Bubble Trap Basics: What It Is & How It Works

Nov 17, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Aug 10

The bubble trap is a component of a chromatography skid that allows for the degassing of process solutions. Chromatography is the process of separating different components from a mixture or solution.

Why Degassing Matters for Chromatography

Entrained gas in a process fluid stream can interfere with chromatography separation - bubbles moving through the system can disrupt flow consistency and detection accuracy at exactly the stage where precise separation matters most. A bubble trap addresses this by providing head space where entrained gas can rise out of the fluid and be safely captured or vented, before that gas can disrupt the downstream separation process.

Why Crevice-Free, Self-Draining Design Is Essential

In order to effectively separate substances, the bubble trap needs to be crevice-free and self-draining. Any residuals left inside the bubble trap between cycles could contaminate the next.

This is a critical point for chromatography and other sanitary process applications: a trap that retains even small amounts of fluid or residue between processing cycles introduces cross-contamination risk into every subsequent run. Crevices provide places for residue to hide from cleaning procedures, while a design that doesn't fully self-drain leaves standing fluid behind after each cycle. Both problems compound over repeated use if not addressed by the trap's fundamental design.

Why Bubble Traps Are Application-Specific

A bubble trap should be designed to work for a specific set of processing conditions - tailored to fill rate, flow volume, and specific gravity of the process fluids. It needs to provide adequate head space for entrained gas to rise to the unfilled space at the top, where it can be safely captured or vented to atmosphere depending on the specific process.

This means a bubble trap sized correctly for one application's flow characteristics may not perform correctly in a different application - getting the sizing right relative to your actual fill rate and flow volume is what ensures gas actually has time and space to separate out before the fluid moves downstream.

The Jacoby-Tarbox Hy-Trap™ Hygienic Bubble Trap

If you're searching for the best bubble trap, look no further than the Jacoby-Tarbox Hy-Trap™ Hygienic Bubble Trap. Here's what sets it apart, and why each feature matters:

Sizes 4"-10": Covers a wide range of flow volumes and skid configurations without requiring a custom design for each application.

Greater than 10° Drain Angle: Promotes maximum drainability - directly addressing the self-draining requirement that prevents residual fluid from remaining between cycles.

SF4 Wetted Surface Finish: A smooth surface finish standard that reduces places where residue can adhere, supporting the crevice-free requirement for effective cleaning.

L-Shaped Seal, Self-Centering: Eliminates glass-to-metal impingement - preventing the seal design itself from creating a contact point that could damage the glass or create a residue-trapping crevice.

Standard 316L Stainless Steel (other materials available): Provides corrosion resistance appropriate for sustained sanitary process exposure.

USP Type 1 Borosilicate Cylinders (other options available): Meets United States Pharmacopeia standards for pharmaceutical-grade glass, relevant for biotech and pharma chromatography applications.

Class VI Compliant, ADI-Free Elastomers: Meets recognized biocompatibility standards for elastomer components in contact with pharmaceutical or biotech process fluids.

Pre-Tapped Mounting Holes: Simplifies installation directly onto existing equipment without additional fabrication.

Accessory Rail: Provides a mounting point for instrumentation directly on the trap assembly.

Customizable Trap Heads: Allow the trap to be configured to meet specific instrumentation requirements for a given skid design.

Applications

Bubble traps, and the Hy-Trap specifically, are used across:

Pharmaceutical & Biotech: Chromatography skids requiring USP-compliant, Class VI elastomer components
Chromatography Applications Generally: Any process requiring degassing before separation
Sanitary Process Skids: Where crevice-free, self-draining design is essential to prevent cross-contamination between cycles