Measurement and analysis instrument manufacturer SII NanoTechnology Inc., a 100% subsidiary of Seiko Instruments Inc., will release the SEA1300VX, an fluorescent X-ray Analyzer which determines the content of Cadmium in rice etc. in few minutes without preparation. The instrument will be released in July 1st , 2011.

Fluorescent X-Ray Analyzer SEA1300VX

SEA1300VX Fluorescent X-Ray Analyzer

Cadmium contamination in food has been a problem for a long time. Japan has the criteria in the Food Sanitation Act of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The distribution of the rice containing 1.0ppm was prohibited; however in April 2010, the criteria of Food Sanitation Act for the amount of Cadmium contained in rise or brown rise was revised and its revision was applied on Feb 28 2011.

Conventionally Atomic absorption measurement or ICP measurement was used. However, the measurement required the sample preparation such as grinding or dissolution which consumes time and cost. Additionally it required the highly-skilled operation. Thus, it was very difficult to measure many samples easily.

The fluorescent X-ray analyzer, praised for its ease of use, has been widely introduced for controlling the concentration of hazardous metal in the industrial products. However, the measurement for food requires 0.1ppm concentration detection level which is (one digit) higher performance than the conventional instruments. SII NanoTechnology Inc. has developed the SEA1300VX which enables 0.1ppm detection of Cadmium by 100 times sensitive (*1) compared with those of the conventional instruments.

SEA1300VX allows easy measurement without any sample preparation and only by putting around 4g of the brown rice or white rice into the measurement pan. Furthermore the measurement time is dramatically reduced. For example, to judge if the Cadmium concentration satisfies the criteria 0.4ppm in the brown rice slightly containing Cadmium, the measurement time only takes one (1) minute. Also the sample with Cadmium concentration around 0.4ppm can be measured very accurately only in 10 minutes. Autosampler, maximum 90 samples per plate can be measured automatically which enables the efficient measurement as much as around 5000 sample measurement per month.

It is said the criteria for vegetables would be tighter in the near future. Cadmium judgment in vegetables can also be performed by drying and condensing. Additionally the hazardous metals such as arsenic and lead as well as Cadmium can be measured using this instrument. SII NanoTechnology Inc. will release this instrument to the food and logistics market to secure the food safety.

[Key Features of SEA1300VX]

(1) Measurement of the Brown Rice without Preparation

Cadmium concentration measurement may be done only by putting around 4g of the rice into the measurement pan, inserting into the instrument, and pressing ?gMeasurement?h button. Sample preparation such as grinding or dissolution is not required which has been essential for the conventional methods.

(2) Only One Minute to Judge if Cadmium in Brown Rice is Below Than the Criteria

By improving the detectors, the detection intensity for measuring Cadmium has been raised 100 times compared with those of the conventional instruments (*1). Improvement of the detection intensity directly decreases the measurement time. Measurement to judge if the result is clearly lower than the criteria 0.4ppm only takes around 1 minute.

(3) Only 10 Minutes for Quantitative Accurate Measurement

If Cadmium concentration of the sample is around 0.4ppm, accurate quantification is required. In this case the measurement time is extended automatically. 0.05ppm?@(1ƒÐ) can be achieved within 10 minutes.

(4) Automated Measurement by the Autosampler

By setting the samples in the Autosampler, maximum 90 samples can be measured automatically. This enables around 5000 sample measurement per month is possible.

[Main Specification of SEA1300VX]

X-ray Source: Air-cooled small size X-ray tube

Detector: Vortex semiconductor detector (LN2-less)

Sample volume: 4g

Size: 700?iW?j x 580?iD?j x 730?iH?jmm

[Reference] X-ray Fluorescence Analysis Method

X-ray fluorescence analysis is a method to identify the elements and their concentrations by detecting the fluorescent X-rays irradiated by primary X-ray.

*1: According to our own research and compared to our company?fs products.