New products

A weekly roundup of information on newly offered instrumentation, apparatus, and laboratory materials of potential interest to researchers.

Instrumentation Laboratory about the new Monarch chemistry system. The system provides cost-effective, fully automated analysis of up to 98% of the tests currently performed in the clinical laboratory, including electrolytes, routine chemistries, special proteins, and therapeutic drugs.
The system combines an on-board capability of 23 tests (using ISE) with quick, easy changeover to additional IL-developed tests and applications for EIAs, FIAs and special chemistries. It provides a programmable capacity ofup to 100 tests, and a throughput of up to 600 tests/h, with minimal operator involvement.
The Monarch system uses multiple methods of detection, including absorbance, fluorescence, light scatter, and potentiometry, and offers a choice of test modes" random access patient-prioritized, time-optimized, and stat sampling.
For a free copy of this colour brochure, write to Instrumentation Laboratory, have been proven in standards laboratories throughout the world. This ensures an instrument requiring no recalibration and which is free of the drifts and thermal EMF errors associated with d.c. carrier systems.
A clear display indicates in either C or K and can be set to zero at the touch of a button, for either probe input or differential read-out.
A range of robust and economically priced calibrated PT100 probes is available for use with the new thermometer. Linearization data is held internally within the instrument's microprocessor. The use of calibrated PT100 probes means that the measurements are traceable to national standards.
The company says that the F25 offers exceptional performance at an economic cost, particularly as an RS232 interface for both data acquisition and instrument control is included as standard. An IEEE interface is available as an optional extra.
It is understood that, for multichannel applications, ASL will soon be bringing out a new scanner designed specifically for the F25.
Circle No. 5 Reader Enquiry Card A brochure published by Mettler introduces the company's three compact titrators and describes their possible applications. Called 'Mettler Family of Titrators' the booklet also contains information about the many connection and expansion possibilities of Mettler titrators. It shows the connection of balances with automatic processing weighing data, printers and printer-plotters, as well as the use of Mettler titrators in combination with sample transports, robots and Kjeldahl distillation instruments. Finally, the brochure describes such titration accessories as electrodes, titration vessels and burettes. Particularly noteworthy in this respect are the phototrodes for calorimetric end-point indication. For more information contact Ruedi Schulthess, Mettler Instrumente A G,   Of particular note is the AMICA system developed by Hamilton of Switzerland in close co-operation with Ciba-Geigy. This system was designed to solve problems of chemical and pharmaceutical industries which are in need of automation for chemical analyses. AMICA combines the features ofseveral analysers and performs its tasks consistently, quickly and economically. The system's capabilities include sample preparation, automatic sampling, reactant pick-up from any liquid container, continuous sampling, mixing of liquids in variable ratios and analysis in flow-through cell by various techniques. These can include spectrophotometry, potentiometry and amperometry. Userfriendly dialogue is exhibited by a microcomputer, as well as logging of data and results by a printer/plotter.
The system is particularly useful for quality control analysis in the pharmaceutical industry..Sample data and results, together with statistical analysis, are logged as a permanent record by the printer/plotter. The purity of many chemicals and pharmaceuticals is often determined by non-aqueous titrations of weak organic acids, frequently using tetrabutylammonium hydroxide as titrant. AMICA is ideal for this application for several reasons: it is a closed liquid system and, as such, no special precautions are required to avoid either the absorption of CO2 from, or the release of solvents into, the atmosphere. AMICA also performs the titrations very accurately and rapidly, typical analysis time being under 2 min per sample, with both accuracy and reproducibility at around 0"2%. In the food industry, for instance, determination of nitrite, by photometric analysis, is undertaken frequently when sodium nitrite has been used to preserve red meat constituents.
During the manufacture of printed circuit boards, acidic electroplating baths of copper and tin are used. The quality of the products is dependent upon the accurate control of both acid and metal concentrations of these baths and these analyses are often performed by titration. The Hamilton AMICA system is able to determine the concentration of these constituents in either discrete sample form or by on-line analysis.
After rapid analysis, data is printed out, but AMICA could also command a process computer to automatically adjust the strength of the be calibrated for two independent measuring ranges with a dual linear scale meter. Repeatability is _+ 1% of full scale deflection or better, linearity is +2% or better, and response time is typically less than 10 s for most samples.
The IRGA 320 is packaged in Sieger TPA's modular system in sealed dust-proof units, which can be purged for electrically hazardous atmospheres. Options include a digital display with auto-zero unit, a dual level alarm, and full microprocessor control through which the sample information can be converted to customer-defined parameters via a plugin keypad.
Elkay have introduced the Ezee-Perf cap to fit all Elkay sample cups up to 2.5 ml including the SMA C type cup. The cap, which is precision-moulded from low-density polyethylene, is perforated to allow analyser probe penetration or pipetting without removing the cap. The Ezee-Perf cap is also ideal for short-term storage, as it minimizes the possibility of contamination. When dealing with paediatric samples, the Elkay cap is recommended to help minimize evaporation prior to sample aspiration. Details from Elkay Laboratory Products UK) Ltd, Unit 2, Crockford Lane, Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK.

Circle No. 9 Reader Enquiry Card
In-process colour monitoring Qual-Probe is an automatic, inprocess colour measurement system.
Qual-Probe improves the user's ability to obtain consistent colour in a variety of products--the system enables the user to monitor and control colour and colour-related properties faster and with more precision than has been previously possible.
Qual-Probe combines a solid-state fibre optic sensor with a compact wall-mounted operator station. Both components meet scrub-down requirements, NEMA/IP standards and are not affected by heat, humidity or vibration.
The sensor is positioned above the product as it exits the process line and can be mounted either in a stationary position or on a traversing assembly. This positioning flexibility allows the user to tailor the system to conform to varying product sizes, shapes and flow patterns. The operator station is designed for simplicity of use and can support up to three sensors, for use on separate production lines, or for example, for monitoring top and bottom colour on the same line.

Computing integrator
The new HP3393A computing integrator from Hewlett-Packard adds advanced software and built-in functionality to the proven precision of the HP3390 integrator series, and provides extensive data-handling capabilities for the analytical laboratory. This new system not only integrates, calculates and reports, it also re-integrates, replots, performs multi-level calibration and provides BASIC programming language.
To give HP3393A full functionality as a computing system, an alphanumeric typewriter-style keyboard, a thermal printer/plotter and RS-232-C, INET (instrument network) and sample number-input communication/control interfaces are provided as standard, built-in features.
The HP3393A computing integrator system takes advantage of proven technology and reliability improvements made during the five-year history of the HP3390 family.
Once the chromatographic signal has been transmitted to the integrator, it can be stored locally or in external disk memory. It then can be reintegrated, replotted and recalculated as many times as necessary at speeds much faster than the original run. This is extremely helpful in cases where only a small amount of sample is available or during the development of a method for an unfamiliar sample. Simple question-and-answer preparation dialogues make setting up calibration and sequence tables an easy process, especially for the infrequent user. Unlike most other integrators, there is no need to memorize commands.

Programming
The HP3393A Basic programming language is an interactive compiler that executes at speeds about 10 times faster than traditional interpreted Basic.
A set of 231 commands, statements and functions allows for flexible control over all aspects of the chromatographic system, including post-run calculations and custom reports.
Interactive control over chromatography and automatic-sampler parameters also is possible.
The alphanumeric keyboard reduces the need for manual record-keeping, minimizing interpretation errors and simplifying peak identification.
Calibration and data files can be assigned names, not just numbers. The built-in keyboard also can be used to create and edit Basic programs. performance and quality throughout the world, analysing rapidly and accurately elemental composition of raw materials or manufactured products.

INET configuration
The first information sheet is called 'Carbon gradient in case-hardened steel' and describes the QC testing of components to ensure that they have been case-hardened correctly.
The second, 'Nickel-based alloys', deals with the development of superalloys and the precise analysis that is required.
'Free-cutting steels' is the title of the third sheet, which looks at the analytical problems encountered with free-cutting steels and the solutions achieved using the Polyvac. In a move towards greater professionalism and productivity in the laboratory, Philips Analytical has launched its new data station and the first in an associated series of integrated data systems-for infra-red spectroscopy. The company has adopted as its data station the industry standard IBM PC environment which offers customers the reassurance of having support and room to grow, rather than the uncertainty of being locked into the dedicated computer products of one analytical instrumentation manufacturer. An immediate benefit is that users can take full advantage of a range of business software, including Symphony, Users may tailor and expand the system using a number of optional peripherals, including a kit that converts the system from LC/MS to GC/MS. The system is offered with or without the HP 1090 liquid chromatograph, allowing the purchaser to interface it to an exciting HPLC instrument if required.
As well as performing as a standard thermospray system, the HP thermospray LC/MS operates in several other modes. The ion source includes a rugged filament that works in either 'filament on' or 'filament off mode. For some compounds, thermospray mass spectra can be obtained in the 'filament off mode. Many other compounds, however, require 'filament on', either to provide more structural information through electronassisted ionization or to increase the sensitivity.
Positive chemical ionization (CI) is standard on the HP thermospray LC/MS system for maximum specificity, while negative CI is offered as an option. Negative CI provides high sensitivity for compounds with electro-negative sites, such as fluorinated or chlorinated pesticides.
The standard HP thermospray LC/ MS has a mass range of 10-1000 amu. A high mass option is available-doubling the range to 2000 amu.
The system can also be operated in the RF-only mode as a true total ion monitor (TTI), providing a sensitive universal detector for HPLC. In the TTI mode, the system detects compounds eluting from the HPLC that are above the scanning range of the mass spectrometer. The 3500, designed specifically for use with the more inert capillary fused silica columns, was developed in response to the growing popularity of capillary gas chromatography.
The absence of parts that deal with packed columns enable the 3500 to offer more flexibility, efficiency, performance, and higher resolution than packed/capillary GCs.
In creating the 3500, Varian have stressed ease-of-use. By eliminating .the packed column capability, which does away with several parts, the column connection is made much easier. In doing so, the cross-talk between the column oven and the injector and detector ovens has also been reached. Self-testing features of Varian's Models 3300 and 3400 GCs have been incorporated in the 3500.
New features of the 3500 include electronic pressure read-out, which allows for easy reproduction of flows specifically for split/splitless injection. The 3500 is the only GC offering split flow read-out and column (calculated) flow read-out.
The 3500 automatic column standby temperature, which eliminates daily flushing and saves start-up time, and heated pneumatics. A rapid detector electronics time constant of 50 ms is seven times faster than other systems and a new ECD, allows the use of hydrogen as carrier gas.
In addition to the new capabilities,the 3500 borrows a number of features from the Varian Model 3300 and 3400 GCs, including its compact size, automatic storage of four complete analytical methods, built-in power failure protection of memory base, self-diagnosis which reduces service requirements, a built-in printer/plotter, rapid column oven heat-up and cool-down, automatic multilinear temperature programming for faster analysis, and easy access pneumatics. QUANT methods can be combined with the instrument control and data manipulation facilities of CDS-3 infra-red or CUV-3 UV/VIS spectroscopy software to give fully automated analyses.