A prior post reported on the pending shortage of helium caused in part by the trade embargos against Qatar. While the dispute in the gulf is not resolved, a recent article indicates that new sources of helium may mitigate the shortage. New production facilities are coming online. However, a pie chart in the article shows that countries with unsteady trade relations with America account for 60% of the world’s supply of helium. These include Russia, Algeria, Iran, and Qatar.
The take-home message for labs using helium should be: Pay attention to the supply picture. If you can envision a workaround, consider it. Gas chromatographers, in particular, should be replacing helium with hydrogen from lab-scale hydrogen generators for carrier gas as well as fuel for detectors such as flame ionization detectors. Start converting now, and avoid a crisis.
Robert L. Stevenson, Ph.D., is Editor Emeritus, American Laboratory/Labcompare; e-mail: [email protected].