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Gas Purchase Policy at the ALS

Berkeley Lab instituted a new policy effective June 1, 1997, for the purchase of gases. This policy covers the purchase and delivery of standard industrial gases, specialty gases, and toxic and corrosive gases. ALS users should follow the guidelines below when buying gases for experimental use.

Standard Industrial Gases

A supply of the most commonly used gases at the ALS--He, Ar, N2, and CO2 (large cylinders, standard purity)--is available for users in the gas storage racks by Building 6. Users may remove a bottle for use once they have signed for it in the Gas Log Book at the User Services Area in Building 6, and have placed the copper ring from the bottle on the hook beside the log book. When filling out the Gas Log, users must provide the following information: the date; their name and their account number; the beamline or lab where the gas is to be used; and the type of gas and the quantity (number of bottles) taken. ALS staff will reorder additional cylinders based on this information in order to maintain a readily available supply of common gases for all users.

All other standard industrial gas purchases can be ordered by contacting a Beamline Coordinator (ext 7464) or an ALS Receiving staff member (ext. 4494). Gas cylinders will be delivered to the gas storage racks at the ALS (or the building specified by the purchaser). All gas cylinders delivered to the ALS will be labeled with the name of the user or group who ordered them. Users ordering large cylinders should record their purchases in the Gas Log Book in the Building 6 User Services Area.

Below are some examples of available gases and their prices; a complete list of gases for purchase can be found in the User Services Area in Building 6.

 
Gas Type Size, inches % Purity Cu Ft or Lbs Price
Air, Dry 9 x 51 n/a 220 $14.60
Argon* 9 x 51 99.998 240 $21.09
Carbon Dioxide* 9 x 51 99.8 50 lbs $15.50
Helium 4 x 13 99.995 10 $38.00
Helium* 9 x 51 99.995 215 $28.43
Helium 9 x 51 99.999 215 $57.00
Nitrogen 4 x 13 99.999 14 $27.00
Nitrogen* 9 x 51 99.999 230 $12.06
         
* Available from Building 6 gas storage rack; sign-out in Gas Log Book in User Services Area (see above)

Specialty Gases

Many nontoxic and/or non-corrosive specialty gases can also be purchased through the ALS. The gases available are listed in the Airgas Specialty Gases Catalog in the User Services Area. Lecture bottle quantities are generally not indicated but should be available on request.
  • What: Purchase of Standard Industrial or Specialty Gases for Use at the ALS
  • How:

    For standard industrial or specialty gases, contact a Beamline Coordinator (ext 7464) or an ALS Receiving staff member (ext. 4494) and provide the following information:
     
    a. Your name
    b. Your account number
    c. Your phone number
    d. Destination building number (put "6" for ALS floor)
    e. Gas(es) and quantity required

 

Toxic and Corrosive Gases

Anyone intending to use toxic or corrosive gases in experiments at the ALS should review ALS User Advisory 15, "The Use of Toxic and Corrosive Gases at ALS Endstations." The purchase of any of the toxic and corrosive gases listed below must handled by Berkeley Lab staff; contact ) for assistance.

ammonia (NH3)
arsenic pentafluoride (AsF5)
arsine (AsH3)
benzene in air
boron trichloride (BCl3)
boron trifluoride (BF3)
bromine pentafluoride
bromine trifluoride (BrF3)
1,3-butadiene (C4H6)
carbon monoxide (CO)
carbonyl fluoride (COF2)
carbonyl sulfide
chlorine (Cl2)
chlorine trifluoride (ClF3)
cyanogen (C2N2)
cyanogen chloride (ClCN)
diborane (H6B2)
dichlorosilane (SiH2Cl2)
fluorine (F2)
germanium tetrahydride (GeH4)
hydrogen bromide (HBr)
hydrogen chloride (HCl)
hydrogen cyanide (HCN)
hydrogen fluoride (HF)
hydrogen selenide (H2Se)
hydrogen sulfide (H2S)
iodine pentafluoride (IP5)
methyl bromide (CH3Br)
methyl chloride (CH3Cl)
methyl silane
nickel carbonyl Ni(CO)4
nitric oxide (NO)
nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
nitrogen trifluoride (NF3)
nitrosyl chloride (NOCl)
oxygen difluoride (OF2)
phosgene (COCl2)
phosphine (PH3)
phosphorous pentafluoride (PF5)
phosphorous trichloride (PCl3)
phosphorous trifluoride (PF3)
selenium hexafluoride
silane (silicontetrahydride-SiH4)
silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4)
silicon tetrafluoride (SiF4)
stibine (SbH3)
sulfur dioxide (SO2)
sulfur tetrafluoride (SF4)
sulfuryl fluoride (SO2F2)
tellurium hexafluoride (TeF6)
tungsten hexafluoride (WF6)
vinyl chloride (C2H3Cl)
  • What: Purchase of Toxic or Corrosive Gases for Use at the ALS
  • How:
    For additional information about the purchase of toxic and/or corrosive gases at the ALS, contact a Beamline Coordinator (ext 7464) or an ALS Receiving staff member (ext. 4494).

Berkeley Lab Chemical Inventory

All gas bottles and cylinders at the ALS must be identified with bar code and logged into the Berkeley Lab Chemical Inventory by ALS staff. The inventory will be updated periodically; for more information contact Beamline Coordination Section Leader (ext. 5527).