Robotic analyzers
The SP2000 Beer & Wort analyzer for brewing quality control during beer production.
The SP2000 analyzer has been specifically developed for breweries that only need analyses on small batches of samples on single or multiple parameters. Every couple of hours, beer and wort samples need to be tested on various parameters and the results need to be provided instantly to the operators who control the brewing process. Besides this, breweries nowadays produce smaller batches of different beers instead of only large quantities of one beer.
Bitterness is important to analyze during the beer production process. In order to maintain consistency of the bitterness in beer, it needs to be closely monitored. Skalar was able to automate the analysis of bitterness compounds such as iso-α-acids in beer and wort according to EBC, ASBC, MEBAK and other international methods.
The analyzer is controlled by RoboticAccessTM, a user friendly data handling software package, including a pre-set application procedure for bitterness, user definable sample table set up and extensive QC features. Additionally, more parameters can be added to this Robotic analyzer such as color, pH, SO2, polyphenol, iron and free amino nitrogen.
Features of the SP2000 analyzer
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Complete automation incl. degassing of the samples, (de)-capping the sample tube, sample dilution, addition of reagents, mixing and measurement of the absorbance
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Flexibility to process small or large batches and run single or multiparameter analysis
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The iso-octane reagent consumption is reduced by a factor of 5 compared to the manual method
Robotic analyzers
Skalar offers various flexible and advanced sample handling systems for the routine analytical testing of drinking water, river water, lake water, industrial water, waste water, soil etc.
Fully automatic measurement is possible for parameters such as BOD, COD, pH, EC, turbidity, color, ISE applications, titrations and test kit applications such as ST-COD test according to ISO15705, TP/ TN & others. To illustrate the flexibility of our SP2000 robotic platform some examples of water applications are given below.
BOD analysis
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Capacity of 18 up to 198 BOD bottles per batch
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Automatic bottle (de)capping, sample pipetting, addition of reagents, measurement.
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Possibility to measure and adjust the pH of the original sample
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Automatic sample aeration before measurement
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Combinations with other analysis such as Conductivity, Alkalinity, Turbidity and Test kits possible on the same BOD platform
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BOD analysis in accordance with (inter)national regulations such as EPA 405.1, ISO 5815-1, EN-1899-1/2, Standard Methods 5210 B, DIN 38409 etc. as well as customer specific methods
Conductivity/ pH/ Alkalinity/ Turbidity/Titrations/ Color in drinking water
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Capacity of 32-352 containers
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Automatic Measurement of pH, Alkalinity, EC, Turbidity & Color
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In-line sample filtration prior to Color measurement
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Automatic capping/de-capping and stirring
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Automatic rinsing of probe, stirrer, draining needle, filters and flow through cells
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A choice of various other applications (acidity, hardness, fluoride etc.) and user selectable running sequence
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Integration of a variety of sample racks, different types of sample beakers and a compatibility with different meters & probes
Test kit automation
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Ready-to-use test kit applications such as the ST-COD, TP, TN, Ammonium, Nitrate, Nitrite, Sulfide and Phenol index.
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Capacity: 24-336 test kits per batch
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Complete “walk away” automation mixing, heating, (de)-capping of sample and reagent tubes, sample pipetting, cooling & photometric measurement for test kit analysis
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User-friendly no contact with toxic or corrosive reagents
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Flexible, compatible with different meters & reaction tubes
Robotic analyzers
SP2000series pH / EC analysis in soil
The SP2000 analyzer is able to process large quantities of soil samples every day. pH in soil gives information about how to improve the quality of the soil, which will result in increased crop quantities and cost reduction. Besides pH analysis in soil, the analyzer can be extended with Electrical Conductivity (EC) measurement at the same time.
The SP2000 platform can be configured for measurement of soil-pH in water extracts as well as in KCl, CaCl2 or other extractants. The process includes automatic calibration of the probes, addition of extraction solution, automatic stirring, pre-defined sample settling times and pH measurement.
The capacity of the instrument ranges between 32 up to 352 containers, based on 100 ml vials. Customized racks and vials can be implemented as well. The analyzer can be configured with multiple probes (up to 16 probes) to increase the throughput by simultaneous measurement. For very large batches the analyzer can be equipped with two robotic arms each with multiple pH electrode configurations to increase sample throughput.
A typical soil-pH analysis sequence:
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After weighing, the samples are placed in a rack
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The racks are transferred to the analyzer
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The sample table is made and the operator starts the analyzer
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The analyzer starts with automatic calibration of the probes
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Subsequently, the analyzer adds extraction solution and stirs all the samples. Between each operation the analyzer rinses the probe and stirrers
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After a pre-defi ned settling period the samples are again stirred
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The pH value of each sample is measured. The measured values of each sample is calculated and stored
It is always possible to adapt the analysis procedure according to the customer methodologies, each step in the automatic procedure is user defi nable, for example, the stirring time and amount of extraction solution to be added etc.
SP2000series Particle size distribution
The robotic analyzers automate the determination of the clay fraction as well as the sample preparation of the lengthy particle size distribution analysis procedure according to ISO 11277
This procedure requires very precise timing steps, tasks which are much more easily performed by an analyzer rather than a human operator. The SP50 analyzer automates the sample preparation step, the removing organic matter and carbonates, while the SP2000 automates the determination of the clay fraction.
A typical particle size distribution procedure:
After weighing, the sample is transferred to a bottle in the SP50 analyzer.
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An amount of water is added.
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The sample is heated until the boiling point has been reached.
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A sample is boiled for x* min.
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During heating and boiling every x* min hydrogen peroxide is added to remove the organic matter.
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The sample is cooled down and the same process is started but now with the addition of hydrochloric acid to remove the carbonates.
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The sample is rinsed by automatically adding an amount of water and pumping the water away after sample settling. This step is repeated x* times.
*according to the customer methodology
The sample is transferred into a volumetric cylinder in the SP2000 analyzer.
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The system automatically adds 50 ml of Sodium pyrophosphate solution and brings the suspension to volume (1000 ml) by adding distilled water.
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The sample is homogenized for a user-defi ned time.
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After a settling period of several hours a fraction (20 ml) of the suspension is taken at a predefi ned depth from the cylinder and transferred to an evaporation dish.
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After drying the clay fraction is determined by weighing the remainder of the sample. 5. The clay fraction is calculated via the software.
This procedure can also be performed unattended allowing for overnight operation. Additionally it is also possible to measure different fractions from one sample or to measure directly after the cylinder is brought to volume.
Robotic analyzers
The SP2000 robotic analyzer - sample preparation for the tobacco industry
The SP2000 robotic handling system offers full automation the addition of extraction solution, shaking and filtration of tobacco samples. The sample filtrate can be offered in addition to the autosampler of the Sanseries CFA analyzer for further analysis. The automated extraction and filtration procedure is according to CORESTA method 85.
Skalar's automated procedure in detail:
*0.5 g of each tobacco sample is added to a 100 ml Erlenmeyer flask.
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The Erlenmeyer flasks containing the tobacco samples are place on the analyzer on an integrated orbital shaker
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The automatic sample preparation is started
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The first flask is de-capped
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100 ml of 5% acetic acid has been added to all the samples
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The flask is capped
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Steps 3 -5 are repeated until acetic acid has been added to all the samples
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The samples are shaken for 30 minutes
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After 30 minutes the first flask is de-capped
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The sample is filtered through a paper band filter and pumped into a sample tube in an Skalar 1050 or 1074 sampler rack
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The flask is capped
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Steps 8 - 10 are repeated until the sample are all filtered
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The racks with the filtered samples are transferred directly on the Sanseries analyzer
In between samples, the needles are rinsed and the filter is replenished to avoid cross contamination.
The Sanseries is ideal for analyzing large series of beer & malt samples in one batch on multiple parameters with complex analysis methods such as diacetyl, polyphenols and anthocyanogen.
The Sanseries
The BluVision™ has been specifically developed for the environmental field providing reliable and accurate low ppb level results for a variety of analytical parameters in a wide range of samples and matrices such as drinking water, wastewater, ground water and surface water.
The Formacsseries TOC / TN analyzers provide fast analysis of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Total Nitrogen (TN) in liquid samples using high temperature catalytic combustion.
