Technology Transfer: Photonion GmbH
Ongoing developments in online single-photon ionization mass spectrometry (SPI-MS) at our cooperation group led to a number of patents and third party projects, often with direct industrial support. To satisfy the upcoming demand, a spin-off company was founded: Photonion. It is located on the Helmholtz Campus, closely connected to scientific research and free to further develop innovative trace gas analysis instruments based on the SPI technique.
- First instrument built by Photonion ready for dispatch.
This technique uses an electron-beam pumped excimer light source (EBEL) which allows the efficient online analysis of complex mixtures of organic compounds without using the extensive laser technology. It enables various applications, for instance in process and product surveillance for food, drug, mineral oil, chemical and medical products. It may also be used in fundamental and applied research, for example in the analyis of synthetic material, the quality assurance of petrochemical feedstock as well as natural products and also for the analysis of thermal processes such as the puff-resolved analysis of pollutants in tobacco smoke.
Partners in the Photonion GmbH are Ascenion GmbH (patent realization association of the Helmholtz Zentrum München), Tofwerk AG (custom time-of-flight mass spectrometers; Thun, Switzerland) and Airsense Analytics (innovative sensor technologies and safety equipment; Schwerin, Germany). Seed capital came from these partners on one hand and from a presidential grant (HEF) of the Helmholtz Community (HGF) on the other hand.
- Research related parts of Photonion are located at the Helmholtz Zentrum München, the head office is based at Airsense Analytics, Schwerin.
In the currently running HEF phase, demonstration instruments are developed, partly already in close reconciliation with prospective customers, and prototyping tests are carried out. Close interrelations exist with companies (Borgwaldt KC GmbH, Hamburg; Netzsch Gerätebau GmbH, Selb) who use the EBEL photoionization mass spectrometry technique for characterization of tobacco smoke and for thermo analysis, respectively.
The EBEL-SPI-MS technique holds a high potential for further development. Coupling EBEL-SPI-MS systems with chromatographic separation (GC, HPLC, CE, ...) may be a key technique for further fields of application. As an example, it is used in medical technology for the online analysis of breath gas.
