Atomic Spectroscopy

Applitek, a Belgian firm, debuted the eXaminer a portable/handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) instrument, which should begin shipping in August or September at a “competitive” price.

In November 2007, Brooks Rand began shipment of the Merx methyl mercury system, which uses GC and its AFS mercury analyzer to make a direct measurement of methyl mercury, a cationic form of mercury that is a dangerous biological toxin. Brooks Rand described the instrument as the only automated system on the market for carrying out EPA Method 1630. The system sells for about $40,000.

The compact SMART X2S from Bruker AXS is a benchtop single-crystal X-ray diffraction instrument designed for use by chemists, rather than expert crystallographers. First announced at the ACS Fall Meeting in 2007, the system sells at a price of about $180,000.

Although first shown at Pittcon in 2006, the S2 PicoFox from Bruker AXS has been updated. The system is a novel total reflection XRF (TXRF) instrument that, unlike typical TXRF systems, is designed less for coating analysis than for elemental analysis to potentially compete with technologies like atomic absorption and inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy. The system is priced at about $100,000.

GE Analytical Instruments announced the release of the Sievers InnovOx Total Organic Carbon analyzer. The system uses a novel technique, supercritical water oxidation, which provides superior recovery and diminished contamination between runs. The instrument will begin shipment in April at a price of around $25,000.

Last fall, in Germany, OBLF introduced the VeOS arc-spark spectrometer, which features a solid-state detector designed specifically for the application, covering the spectrum from 130 nm to 800 nm. PANalytical brought the system to Pittcon for its US introduction. Depending on calibration requirements, the system will sell for $130,000–$160,000.

PerkinElmer unveiled the 7000 Series Optima ICP spectrometers. Although it utilizes the same optical bench as the 5000 Series, it features faster electronics and customer-driven software improvements. The new Series will begin shipping in June for $70,000–$95,000 depending on the specific model. The PlaySafe Analyzer is a customized version of the Optima designed for testing consumer products for hazardous metals.

Gas Chromatography

Dutch company C2V (Concept to Volume) introduced the C2V-200 micro process GC. Based on MEMS technology, the C2V-200 incorporates an exchangeable cartridge that contains the GC column. The system is priced starting at under $10,000 and began shipping this past November.

Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced the ITQ Series, which includes the ITQ-700, 900 and 1100, which are upgraded ion trap GC/MS products that range in application level from routine to research. The Series incorporates Thermo’s Pulse-Q technology, which helps to capture low-mass ions. Pricing for the three models starts at $55,000, $60,000 and $80,000, respectively, and runs up to $110,000 for a full-feature system.

Lab Equipment

Beckman Coulter introduced the Optima MAX-XP benchtop ultracentrifuge with a performance of up to 150,000 revolutions per minute. The system is designed to fit in a standard biosafety hood, is offered with HEPA filtration and is compatible with all Beckman Coulter’s Optima MAX and TLX rotors.

Buchi’s KjelFlex K-360 is a stand-alone Kjeldahl system, which can also be combined with a titrator for semiautomatic nitrogen and protein determination. The system features 50 preconfigured methods and has a base price of approximately $20,000.

Dionex introduced the ASE-150 and ASE-350 automated sample extraction systems. The ASE-150 is a single-extraction system designed to be used in low-throughput labs, while the ASE-350 can automatically extract up to 24 samples. The ASE-150 and ASE-350 are priced at $24,000 and $50,000, respectively.

The GreenFumeHood launched by ERLAB is a ductless fume hood that filters out acids, bases and other solvents with one type of a filter. ERLAB designed the hoods to be compatible with a variety of labs by swapping out the filters. The gGuard communications system allows users to integrate a network of up to 200 fume hoods, and the encapsulated bluetooth technology allows for wireless monitoring and communication between the users and the hoods. GreenFumeHoods sell for $10,000–$15,000.

Shimadzu introduced the TX and TXB models of top-loading electronic balances. Both models come in a variety of configurations capable of handling from 200 to 6,200 g and feature flexible calibration, RS232C interface and illuminated operation mode.

Liquid Chromatograph

Dionex introduced the ICS-900 ion chromatography system (IC), a compact system designed for ease of use and high performance with low operating costs. The ICS-900 system replaces the ICS-90 system as Dionex’s starter IC and is available for about $20,000 depending on configuration.

Dionex introduced the UltiMate 3000 Proteomics Multidimensional LC system, offering flow rate capabilities from 50 nl to 2.5 ml per minute. The UltiFlow technology ensures constant flow rates, independent of mobile phase compositions or column backpressures.

Dionex also introduced a fully biocompatible Ultimate 3000 Titanium system for analyzing biomolecules. The chemically inert flow paths ensure that the sample is not denatured or degraded by reacting with flow path components. The Titanium system features a titanium fluidics pump, a PEEK fluidics autosampler and switching valves, and PEEK flow cells. It ensures full compatibility with all biological buffers and labile compounds, which aids longevity of the system. The Titanium is currently shipping.

Grace Davison Discovery Sciences showcased the EnSight biodiesel analyzer, which utilizes an HPLC and evaporative light scattering detector. The system is designed to replace GC methods.

Metrohm introduced the 881 Compact IC pro and the 882 Compact IC plus, which are targeted at users in fields with clearly defined analytical requirements. These instruments are for the rapid determination of anions, cations and polar substances in the micrograms-per-liter to the grams-per-liter range. These are currently shipping and are available for $12,000–$20,000.

Varian introduced the 920-LC system, a fully automated analytical HPLC system that offers fast LC capabilities. The system is preconfigured, preplumbed and pretested before shipment and features a choice of built-in, programmable dual-wavelength or diode array UV-Vis detectors. This system is currently shipping and is priced at around $50,000.

Varian’s 940-LC is an analytical to semipreparative HPLC system, which can be used for analytical HPLC and for scaling-up flows to work with larger capacity preparative-scale columns. It delivers flow rates of 0.025–200 mL per minute and is suitable for use with both 4.6 mm ID analytical columns and 2 in semipreparative columns (following linear scale-up). This system is shipping at a price of around $40,000 depending on configuration and accessories.

Mass Spectrometry and LC/MS

Agilent introduced the 6410B triple quadrupole LC/MS, which is an improved version of its 6410 instrument. Improvements include polarity switching, extended Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) scanning performance and automated method optimization.

Bruker Daltonics announced the improved MicrOTOF-Q II Q-TOF MS, which it claims has 1 to 2 ppm accuracy, better than 17,500 FWHM resolution and a dynamic range with five orders of magnitude. The company’s other new MS technologies include: the new SmartBeam MALDI ion funnel source, which allows improved imaging of drug metabolites at therapeutic levels; the NALDI-TOF (nanotechnology laser desorption ionization) for high-throughput molecular formula determination of small molecules; and the improved ETD II electron transfer dissociation technology (ETD) for its HCT Ultra ion trap LC/MS.

Syft Technologies introduced its Voice200 selected ion flow tube MS. The technology creates precursor ions by way of ionization of air and then filtration through a primary quadrupole analyzer. The precursor ions then react with the sample in the flow tube, which in turn is fed into the secondary quadrupole mass analyzer. This method is claimed to eliminate isobaric interfaces and has sensitivity down to 50 ppt, which is about 15 times better than the first generation Voice100. The system began shipping in February and has a price range of $200,000 to $225,000.

Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced ETD capability for the LTQ Orbitrap XL and MALDI for both of the LTQ Orbitrap and LTQ XL instruments.

Varian introduced the 920 FT-MS, which combines its 320-MS triple quadrupole MS with its FT-MS system to provide a more flexible system. The 920-MS includes both off-axis and magnet detectors, and offers all triple quadrupole capabilities, such as MRM and quantitation. The system also includes an ionization inlet for GC, expanding potential applications. System prices start at $500,000.

Molecular Spectroscopy

A2 Technologies, which is a start-up that was formed largely from the staff of SensIR Technologies, introduced the Exoscan handheld FT-IR. The system includes interchangeable ATR and external reflectance sampling heads and has four wavenumber resolution. Intended applications include first article inspections, raw material identification, and aerospace quality and safety inspection. The Exoscan will begin shipping this summer at a price of around $35,000. Smiths Detection will market its own version of the instrument for military, security and first responder applications, which will ship around August.

Bruker Optics’ MultiRAM is the company’s first stand-alone FT-Raman microscope, replacing its add-on microscope modules. It is targeted at quality control and raw material identification applications in the pharmaceutical industry.

CEM introduced the Sprint Protein Analyzer to compete with Kjeldahl methods for protein quantification in food. Sprint uses iTAG technology, which tags whole amino groups. The solvents used by the system are nontoxic and biodegradable. According to the company, it takes only two minutes to analyze a sample with a cost per sample of $3. Should a higher throughput be required, two Sprint systems can be integrated with one another providing the opportunity to analyze more than 400 samples in eight hours. Sprint has a price tag of approximately $20,000.

Hitachi High-Technologies introduced the U-3900H UV-Vis spectrophotometer, which includes upgraded electronics, and replaces Hitachi’s previous high-end U-3000 model. The U-3900H is being offered at an introductory price of $13,000.

Horiba introduced the XploRA Raman microscope, a simple-to-use compact instrument, starting at $75,000.

JASCO rolled out the IRT-5000 and IRT-7000 FT-IR microscope systems, which are accessory modules designed to be interfaced with JASCO’s FT/IR-4000 or FT/IR-6000 systems. The IRT-7000 includes both a single-point MCT detector and a 16-channel linear array detector for imaging. It is priced starting at $85,000. The IRT-5000 includes the single-point MCT detector and can be upgraded to the IRT-7000. It is priced starting at $35,000. Both are now shipping.

JASCO’s RMP-300 Series of portable Raman systems consists of six models and includes both a fiber optic probe and a small X-Y-Z stage for imaging. The system is essentially a lab-grade instrument configured for use in mobile labs. The RMP-300 is now shipping, but pricing information was unavailable.

Ocean Optics hopes to bring laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) into wider use with the release of its LAMPS system, which combines LIBS with a microwave cavity in order to enhance the plasma discharge, increasing the sensitivity of the system. The system can be configured with up to seven spectrometers to cover the whole UV-Vis-NIR range. The system will ship in about three months at a price of up to $85,000 for the seven spectrometer version.

Shimadzu introduced the UV-1800 UV-Vis and IRAffinity-1 FT-IR spectrophotometers. The UV-1800 is a double beam instrument that is designed to be more flexible and easy to use, and includes multiple accessories. The IRAffinity-1 includes auto-accessory recognition and has a claimed 30,000 to 1 signal-to-noise ratio. The UV-1800 is priced at $9,200 including software and is already shipping. The ITAffinity-1 starts at $18,000 and should be out this summer.

Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced the DXR Smart Raman, the DXR Raman microscope, the Nicolet iS10 FT-IR and the Nicolet iN10 FT-IR microscope. All four instruments were designed from the ground up and share sampling accessories, helping to improve the light paths, and thus sensitivity. The iS10 is targeted at quality applications and is priced starting at $25,000. The iZ10 thermal gravimetric analysis accessory is available as an option. The iN10 uses a room temperature detector and costs from $50,000 to $100,000, depending on options, such as the iN10MX imager or liquid nitrogen–cooled detector. The DXR instruments start at $54,000 for the spectrometer and $82,000 for the microscope system.

Materials Characterization

Agilent introduced two new particle analyzer systems in its 7000 Series. The 7010 particle size spectrophotometer makes rapid size distribution analyses of even small samples using light scattering theory. The system is ready to launch at a price of around $35,000. The 7020 ZetaProbe uses electroacoustic measurement to provide zeta potential measurements of even concentrated samples. The complete 7020 system is priced at about $42,000.

LECO’s AC600 bomb calorimeter introduces useful ergonomic and analysis improvements over previous models. The bomb is smaller, yet just as strong as heavier bombs of the past. Advanced thermal modeling allows the instrument to shorten analysis times without loss of precision. The AC600 was introduced in January at a price of $23,900.

Late last fall, Mettler-Toledo released the Excellence line of thermal analyzers, exemplified by the DSC 1 and the TGA/DSC 1. The systems feature plug-and-play components and the same performance capabilities in each specific model, which are differentiated by the addition of a PDA, autosamplers and other features. Depending on options, the systems range in price from about $50,000 to $100,000.

Micromeritics introduced the TriStar II 3020 Surface Area and Porosity Instrument, featuring remote diagnostics. More compact than the previous version, the new 3020 will begin shipment next month at a price of $26,000.

Process

Waters introduced the PATROL UPLC system, a process analytical system based around the company’s Acquity UPLC system. The technology’s speed of the analysis makes it much more amenable to process analysis than conventional HPLC. Applications include various stages of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical production in either on-line and at-line configurations. Waters expects the PATROL to be extensively customized and configured by individual customers.

Surface Science

The Quanta Morphologi combines FEI’s Quanta SEM and Malvern Instruments’ particle analysis software. The total system provides the advantages of established particle analysis software at the submicron scale. The system is ready to ship, at a price of approximately $250,000.

JEOL released the JCM-5000 NeoScope, a benchtop scanning electron microscope (SEM) with both high and low vacuum operation modes. JEOL’s canny move was to partner with optical microscopy giant Nikon, which will market the NeoScope in the US and Canada. Since the target users for benchtop SEM are optical microscopists, Nikon is better positioned than JEOL to address this market directly. Just released, the NeoScope is priced at $60,000.

WITec launched the alpha500 and alpha700 systems, which combine confocal Raman imaging with atomic force microscopy on a single platform. The new systems began selling around January 1. The alpha500 is priced at about €400,000 ($547,945), while the alpha700 with its larger stage is priced at €500,000 ($684,931).