Reliable Measurement Starts with Better Calibration
About Liquen Technologies
Pronounced “ly-ken”, like the resilient organism that inspired our name.
Liquen Technologies develops compact, traceable calibration systems for sensors and analytical instruments used in environmental, industrial and research applications.
Our name is inspired by lichens—organisms known for their sensitivity to environmental change. That same focus on accurate, responsive measurement guides our approach to modern calibration technology.
Located in the foothills of Denver, Colorado, Liquen Technologies is a team of passionate scientists and engineers with over 25 years of experience in atmospheric chemistry, analytical instrumentation, and air quality monitoring. Our team brings together deep scientific expertise and proven industry success to develop innovative, field-ready solutions for real-world environmental challenges.
Ease of Calibration
Our SFCal™ platform uses small supercritical-fluid cartridges to generate controlled standards for gases and semi-volatile compounds, with particle calibration capabilities in development. This technology supports applications ranging from air-quality and industrial monitoring to emerging needs such as PFAS destruction verification.
We are backed by a Phase I SBIR award from the NIEHS to advance our core technology for air pollution sensor calibration, with broader applications already underway.
At Liquen Tech, we believe that reliable data starts with reliable calibration. Our goal is to enable better decisions—from public health to process control—by making gas sensor accuracy more portable, scalable, and practical.
Liquen Tech: Precision calibration, anywhere it's needed.
Portable
Liquen is developing a compact, portable calibration system that allows air-pollution sensors to be calibrated directly at the point of measurement. The system uses small CO₂ cartridges—similar to those used for beverage carbonation or MTB tire inflation—instead of bulky compressed-gas cylinders. Under controlled temperature and pressure, the cartridge provides a stable medium for delivering trace amounts of pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and volatile hazardous air pollutants, including BTEX compounds.
A dynamic dilution device mixes the cartridge output with filtered ambient air to generate known pollutant concentrations across a wide range of levels. This allows sensors to be checked and calibrated on site without transporting them to a laboratory or relying on expensive calibration infrastructure. Particle-calibration capabilities are also being developed to support instruments used in community and environmental monitoring.
By reducing equipment size, cost and logistical complexity, Liquen’s approach can make reliable calibration more accessible for field research, industrial monitoring, education and public-health programs—including work in remote and underserved communities.
Technology
Prototype
Our latest prototype demonstrates the compact, high-precision CO₂ delivery system that powers Liquen’s portable particle and gas calibration instruments. Built around food-grade CO₂ cartridges, the design merges laboratory-grade accuracy with field portability.
Findings
Liquen’s NIH-funded Phase I research established the technical feasibility of using compact supercritical-fluid cartridges as portable calibration sources.
Partnership Opportunities
We welcome partnerships with researchers, environmental and industrial organizations, instrument manufacturers, educators and technology developers interested in advancing portable, on-site calibration. We are also seeking collaborators for field validation, product development and emerging applications, including air-quality monitoring and PFAS destruction verification.
To discuss a partnership or learn more about Liquen’s supercritical CO₂ cartridge calibration platform, contact us at info@liquen.tech.
