Anaerobic environments

Anaerobic environments play a vital role in research and production processes involving oxygen-sensitive microorganisms or materials. In microbiological research and pharmaceutical manufacturing, an oxygen-free space is often a necessity. There are various technologies to create an anaerobic environment: gas bags, anaerobic tents, anaerobic glove boxes, and fully automatic glove boxes. Interested in how these technologies work? Keep reading to find out more.

What are anaerobic environments?

An anaerobic working environment is an enclosed space where the presence of oxygen is minimized or entirely eliminated. This type of environment is essential for studying anaerobic microorganisms that cannot survive in the presence of oxygen. Anaerobic environments are used across various scientific and industrial sectors, such as microbiological research, fermentation processes, and the production of oxygen-sensitive products. The goal is to create stable, oxygen-free conditions that promote the growth and a

ctivity of specific organisms or chemical reactions.

Gas bags for simple use  

Gas bags are airtight pouches filled with a gas mixture (usually nitrogen or hydrogen) that replaces oxygen. They are useful for transporting samples or for short-term use in small experiments. Gas bags are inexpensive and easy to use, but they are single-use and environmentally unfriendly. Additionally, they are unsuitable for long-term or more complex experiments.

Creating an anaerobic environment typically takes one to four hours, leading to extra costs as the lab technician must wait for the proper conditions to be achieved. Moreover, the cultivation process cannot be interrupted—such as for sample addition or collection—without restarting the entire procedure.

Anaerobic tents  

Anaerobic tents are a popular option for working in oxygen-free environments. These tents, made from flexible vinyl and equipped with gloves, are supported by a metal frame and filled with an inert gas (a gas that does not react chemically).

They offer a reasonable level of control over oxygen levels and are useful for experiments that require more space than a gas bag provides. While it's quicker and easier to create and maintain an anaerobic environment with tents compared to gas bags, they consume more gas and are less efficient than glove boxes.

Anaerobic glove boxes 

Anaerobic glove boxes are sealed workstations designed to maintain an oxygen-free environment. They are widely used in laboratories where precise control of oxygen levels is critical. These glove boxes are equipped with built-in gloves fixed into the walls, allowing researchers to work safely inside the enclosure without direct exposure to the internal atmosphere.

The system operates by continuously circulating nitrogen or another inert gas, keeping oxygen levels virtually at zero. This enables longer experiments without the risk of oxygen exposure. Anaerobic glove boxes are ideal for microbiological research, chemical synthesis, and the production of oxygen-sensitive products. Their benefits are particularly evident in high-throughput labs where thousands of similar samples must be processed quickly.

An added advantage is durability. For instance, Plas-Labs glove boxes are made of clear acrylic, making them virtually unbreakable, even in busy lab environments.

Advantages of anaerobic glove boxes:

• Stable Control: Continuous oxygen level monitoring ensures a reliable anaerobic environment.
• Safety: Protects both samples and researchers due to the sealed space.
• Flexibility: Suitable for a wide range of applications, from small-scale microbiological research to industrial processes.

Fully automatic glove boxes 

One of the biggest challenges when working in anaerobic environments is the time and effort needed to achieve these oxygen-free conditions. With both anaerobic tents and standard glove boxes, the purging process must be carried out manually by flushing gas into the chamber until the desired conditions are reached—a time-consuming task that requires user presence.

To address this issue, Plas-Labs has developed a fully automatic anaerobic glove box. This system allows users to set the desired values via a touchscreen interface, and an anaerobic environment is achieved within 25 minutes. The system significantly reduces gas consumption and continuously maintains the internal atmosphere, including automatic oxygen level monitoring. When oxygen levels drop below 1%, values are displayed in PPM (parts per million) for maximum accuracy.

Additionally, this glove box includes a USB port, allowing all data to be easily saved and analyzed for further research.

Advantages of fully automatic glove boxes:

• Automation: Full automation reduces manual adjustments and minimizes human error.
• Precision: Continuous monitoring and regulation of internal conditions ensure a stable anaerobic environment.
• Efficiency: Higher efficiency through reduced downtime and manual intervention, allowing researchers to focus on core tasks.

Why choose anaerobic or fully automatic glove boxes?

The choice of anaerobic environment technology depends on the specific needs of a project. For short-term or simple experiments, gas bags and anaerobic tents may suffice.

For more complex and long-term processes, anaerobic glove boxes and fully automatic glove boxes offer the precision, control, and reliability needed for advanced research and industrial applications. Anaerobic glove boxes already provide a high level of control and safety, while fully automatic glove boxes take it a step further by delivering maximum efficiency and automation.

For research laboratories and companies that rely on stable anaerobic environments, these advanced systems are an investment in precision, safety, and operational efficiency.