Helium Gas: Shortage, Alternatives & Future

Abstract / Business Case 1. Introduction: Industrial grade helium is a refined version of crude helium, produced during natural gas processing. It is used across industries including though not limited to aerospace, semiconductor and optical fiber industry, aluminum helium arc welding, and national defense. It is comprehensively used in healthcare and pharmaceutical industry in various applications such as gas chromatography and medical imaging. The shortage in supply of helium gas has increased the cost pressure on science community. Research shows that shortage of helium would continue in future and research community might have to pay higher prices for helium gas. 2. Main: Helium is excellent contender for carrier gas but increasing prices and supply shortage are raising concerns among scientist as well as sourcing communities. Many scientists have got successful results by using hydrogen or nitrogen as carrier gas for chromatography process. Though both hydrogen and nitrogen have trade-offs the cost benefits and supply assurance outset it.