Automated Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) of Water Samples

LCTech’s robotic system FREESTYLE XANA enables the reliable and unattended sample clean-up of water samples with a volume of 0.1 L up to 10 L from the raw sample up to the filling into GC vials.

Sample preparation in water analysis has special requirements for automating, in particular where the processing of large-volume or particulate-laden samples is required.

FREESTYLE XANA has been specifically developed for the automated sample clean-up of water samples like drinking water, raw water, or river water. Without the need for supervision the system processes samples over 24 hours and 7 days per week. While the system is reliably processing the samples, the user of the system has time to focus on other important tasks.

Unique Throughput Day and Night

Due to simultaneous operation of the process steps and the processing of 3 samples at the same time, FREESTYLE XANA achieves a very high throughput of 65 samples within 24 hours. Controlled positive pressurisation of up to 4 bar in many cases pushes samples even with suspended matter through the SPE columns.

FREESTYLE XANA consists of the basic building block of the xyz-robotic system, FREESTYLE BASIC, and the SPE module. As an option, the platform can be fitted with an EVAporation module, whereby the sample can be eluted directly into the EVAporation chamber, evaporated according to your specific needs, and afterwards filled into GC-vials, even with inserts - ready for subsequent analysis.

Each module can be used separately: the SPE module for applications operated via solid phase extraction (SPE), the EVAporation module for the concentration of organic solvents or both modules for combined applications. Thus, the system is equally well suited for use in both smaller and high throughput laboratories.

The user chooses the required application from the FREESTYLE software with just a few mouse clicks. Manual methods can be transferred directly to the system. Already defined methods can be saved and reused or modified afterwards at any time.

Innovative Technology – Made in Germany

Permanent pressure monitoring during loading and elution gives users the security they need to operate the system without supervision. If a pre-defined pressure value is exceeded, the system will stop the processing of this sample, which will be marked in the sequence list for post-processing action. Then the system will continue with the next sample.

A table specifically designed for FREESTYLE XANA is also available providing space for all components and enabling comfortable working.

Many laboratories already rely on the performance of FREESTYLE XANA showing their results for automated detection of i.e. acidic pesticides, selected explosives, or artificial sweeteners in water samples in application notes that are available at the website of the company. .

Besides other exciting innovations, LCTech presents FREESTYLE XANA system at analytica 2018 in Munich, Germany, in hall A2 booth 400.