Atomic Spectroscopy

Bruker AXS also unveiled some important x-ray components, such as the XFlash SDD detector that is now standard on the S2 Ranger and the new version of the MicroStar x-ray source. The MicroStar Ultra can provide a flux of 80 billion x-rays per square millimeter per second, similar to the performance of some synchrotron beamlines.

COSA Instrument introduced two halogen analyzers made by Mitsubishi. These instruments were released in Japan a year ago, but COSA has exclusive distribution of the products in North America and Pittcon marked their American debut. The TOX-2100H is priced under $40,000, while the AOX-200 is priced at $35,000 including autosampler.

Innov-X introduced the X-50 mobile x-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer. Unlike Innov-X’s previous handheld models, the X-50 is a portable suitcase-style instrument. The self-contained system runs on batteries and has a much higher x-ray power than handheld units, allowing greater sensitivity. The well-designed system has a flip-forward control panel and a flip-up top for sample introduction. The X-50 is expected to start shipping shortly at a price to be determined.

Rigaku’s Primini benchtop wavelength-dispersive (WD) XRF system replaces the successful ZSX Mini. The Primini has a more flexible sample introduction system and is lighter than the previous model. It can detect elements as light as fluorine. The Primini is shipping now with a price of about $80,000.

Rigaku also had an intriguing new total reflectance XRF instrument on display, the Nanohunter. Although the ship date and price remain uncertain, the system will offer full axis control and variable beam angle, which should provide excellent tools for the analysis of surfaces and coatings.

Spectro Analytical (AMETEK) introduced the iQ II, an updated version of its polarized energy-dispersive (ED) XRF instrument. The main performance improvement of the iQ II is that the peak-to-background ratio has been quadrupled by a better detection system. It should ship in late spring at a price between $50,000 and $60,000.

XOS released the Clora benchtop chlorine analyzer. The system can detect chlorine down to 0.13 ppm. The method of analysis is WD-XRF, specialized for single-element analysis. The system is ready for shipment at an undisclosed price.

Gas Chromatography

Agilent introduced the 5975 GC/MSD single quadrupole GC/MS. The system is an update of its 5973 system and incorporates an improved algorithm for trace ion detection.

The alliance of Advanced Chromatography Systems (ACS) and Cambridge Scientific Instruments (CSi), which is referred to as ACS/CSi, officially launched its Series 300 GC at Pittcon (the group did have a prelaunch demonstration model at last year’s Pittcon). The most notable feature of the Series 300 systems is the direct electrical heating of the GC column, which allows for more rapid heating and cooling, as well as for a more compact design. Another novel feature of the system is its automatic column installation, which eliminates potential user errors in making the connections. The Series 300 GC is expected to ship this June and is priced at $29,000 for a fully loaded system, including an internal FID detector. The group is also developing a mass spectrometer detector that is likely to be out next year.

Grace Davison released a simple, affordable GC instrument with options of up to three injectors and three detectors including FID, TCD, and ECD.

Griffin Analytical showed its new Griffin 500 portable GC/MS system for the first time at Pittcon. The Griffin 500 is based on the company’s Cylindrical Ion Trap mass analyzer technology, which reduces vacuum and power requirements and provides performance comparable to lab systems, according to the company. The Griffin 500 is expected to begin shipping in the fourth quarter and to be priced at around $90,000.

General

COSA Instrument introduced Mitsubishi’s CA-200 Karl Fischer moisture meter into the American market at Pittcon. The base system is now available in the US at a price of $7,500.

Lab Automation

Labcyte introduced the Portrait 630 reagent multispotter matrix deposition system for MALDI imaging MS. The system utilizes acoustic droplet ejection technology for non-contact deposition without tips or nozzles.

Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)

PerkinElmer released version 6.0 of its LABWORKS LIMS. New features include WorkflowArchitect, a graphical workflow editor, an integrated real-time Desktop Messenger system and integrated Electronic Signature.

Thermo Fisher Scientific launched version 2.0 of its Darwin LIMS for pharmaceutical manufacturing and quality control and analysis. The latest version includes environmental monitoring as a standard function.

Liquid Separations

Eksigent Technologies showcased the Express LC-800 Plus, an eight-channel parallel HPLC system, which features advanced solvent-switching capabilities. The system configuration makes up to six solvents available to each of the eight LC channels. Solvent switching is easily programmed via the system control software and is ideal for methods development and high-throughput applications in drug discovery. The system is currently available at a list price of $335,000.

JASCO launched the Preparative SFE/SFC (supercritical fluid extraction/chromatography) system, with UV and chiral detection options. It features a delivery rate of 120 ml per minute of carbon dioxide and 60 ml per minute of solvents at pressures up to 5,000 psi. It is currently shipping.

Sedere introduced the SEDEX 80 LT-ELSD evaporative light scattering HPLC detector. The system features low temperature technology for detection of semivolatile analytes and two different nebulizers to optimize sensitivity and resolution at flow rates from 100 mL per minute to 5 mL per minute. This detector presents a new design with easy-to-use functions, including programmable power-down methods and optimized controls. The SEDEX 80 is priced at less than $15,000 and starts shipping in April.

Varian introduced the Galaxie Scheduler, a multi-instrument, open-access software application linking any LIMS and Varian’s Galaxie chromatography data system (CDS). The Galaxie Scheduler can be used in any routine lab to automate the scheduling and running of samples on any instrument from a single screen. It is compatible with any GC or HPLC instrument supported by the Galaxie CDS.

Waters debuted the ACQUITY UPLC FLR fluorescence detector designed for scientists analyzing polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon, drugs of abuse, vitamins and aflatoxins. The FLR detector features a flow cell that is less than 2 mL, a high intensity light source, low-noise electronics and low-dispersion optics. The FLR will begin shipping at the end of March.

Mass Spectrometry

Bruker Daltonics introduced the latest version of its apex Fourier Transform (FT)-MS system, the apex-Ultra Qq-FTMS. The system includes a front-end quadrupole mass analyzer that enables tandem MS experiments, which Bruker refers to as “Mass Selective Ion Enrichment.” Improvements over the previous model include mass accuracy in the sub-ppm range, a mass range of 100–10,000 Da and resolution of 900,000 FWHM with a 7 Tesla magnet and 1.5 million FWHM with a 9.4 Tesla magnet.

Bruker Daltonics also introduced tandem TOF/TOF versions of both its ultraflex III and ultraflex III MALDI-TOF systems. The single TOF versions were introduced in 2006.

Cerno Bioscience introduced the MassWorks CLIPS (calibrated lineshape isotope profile search) software at Pittcon. CLIPS generates a theoretical spectrum (a graph that shows the isotope distribution of a given element) and uses it to calibrate the information from the MS. In this way, CLIPS uses much of the data that spectrometrists ignore. The results have a mass accuracy of up to 5 ppm. According to the company, the software can have the largest impact on unit resolution systems such as single and triple quads. It is priced at $15,000 for a single-computer license.

Griffin Analytical’s Griffin 405 is a modified version of the Griffin 400 mobile MS that was introduced in 2006 and includes a direct air sampling system. The 405 MS is priced at around $110,000.

Pfeiffer Vacuum showed its PrismaPlus RGA, an updated version of its stalwart Prisma RGA. This model of RGA, which has not been updated for the better part of a decade, includes new electronics that are 10 times as fast as the previous model, as well as new software, which is integrated into the unit.

Varian showed its 320-MS MS that is an improved version of its original 300-MS, which was introduced and began shipping last fall. The system is configurable as either a single quadrupole or triple quadrupole MS, and allows for switching between ion sources for both GC/MS and LC/MS. Incremental improvements in optics, electronics and software result in a system that has femtogram level detection limits and a mass range of up to 2000 Da.

Materials Characterization

Brookfield Engineering continues to improve its digital viscometry line. The DV-I Prime adds some valuable ergonomic improvements to previous designs, as well as an improved computer interface for continuous viscosity measurement without any increase in system price. The system began shipping in February at a base price of $2,400.

Cannon Instruments began shipment of the miniAV at the end of last year. The instrument is a compact system intended for smaller-throughput labs that do not require an autosampler, or otherwise prefer to run samples one at a time. The specific measurement method is via Ubbelohde tube. The miniAV is priced under $20,000.

Horiba introduced the Particle LA 950 V2 particle size instrument, an improvement over the LA 950. The system has both a laser and LED source in order to cover particle sizes from 30 nm to 3 mm. Design elements have also been improved, with a plastic casing that is 40 lb lighter. The instrument was introduced at Pittcon at a base price of $47,000, or $59,000 for a model with a dry powder introduction system.

Instrument Specialists released the iSeries of thermal analyzers. The first instrument to be released, the iSeries thermo gravimetic analyzer, began shipment at the beginning of the year at a price of $17,000–$24,000, depending on the required temperature range. The iSeries differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and iSeries simultaneous thermal analyzer are expected to begin shipment shortly.

Molecular Spectroscopy

Bruker Optics introduced the IFS 125/M mobile FT-IR system, which has a permanently aligned interferometer and is designed for in-field applications such as atmospheric studies. The 125/M replaces the successful 120/M and has a resolution of 0.0035 cm-1.

Bruker BioSpin introduced the Avance III NMR system. Improvements include additional radio frequency channels and a next-generation digital receiver. The system is available with the full range of magnets, from as low as 300 MHz for around $200,000, to as high as 950 MHz for $8 million.

Bruker BioSpin also introduced two new cryoprobes. The TCI Micro cryoprobe is a 1.7 mm probe, which requires only 20 µl of sample and is six times as sensitive as a conventional probe. The QNP cryoprobe can analyze carbon, phosphorous, hydrogen and fluorine. Both cryoprobes vary in price between $250,000 and $325,000, depending on magnet size.

Bruker Optics introduced the minispec mq-one fixed-magnet NMR system. The primary achievement is the integration of components, including the magnet and electronics, into a single, fairly compact instrument.

German-based instrument manufacturer Chromophor introduced the new Spectra H line of color spectrophotometers at Pittcon, starting at around $12,000.

HiperScan introduced the SGS-1900 NIR spectrometer for both lab and process applications.

Hitachi High-Technologies introduced two UV-Vis spectrophotometers that expand its range of models toward entry-level needs. The U-2900 is a general-purpose, dual-beam instrument priced at around $6,000 that includes electronic signatures. The U-1900 is a true entry-level, single-beam system priced at $4,000. Both models are shipping.

Malvern Instruments introduced the SyNIRgi NIR chemical imaging system, which is its first new spectroscopy introduction since acquiring Spectral Dimensions (see IBO 7/15/06). The system has no moving parts, helping its ruggedness and reliability, and is designed for quality analysis and characterization labs and at-line applications. The SyNIRgi has a transmission illumination capability for imaging a wider range of compounds. The SyNIRgi is expected to begin shipping at the end of March.

microSpectral Sensors launched the i-Lab series of handheld Vis/NIR systems, featuring a disposable sample introduction module. The system runs all standard colorimetric methods. The base price is around $500.

United Products & Instruments (UNICO) introduced two new UV-Vis spectrophotometers. The S1205, an updated version of the 1200 series of single-beam visible spectrophotometers, is priced at $2,000. The S2300 is a dual-beam UV-Vis system that is priced around $3,000. Both models are expected to begin shipping in the second quarter.

Process Analysis

NIR-Online, a young German company that specializes in process NIR, introduced the X-One and X-Two process NIR systems into North America at Pittcon, which it has already been selling in Europe. The X-One is a standard process NIR system designed primarily for agriculture and food applications, and starts around €32,000 ($40,000). The X-Two adds an imaging camera and starts at around €38,000 ($47,500), while a full-featured system is priced at around €41,000 ($51,250). Both systems are run with NIR-Online’s SX Center software.

Surface Science

Bruker AXS released the XFlash 4030, a new SDD detector for electron microscope energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The 4030 has a larger effective area of 30 sq mm than the previous XFlash detector, but the device has the same endcap size as the previous version. The new XFlash is available now and a complete EDS system is priced starting at about $60,000.

EDAX (AMETEK) has incorporated a new detector, the Apollo series silicon drift detector (SDD), into its ED-XRF instrument for use with electron microscopes. The Apollo detector comes in either a 10 sq mm or 40 sq mm area and can handle up to a million counts per second with a resolution of 130 eV. The Apollo can be Peltier cooled and its performance is comparable to that of SiLi detectors, which require liquid nitrogen. The complete EDS system runs from $55,000 to $100,000. The Apollo detector began shipping in January.