Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Total Carbon (TC) Analyzers

Overview

The Primacs^SERIES Carbon / Nitrogen Analyzers have been designed to offer a true solution of Carbon and/or Nitrogen analysis in solid samples. Depending on the requirement of the laboratory and the applications a variety of analyzers is available.

Primacs^ATC

Total Carbon Analyzer for solid and liquid samples

The analysis of Carbon is one of the most important parameters analyzed in food, soil & plant, sediment, sludge, and many others. The Skalar Primacs^ATC Analyzer allows fast and accurate analysis of Total Carbon by high temperature catalytic combustion. The samples are weighed into re-usable crucibles and loaded onto the integrated autosampler.

The analytical balance is interfaced with the software, which allows sample weights to be transferred automatically to the worklist by a simple mouse click. The unique vertical "bottom-to-top" sample introduction system lifts the samples into the high temperature combustion oven. At 1050°C the samples are combustion and the carbon in the sample is converted into CO₂. The CO₂ is measured by Non Dispersive Red Detection (NDIR).

The software displays the peaks in real-time and the results can easily be printed or exported to a LIMS system. After complete combustion, the sample crucible is automatically removed from the oven. Any remains of the sample is removed from the combustion zone with the crucible, so no ash build-up will occur which reduces maintenance on the instrument. The combination of a high temperature combustion oven with a sensitive dual-range Infrared detector allows the Primacs^ATC to analyze samples containing carbon concentrations from ppb levels to % levels.

Primacs^MCS

TOC add-on module for Solid samples

The Primacs^SERIES Carbon / Nitrogen analyzers have now been extended with the new Primacs^MCS add-on module for Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analysis for solid materials such as soil, sediments and sludges. The Primacs^MCS operates in combination with the Formacs^SERIES Total Organic Carbon analyzer (liquid samples), offering an economical concept to environmental laboratories for Total Organic Carbon analysis on aqueous samples as well as solid materials.

The Primacs^MCS is equipped with a dual-oven design, allowing separate analysis of Total Carbon (TC) and Inoragnic Carbon (IC). Total Carbon is determined by catalytic oxidation of the sample at 1100°C, converting the carbon present in the sample to CO₂, which is detected by the NDIR detector of the Formacs^SERIES Total Organic Carbon analyzer. Inorganic Carbon is determined by acidification of the sample in the IC reactor, which converts the Inorganic Carbon present to CO₂. The Windows based Primacs^MCS software collects the data and calculates the TOC concentration of the sample by substraction ( TC - IC = TOC). The Primacs^MCS analyzes TC, IC and TOC in a range of 100 µg to 40 mg absolute carbon in up to 3 g of sample weight. Due to the automatic low-to-high range switching IR detector of the Formacs^SERIES Total Organic Carbon analyzer, the combination of the Formacs^SERIES analyzer with the Primacs^MCS add-on module offers environmental laboratories a powerful tool to analyze TOC from low ppb concentrations in aqueous samples up to % levels in solid materials. The Primacs^MCS conforms to international regulations such as EPA, CEN, ISO, NEN-EN 13137 and US EPA 9060

Primacs^SLC

Total Organic Carbon Analyzer, for Solid & Liquid Samples

The increasing demand for reliable TOC analysis in solid materials such as sludges, sediments and soils have led Skalar to complement its range of Total Organic Carbon analyzers with the Primacs^SLC Analyzer. Based on a dual oven design the analyzer is capable of performing rapid, reliable, separate determinations of Total Carbon (TC), Inorganic Carbon (IC) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) on one instrument, and has been developed especially for solid materials on sample weights of up to two grams. Automatic balance interfacing avoids the necessity of precise weighing and transfer of weight data. The reusable quartz crucibles combined with the unique vertical sample introduction system and fully computerized operation/calculation, make the Primacs^SLC the most economical choice in today"s environmental laboratory.

The Primacs^SLC conforms to international regulations such as CEN, ISO and NEN-EN 13137 and US EPA 9060

Primacs^SN

Protein - Nitrogen Analyzer

Skalar's New Protein - Nitrogen Analyzer is the modern alternative for nitrogen analysis in the busy routine laboratory. The combustion (Dumas) method used in this new Skalar analyzer is rapidly becoming the accepted alternative for the old fashioned Kjeldahl method. The method is fast, safe, economical and easy to operate.
The Primacs^SN is applicable in a wide variety of application areas including soil and plant, food, brewing industries, and environmental waste, to name a few.

The Primacs^SN conforms to international regulations such as ISO 15670, ISO 13878, EN 61010, DIN 10467, AOAC 990.03 , AOAC 992.15, AACC 46-30, AOCS Ba 11-65

The sample is automatically introduced from a 20 position sample tray into the unique vertical positioned combustion oven , the resulting gas mixture passes through a second oxidation oven whereby all nitrogen compounds are converted into NO_x. After this the Peltier cooler removes all water before passing the copper reduction column removing excess O₂ from the gas flow, and converting NO_x to N₂. The stream passes through a CO₂ scrubber and subsequently through a magnesium perchlorate H₂O scrubber. The resulting gas stream, consisting of N₂ and He (carrier gas), passes the thermal conductivity detector which determines the nitrogen content. The Analyzer is fully computer controlled with result calculation, QC and flexible reporting.

Protein Flow Diagram (Flash animation)

Primacs^SNC

Total Carbon and Total Nitrogen / Protein Analyzer for solid and liquid samples

The analysis of Carbon and Nitrogen is important in soil, plant, animal feed, food samples, sediments and sludge samples. The Skalar Primacs^SNC Analyzer combines the analysis of Total Carbon (TC) and Total Nitrogen (TN) in one unit using high temperature catalytic combustion. The samples are introduced into the high temperature combustion oven by the unique vertical "bottom-to-top"sample introduction system.

At 1050°C the carbon is completely oxidized to CO₂ in the presence of a catalyst. The CO₂ is measured by Non Dispersive Infra Red Detection (NDIR) for Total Carbon. The analysis of Nitrogen is based upon the well-proven DUMAS technology. Nitrogen is converted in NxOy which is is reduced at 600°C to N₂. The N₂ gas is measured by Thermal Conductivity Detection (TCD). The Primacs^SNC analyzer provides an accurate and reliable solution for the automation of Total Carbon and Total Nitrogen analysis and has been designed as an easy-to-use and low maintenance analyzer. Due to the unique vertical "bottom-to-top" sample introduction the sample ashes remain in the crucible after the analysis and are taken out of the instrument with removal of the crucible. This avoids sample ash build-up in the combustion zone and therefore reduces the maintenance. The re-usable crucibles and the low consumption of combustion and carrier gas result in a low cost-per-test.

Typical Applications