designed with a small inner diameter (2mm) to increase the atomic density, and made of high-purity quartz that is resistant to strong acid corrosion.

-Final effect: In the optimized hydrochloric acid medium, the detection limit of gold element reached 0.004 μ g/mL, the analysis speed was as high as 72 samples/hour, and the quartz tube worked continuously for 3 months without corrosion traces. This new method has been successfully applied to the direct determination of gold content in homeopathic medicines without the need for sample digestion. The relevant results have been published in an international analytical chemistry journal.

Case 3: In situ Raman analysis of powder samples at a certain research institute

-Background of the requirement: The research group needs to quickly identify hazardous chemical powders at different depths inside sealed containers, but traditional Raman probe signals are affected by scattering from the container wall and weak signals from the powder itself, making it impossible to penetrate and detect.

-Solution: We customized an ultra-fine quartz tube enhanced probe with an outer diameter of only 2mm based on its design drawings. Integrate the quartz tube at the end of the fiber optic probe as the signal acquisition front-end.

-Final effect: Compared to traditional ball lens probes, the signal of sodium bicarbonate powder has been enhanced by 2.92 times. Successfully penetrated the container wall and obtained a clear fingerprint spectrum of sodium sulfate powder at the bottom of the container, providing a new means for public security criminal investigation and rapid on-site inspection of dangerous goods. The paper was published in the journal "Infrared and Laser Engineering".

Maintenance and Selection Guide

To ensure the long lifespan and high performance of quartz tubes, please note:

-Cleaning: Organic pollution can be removed by heating to 800-1000 ℃ in air or oxygen flow and burning; Inorganic salt residues can be soaked in dilute acid and cleaned with ultrasonic waves.

-Taboo: It is strictly prohibited to come into contact with hydrofluoric acid (HF), hot concentrated phosphoric acid, and strong alkali, which can seriously corrode quartz.

-Installation: Suitable soft graphite or ceramic gaskets should be used for sealing to avoid stress cracking caused by hard contact between metal and quartz.

Each sample is unique, and the quartz tube carrying the data should also be so.

Whether it's thick walled reaction tubes used for ultra-high temperature combustion or needle tip capillaries used for single-cell analysis, we can create high-performance "analysis channels" for you through rigorous raw material screening and sub micron processing accuracy.

Contact us immediately and provide us with your instrument model, operating conditions, or design sketch, so that our technical team can customize an exclusive quartz tubing system for you!

Luverre Quartz is a manufacturer specializing in quartz tubes and other quartz items.We have over 18 years experience with the production of quartz tubes, we will be your reliable partner on quartz tubes and other quartz items.

Luverre Quartz can manufacture customized quartz tubes in various shapes, such as spiral, square, round, with processing including cutting, bending, welding, etc., and available in different colors, such as transparent quartz tubes, opaque quartz tubes, milky white quartz tubes, red quartz tubes, and so on.