MAP analyzers are specialized instruments designed to measure these gas concentrations, offering precision and reliability. While Mocon gas analyzers are widely known in the industry, several alternative MAP analyzers provide equal or superior performance at a competitive price point. This article explores the features and benefits of MAP analyzers as effective alternatives to Mocon devices.

Understanding MAP Gas Analysis

MAP involves altering the gas composition inside the packaging to inhibit microbial growth and oxidative reactions. Key gases include:

• CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide): Slows down microbial growth and extends shelf life.
• O₂ (Oxygen): Typically minimized to reduce oxidation and microbial spoilage.
• N₂ (Nitrogen): Used as an inert filler gas to replace oxygen and stabilize the internal atmosphere.

A MAP analyzer ensures the correct balance of these gases, especially by measuring CO₂ and residual O₂ (the small amount of oxygen remaining after flushing).

Advantages of MAP Analyzers Labthink MAP Gas Analyzers

While Mocon is a trusted brand, MAP analyzers from Labthink also provides distinct advantages, such as:

1. Cost-Effectiveness

• MAP analyzers typically offer similar functionality at a more affordable price, making them a cost-effective solution for small and medium-sized enterprises.

2. Versatility

• Many MAP analyzers are designed to handle a wide range of package sizes and materials, from flexible pouches to rigid containers.

3. Service and Maintenance

• Alternative MAP analyzers are often easier to maintain, with readily available spare parts and technical support.

4. Customization

• Some alternative manufacturers offer customizable features or specialized models to meet specific industry needs, such as high-precision O₂ measurement for pharmaceuticals.

Conclusion

MAP analyzers are essential tools for maintaining the integrity of Modified Atmosphere Packaging. While Mocon gas analyzers have long been a staple in the industry, alternative MAP analyzers offer comparable or enhanced features at a more accessible price point.

For industries looking for accurate, cost-effective, and versatile gas measurement solutions, alternatives such as the Labthink MAP Analyzer provide excellent value while ensuring the highest standards of quality and compliance.

Investing in a reliable MAP analyzer not only improves product safety but also strengthens consumer trust in the quality of your packaged goods.

Vacuum packing is a method of packaging that removes air from the package prior to sealing. This method involves (manually or automatically) placing items in a plastic film package, removing air from inside, and sealing the package. Shrink film is sometimes used to have a tight fit to the contents. The intent of vacuum packing is usually to remove oxygen from the container to extend the shelf life of foods and, with flexible package forms, to reduce the volume of the contents and package. Vacuum packing reduces atmospheric oxygen, limiting the growth of aerobic bacteria or fungi, and preventing the evaporation of volatile components.

Therefore, it can be easily understood that how to limit the oxygen content inside the vacuum packaging is critical to the product quality of meat products. This article provides a simplified residual oxygen test method for vacuum packaging used for meat products for your reference.

Figure 1. Vacuum Packaging for Meat Products

Currently there is no uniform standards for residual oxygen in vacuum packaging. The testing instrument we used is Labthink’s C650B Headspace Gas Analyzer. The vacuum test cell is composed of an outer chamber and an inner chamber. Before the test, the inner chamber, where the test specimen is placed, is completely filled with water and sealed with the sealing plate. The outer chamber, which is also the measuring chamber, is slowly injected with water to a designated level and sealed. Both chambers are thereafter evacuated until the test specimen expands. The residual oxygen within the specimen is obtained by fluid level analysis technique associated with corresponding calculations.

The specimens are provided by one meat product manufacturer. The tests can be performed according to the following procedures.

(1)  Submerge the specimen into the vacuum chamber and fill the vacuum chamber with water. Then close the sealing plate. Inject water to a designated level and close the cap.

(2)  Set pressure.

(3)  Turn on the vacuum pump and start to evacuate the vacuum chamber. Due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the specimen, the specimen will expand until the preset pressure is reached.

(4)  The system will calculate the volume of residual oxygen inside the vacuum packaging according to the measured data and display the final test results.

For more details about C650B Headspace Gas Analyzer, please visit www.labthink.com

About Labthink Instruments Co., Ltd:

Labthink Instruments Co., Ltd is one leading supplier of packaging testing instruments, which is headquartered in Jinan, China and operated in Boston, U.S.A.

Oxygen is the main factor affecting the shelf life of LVP solution. It is found that the shelf life of products can be effectively prolonged or the preservation quality can be improved by controlling the proportion of gas components in LVP solution bottles and LVP solution bags. In order to minimize the content of specific gas in large infusion package, Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) and Controlled Atmosphere Packaging (CAP) have been widely used in the LVP production. The inert gas that plays a key role in prolonging the shelf life of products is mainly composed of nitrogen or nitrogen and carbon dioxide with stable properties. However, there are always certain gases in the LVP packaging that cannot be eliminate such as oxygen and other gases. The gas composition changes with the storage time. It can be seen that no matter which packaging form is adopted, it is always difficult for us to completely control the gas composition inside the packaging, which brings difficulties to the analysis of product quality, validity of shelf life prediction and the rationality in packaging design. HGA-01 Headspace Gas Analyzer can effectively solve this problem.

Labthink HGA-01 Headspace Gas Analyzer can well solve the above difficulties through a special sampler, so that headspace gas analysis and detection of small packaging can be realized. HGA-01 Headspace Gas Analyzer has the advantages of desktop and portable equipment, and has many unique advantages. First of all, its measuring range and precision is the international first-class level. Secondly, there are two injection methods, automatic injection and manual injection, which can detect the content of oxygen and carbon dioxide at the same time. A special needle, gasket and filter are equipped, the extraction time and response time are also improved to the greatest extent, ensures the accuracy and effectiveness of test data. In addition, the instrument is equipped with the current international mainstream gas analysing sensor, which can works normal for at least 6 years. The instrument is faciliated with the advantages of both desktop type and portable type, it also has the printing function that traditional portable instruments don’t have, so that it can be easily used in various environments and rapid test of samples.

By analyzing the headspace gas residual oxygen in LVP bottles and LVP bags, we can monitor the change of gas composition in the packaging in a more convenient, accurate and quick fashion. It is an important data support for the analysis of product quality, shelf life validity and packaging design. It is an indispensable detection method to strengthen product quality control. HGA-01 Headspace Gas Analyzer is practical and reliable, combining with the specially designed sampler, it is suitable for residual oxygen analysis and quality control for pharmaceutical companies.

For more details on headspace gas analysis (residual oxygen analyzer) visit www.labthink.com.

Alternative product

The headspace gas analysis of ampoule bottle (especially the residual oxygen analysis) is related to the stability of quality of powder injection, water injection, IV bottle, oral liquid and other products in shelf life. HGA-01 Headspace Gas Analyzer and its special sampler produced by Labthink (Jinan Labthink Instruments Co., Ltd. www.labthink.com) can solve the problem of detection of residual oxygen content in ampoule bottles conveniently and efficiently, and make the detection of small volume ampoule bottles and other packaging well realized.

Why control headspace residual oxygen in ampoule bottles

Oxygen is the main factor affecting the shelf life of powder injection, water injection, oral liquid and other products. It is found that the shelf life of products can be effectively prolonged or the preservation quality can be improved by controlling the proportion of gas components in the packaging. At present, ampoule bottles are mainly used for the packaging of powder injection, water injection, oral liquid and other products. When filling is completed, a small amount of air will remain in the bottles, so the actual gas composition in the bottles will be different from the expected, which brings difficulties to the analysis of product quality, validity of predicted quality assurance period and rationality of packaging design. HGA-01 Headspace Gas Analyzer produced by Labthink can effectively solve the problem of gas composition analysis in ampoule bottles. Now it has become an important means to test the quality of drug design and one of the important methods to verify the shelf life of products.

Difficulties in ampoule bottles headspace gas analysis and detection

The residual oxygen is the key point of headspace gas analysis and detection, but generally the volume of ampoule bottles commonly used for powder injection, water injection, oral liquid and other products is very small, which means the amount of gas in the headspace of ampoule bottles is small, the general headspace gas analysis equipment cannot carry out the analysis and test of gas collection less than 0.5ml or 0.2ml, it is one of the difficulties for headspace gas analysis and detection of small volume packages such as ampoule bottles.

Choose suitable Classic 650 Headspace Gas Analyzer

At present, most conventional headspace gas analyzers on the market is basically unable to complete the residual oxygen analysis of water injection, powder injection and other drugs. Labthink Classic 650 Headspace Gas Analyzer can well solve the above difficulties through a special sampler, so that headspace gas analysis and detection of small packaging can be realized. HGA-01 Headspace Gas Analyzer has the advantages of desktop and portable equipment, and many other unique advantages. First of all, it can detect the content of oxygen and carbon dioxide at the same time, and the measuring range and precision is the international first-class product level. Secondly, it has automatic and manual sampling methods. The special needle, gasket and filter are equipped to reduce the extraction time and response time, it ensures the real and effective test data. In addition, the instrument is equipped with the current international mainstream gas analysis sensor, which has at least 6 years of working life. The instrument is portable at the same time it has the printing function that the traditional portable equipment does not have, so that it can be conveniently used in various environments for rapid tests.

Summary of ampoule bottles residual oxygen analysis and detection

Through the analysis and detection of headspace oxygen residual in ampoule bottles, we can control the change of gas composition in the packaging of products such as powder injection, water injection and oral liquid more conveniently, accurately and quickly. It provides reference for analysis of product quality, validity of predicted quality assurance period and rationality of packaging design, and it is an indispensable method to strengthen product quality control. HGA-01 Headspace Gas Analyzer is a practical and reliable instrument which is suitable for pharmaceutical companies for residual oxygen analysis and quality control.

Fresh vegetables and fruits are still living organs after picking. They mainly take respiration as main metabolic activity. Since they are separated from the matrix, have no more supply and can only consume the carbohydrate, pectin, vitamins and organic acid to live; this results in quality decline of those vegetables and fruits. The core concerning for vegetable and fruit fresh-keeping is how to slow down respiration and restrain metabolic activity so as to keep vegetables and fruits in dormancy or semi-dormancy status. Besides commonly applied frozen storage, the frequently applied methods include modified frozen storage and complex MAP and frozen storage. At present, the world advanced fresh keeping method is the above-mentioned complex MAP and frozen storage, which can perfectly combine the modified chain with the frozen storage chain together.

The principle of complex MAP is to apply complex fresh keeping gas to replace the air inside the plastic packages or boxes so as to change the gas proportion inside the bags or boxes; thus, forms a small modified air environment condition inside the bags or boxes, that is, a small modified air room. Then, with the application of frozen storage, metabolic activity is slow down and freshness is prolonged.

MAP gas usually consists of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and oxygen. Oxygen content reduction can reduce respiration of the vegetables and fruits and restrain metabolic activity; carbon dioxide concentration improvement can further slow down respiration; nitrogen is one of the inert gases with no effects on the vegetables and fruits and acts as the filling gas. Different vegetables and fruits require different gas proportion, which is mainly determined by the characteristics of the vegetables and fruits themselves. Therefore, in order to realize vegetable and fruit MAP fresh keeping, the analysis of MAP gases is a must. Headspace gas analyzer is for gas content analysis inside MAP packages, and can suggest best gas proportion with tests. Labthink (www.labthink.cn ) PARAM HGA-01 Headspace Gas Analyzer is applicable for such tests. PARAM HGA-01 Headspace Gas Analyzer specializes in the measurement of the content of oxygen, carbon dioxide and mixing proportion in the sealed bags, bottles, cans and other packages. It can be used to evaluate the gas componets, content, mixing proportion in the package rapidly and accurately in production lines, warehouses, laboratories and other occasions, thereby to guide the production and ensure the shelf life of products.

Water ingredient permeation is another important issue for vegetable and fruit fresh keeping. Once the water ingredient runs off, it would influence the tastes greatly. Some institutions input water into the packages, which is not recommendable, since over amount of water content would speed up the product deterioration. This problem can be resolved by control the water vapor permeation performance (or barrier property), that is, by using proper packaging material to reduce water vapor losses as well as control the gas mixture reasonably. Such testing can be done with water vapor permeation testing instruments as PERME TSY-T series of water vapor permeability testers and PERME W3/330, etc. Gas permeation control can not be neglected when testing barrier property, PERME VAC-V1 and VAC-V2 Gas Permeability Testers are for those quality control demands.

Actually, there are many researches on MAP vegetable and fruit fresh keeping by various institutes and academies worldwide. This is a systematic project. Testing items include barrier property, headspace analysis and many others. However, professional headspace gas analyzer, gas permeation testers and water vapor permeation testers are the premise for research and control works of those institutes and academies. Labthink Instruments Co., Ltd., as the excellent provider of testing instruments and testing services, is willing to cooperate with you.

Further details please feel free to contact Shirley via:
TEL: 0086-531-85061080
FAX: 0086-531-85062108
EMAIL: trade2@labthink.cn
SKYPE: shirley-labthink
MSN: shirleywu_labthink@hotmail.com

More about Labthink(http://www.labthink.cn/en):
Labthink focusing on the laboratory testing instruments R&D and production and laboratory IT services, is dedicated to provide professional quality control solutions for customers in packaging, food, pharmaceutical, medical, daily chemistry, printing, adhesive, automotive, petrochemistry, bioscience, construction, new energy and other industries.

• Headspace Analysis:  Oxygen and moisture are the main factors affecting quality guarantee period of cosmetics. According to researches, the control of gas proportion inside cosmetic packages can effectively prolong the product quality guarantee period or improve storage. Little amount of air would be left inside cosmetic packaging after filling. Therefore, the testing and analysis of internal oxygen or air headspace analysis requires headspace analyzer. Take Labthink HGA-01 Headspace Analyzer as example. This headspace air analyzer can be applied in oxygen, carbon dioxide content and proportion testing inside sealed bags, bottles and cans. This analyzer can help accurate and prompt evaluation of inside gas ingredient analysis in production, warehouse and lab, so as to guide production and guarantee product shelf life.

• Torque Testing: Bottle package is a commonly used packaging means. The open easiness and torque value are the most important online/offline indexes of the manufacturers. Whether the torque is proper would greatly influence transportation and consumption. The open and lock strength testing can be executed with the help of Labthink NJY-20 Torque Tester.

Further quality control solutions, please feel free to contact Shirley Wu via trade2@labthink.cn, skype:shirley-labthink, MSN:shirleywu_labthink@hotmail.com or (tel)0086-531-85061080.

More about Labthink:

Labthink, focusing on laboratory testing instrument R&D, production and laboratory IT services as the core business, is dedicated to provide perfect and professional product quality control solutions for customers in packaging, food, pharmaceutical, medical, daily chemistry, printing, adhesive, automotive, petrochemistry, bioscience, construction, new energy and other industries.

Customers worldwide(parts):

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