NEW PRODUCTS FOR GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY continued
instrument calibration. Wireless communication facilitates movement of the autosampler around the lab without the rewiring required for earlier generation autosamplers. The FLEX autosampler is made in the U.S.A.
Modules for Multipurpose GC Sampler Gerstel (Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany;
www.gerstel.com) has focused on sample processing. The company has carved out an interesting niche in sample processing at the front end and supported applica- tions overall. Gerstel uses Agilent’s chromatographs for the analytics. This meets the needs of the customers for supported assays rather than chromatographs.
Cases in point: Gerstel continues to flesh out the Multipurpose Sampler Platform (MPS) by adding a vortex/shaker option. It is capable of 3000-rpm vortexes in vials. It also works with samples in multiple-well plates.
l-Pak Division aboratory
The Pyro module can program heating of samples to a maximum of 1000 ºC for evolved gases, pulsed pyrolysis, fractionated pyrolysis, etc. The Thermal Desorption Unit (TDU) can be mounted on the MPS with the Pyro unit to desorb volatiles prior to pyrolysis. If you need rapid heating, there is a microwave-powered solvent extraction station. This is suitable for assay of fatty acid methyl esters of fats in foods.
Also for the MPS, Gerstel added an automated filtration accessory that uses Luer fittings. Sample filtration often improves method robustness. The mVAP is a six-position evaporation station that also fits on the MPS.
AL1405
Generally it is used for solvent exchange to improve chromatography or detection.
Although Gerstel’s prior autosampler had a large capacity, advances in GC analysis speed dictated the need for a higher-capacity design. Plus there was a desire to have tools available to support injection by liquid, headspace, and SPME. All MPS units are controlled via Gerstel’s MAESTRO software.
Portable gas sampling units Gas sampling in the field is now much less cumbersome with two new products for gas sampling from Gerstel. All collect samples by drawing air through sorbent tubes. The smallest is the GSS-HH for handheld with a weight of only 2.5 lb. Three flow rate ranges are selected covering 5-500 mL/min. The NiMH battery is sufficient for 12 hr. Data for each tube are collected in the HH for loading into a host computer or LIMS. Capacity is two tubes.
For more intense sampling, Gerstel developed the GSS-FP for field por- tability. It weighs 20 lb, including a lead-acid battery, and contains 28 sorbent tubes fed by two independent flow paths.
GC valves In GC, valving is essential to upgrade a gas chromatograph to an analyzer
such as a refinery gas analyzer. Such valves must be small and reliable for starters. Plus, some will operate at elevated temperature. Norgren (Thetford Mines, Quebec, Canada;
www.norgren.com) is a vendor of valves and manifolds used in process instrumentation and control.
Recently the company started promoting valves for gas chromatography and liquid chromatography under the AFP brand. Norgren’s rotary sam- ple injection valves provide low torque actuation. But when the valve is stationary in one of the correct positions, the valve is designed to increase the pressure holding the rotor and stator together, which reduces leaks. Some valves provide a purge port that reduces contamination. Norgren also manufactures syringe pumps that can be used to meter chemicals or samples for prerun processing. The firm is experienced in manufacturing valves from PEEK, PTFE, polyamide, and many metals and alloys.
Summary and outlook Several major vendors in the laboratory space in general and separation
science in particular were absent again, while others downsized their footprint on the floor. However, the space was eagerly taken over by many small startups in optical spectroscopy and a few larger firms from Asia.
A decade ago, it was clear to me that as soon as production in China exceed- ed domestic demand, exporting would increase. This is happening now. It will be interesting to see how these firms find and manage distributors, particularly in the U.S.A., where the number of distributors with national scope is very limited. The other alternative is to establish direct sales and support operation. Only well-funded firms can afford this option.
Robert L. Stevenson, Ph.D., is Editor, American Laboratory/Labcompare; e-mail:
rlsteven@yahoo.com.
AMERICAN LABORATORY • 34 • MAY 2014
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