Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched its Servo and Servo+ ranges of sample preparation solutions for drugs of abuse testing. These SPE solutions enable analytes to isolate drug compounds from complex biological samples. The portfolio covers total drug screening and specific testing for tetrahydrocanabinol, opiates, amphetamines, phenylcyclohexylpiperdine (phencyclidine, PCP) and cocaine. Specifically designed to enhance routine drugs testing workflows in analaytical laboratories, Servo offers a fast and effective resource for high sample throughput, while Servo+ offers greater selectivity, higher loading capacity and increased robustness.

In partnership with Systems Engineering in Japan, Specac has introduced a new top plate for its Golden Gate. The Envirochamber has been specially designed for analysing hazardous samples. The standard version has the sample area sealed within a perspex chamber, allowing hazardous samples, for example, to be positioned on the Golden Gate top plate in a safe environment such as a fume cupboard or glove box and then sealed so the unit can safely be taken back to the spectrometer for analysis. This new top plate comes, as standard, with a diamond crystal but other materials are available upon request and a heated version will be available.

Aabspec has introduced a new, high-performance GC/FT-IR interface, the IX10-8B. The design has as its heart a solid gold light-pipe formed from pure gold using newly developed manufacturing methods. The interface provides very low flow rate capability for good capillary chromatography plus extreme inertness for the most demanding sample types. Additional new technology has been developed enabling higher upper temperature operating limits. The resulting product offers improved performance in capillary GC/FT-IR.

Spex SamplePrep has released the next generation of automated hydraulic laboratory press. The redesigned 3635-230-V-Press is a fully automated pellet press which is ideal for repetitive pressing of sample pellets for XRF, IR and other analaytical methods. It now features a programmable LCD touch-screen display with adjustable parameters that include maximum pressure, dwell time and release time. These variables can be saved in the system's memory and easily recalled for future pellet pressing cycles with the touch of a button. Also featured is an interlock that prevents opening of the safety shield during operation. A compact 13″ wide footprint makes this benchtop press easy to fit into the laboratory.

The new Disc Mill LM 3310 is now available from Perten Instruments, replacing their previous mill, the LM 3303. The mill has a new design and several improved features which include reduced noise level with new built-in motor, easy disc distance setting with Start/Stop on the front of the mill and an improved procedure for disc change and distance control, minimising service needs. It is suitable for grinding grain, pellets and other products for moisture and other analysis. It is also used in the AACC standard no. 55-30 for determination of wheat hardness by particle size index.

Spex CertiPrep has developed a new line of pure and ultra pure fusion fluxes and additives.

The new RS 200 vibratory disc mill from Retsch grinds samples such as minerals, cement, concrete, soils and also electronic scrap.

The Aquatek 100 Waters-only Autosampler is now available from Teledyne Tekmar. It is a purge and trap autosampler that automates the sample preparation steps for the analysis of liquid samples using a fixed volume sample loop filled using a pressurisation gas.

PerkinElmer has introduced its new sample preparation blocks and accessories. These products are designed to meet contemporary sample digestion needs in environmental and basic laboratory research and to combat associated temperature and contamination problems.

A European research project has shown how to build optical sensors directly into the structure of labs-on-chips. The breakthrough paves the way for on-the-spot medical diagnostics.

SCP Science has introduced the Novawave microwave digestion system, which employs 12 dynamically operating micro cavities to process 12 samples simultaneously. Other features include individual sample temperature control and monitoring; seamless microwave power control with no duty cycle; built-in EPA and DIN methods; and USB/Ethernet port connectivity for data processing and storage. With the Novawave Transporter attachment, up to 14 racks of 12 samples at a time can be prepared. The Transporter acts as a conveyor, automatically loading a new rack of samples into the microwave and removing the digested samples to the auto-cooling and auto-venting stations.

Chemplex is introducing a new line of unbreakable chemically resistant polyethylene transfer pipettes with integrated bulbs for filling XRF sample cups ensuring equal volumes of sample substances for X-ray analysis. This reduces the potential effects on x-ray data that translates to variations in concentration levels.Typical uses include: diesel and gasoline fuels, fluid lubricants, paint, chemicals, waste oils and many more sample materials requiring an inexpensive method of transferring samples into sample cups safely, without spillage, no contamination issues and economically priced for disposability.

Milestone has expanded its line of microwave ashing furnaces with the introduction of the Pyro XL, designed to accommodate large volume, high fuming applications making it an ideal fit for applications such as food and feed, oils and polymers. It meets the requirements of many methods including ASTM, USP, SEMI, and ISO. The Pyro XL can be pre-programmed to follow specific methods and regulates energy throughout.

PerkinElmer and Gilson have announced a mass spectrometry collaboration to support pharmaceutical and biotech scientists, which will enable the two companies to provide new and enhanced solutions for fraction collection and liquid chromatography. As part of the agreement, PerkinElmer will develop a dedicated single quadrupole mass spectrometer to be incorporated into Gilson’s preparative chromatography systems.  www.perkinelmer.com,  www.gilson.com

Biocius Life Sciences has completed its spin-out from BioTrove Inc. and is an independent company. It now holds all of the intellectual property and technology for the RapidFire mass spectrometry, which integrates sample preparation with mass spectrometry at a rate of up to 6s per sample.  www.biocius.com

Supercritical Fluid Technologies has launched the SFT-100XW supercritical fluid extraction system. This new, mid-scale SFE was developed to investigate the feasibility of applying supercritical fluid techniques to various analyses, processing challenges and QC/QA applications.

Millipore Corporation has announced the introduction of their redesigned Millex 13 mm sample preparation syringe filter to provide improved filtration speed and recovery. The filter utilises a housing design that withstands higher operating pressures to allow faster filtration.

The EZ-Pick II from S.T. Japan is a hand-held micromanipulator which has been designed to easily prepare samples at any location. It is shaped like a pen with a mounting device to attach sampling probes such as needles or knives at the front end. Inside the pen there is an ultra-mini high performance CCD and a specially designed optical lens. While manipulating samples or extracting small particles, the operation can be seen magnified on an attached 7″ LCD monitor. Applications include removing surface accretions in fine art conservation, on-site forensic analysis, small particle analysis, surface analysis and precision hand assembly.

S T Japan-Europe Issue: 21/03 RSN: 109

The new CryoMill from Retsch has been specially designed for cryogenic grinding. The grinding jar is continually cooled with liquid nitrogen from the integrated cooling system before and during the grinding process, ensuring that the sample is embrittled and volatile components are preserved. The liquid nitrogen circulates through the system and is continually replenished from an autofill system in the exact amount required to keep the temperature at –196°C and the automatic cooling system ensures that the grinding process is not started before the sample is thoroughly cooled. The grinding parameters can be stored for routine tasks, LEDs indicate the current state of operation and, with a vibrational frequency of 25 Hz, most materials can be processed effectively in a few minutes. Samples are mainly ground by impact but also by friction which enables finer grind sizes. The mill is equipped with one grinding station for grinding jar volumes of 25 mL, 25 mL and 50 mL or, alternatively, an adapter that holds up to four 5 mL jars can be used. The mill can also be operated without cooling, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

Retsch GmbH Issue: 21/01 RSN: 114

Lambda Advanced Technology has announced the availability of the new “speedwave four” microwave digestion system from Berghof. Featuring Berghof's contact-free temperature measurement system and contact-free pressure measurement system for all sample vessels, the system also has a new controller which includes network compatibility via an Ethernet interface. Used for the preparation of samples for AA, ICP or ICP/MS analysis, it offers digestion control using microwave sample heating to give reduced digestion times and high sample throughput rates. A temperature up to 260°C and operating pressures of up to 190 bar enables a wide range of digestions to be carried out from routine applications in food, environment and medical to hard-to-digest inorganic samples. A choice of digestion vessels allows multiple digestions to be carried out simultaneously.Lambda Advanced Technology LtdIssue: 20/06 RSN: