Automated chemistry 

HEL of Barnet, UK, has launched Autolab, a flexible chemical reactor with vessel sizes from 200ml to 20 litre, integral quick-switch features and a range of vessel stands and stirrer motors to suit. The reactor system is expandable at any time - up to a full reaction calorimeter. 

There is a choice of software interfaces to suit individual needs. All data is automatically recorded and displayed graphically in real time, full recipes are easily created and can be left to run unattended because safety interlocks are in place.  

marketing@helgroup.com 

MS with added power  

Thermo Electron Corporation, US, has introduced the LTQ FT Ultra, a hybrid Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometer which analyses complex matrices and large molecules with sub parts per million mass accuracy, and resolution in excess of 750,000. The LTQ FT Ultra is equipped with a novel ion cyclotron resonance cell design, the Ultra Cell, which improves sensitivity. It is suited for top-down and bottom-up proteomics as well as metabolomics. 

LTQ FT Ultra can be used to monitor complex mixtures such as dissolved organic matter, polymers and crude oil samples as well as for the unambiguous identification of unknown analytes with on-line LC-MS/MS. It provides attomole sensitivity for identification of low abundance peptides on a routine basis.  

The mass spectrometer is powered by Thermo's Xcalibur software and can also be configured with layered application software including ProSightPC, SIEVE, MetWorks and BioWorks. 

analyze@thermo.com 

For rapid trace analysis 

Shimadzu UK, of Milton Keynes, has launched the GCMS-QP2010, a bench-top single quadrupole gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) system for fast and sensitive analysis of trace components in complex organic mixtures. It is ideal for use in forensics, environmental studies and food analysis. 

The GCMS-QP2010 features a high-pressure flow controller that supports high-speed analysis; 32-bit software for fast data collection and processing; rapid column oven heating and cooling; and a 10,000 atomic mass units/second scan rate combined with up to 50 scans/second in FullScan.  

The system's extended mass range of up to m/z 1090 offers flexibility for method development, both in GC-MS mode and with its DI 2010 direct insertion probe accessory. Its modified ion source and differential turbo pumping system combine to increase the sensitivity by a factor of 2.5. The system also allows high column flows, allowing trace level detection and enabling two separate columns to be simultaneously installed in the MS source.  

sales@shimadzu.co.uk  

Acid-resistant evaporators 

Genevac, Ipswich, UK, has launched versions of its EZ-2, HT-4X and HT-12 evaporators that are resistant to strong acid chlorides such as hydrochloric acid and thionyl chloride. This has been achieved by inclusion of a PTFE-coated evaporation chamber, an external condenser with 316 stainless steel chambers.  

All metallic parts coming into contact with removed solvent are manufactured from highly durable and acid-resistant Hasteloy C2000 alloy. In addition, each system is configured with a scroll pump that does not require any pumping fluid or lubricant. 

salesinfo@genevac.co.uk 

Amino acids by mass spec 

Applied Biosystems has launched the Amino Acid 20/20 Analyser for amino acid analysis by mass spectrometry. The analyser has applications in food testing and pharmaceutical and protein research.  

The analyser combines mass spectrometry with unique tagging reagents. Applied Biosystems claims that it offers more than twice the speed of existing chromatography systems and provides better separation of amino acids, including difficult-to-distinguish isobaric amino acids, which have almost identical masses. 

abdirect@eur.appliedbiosystems.com 

Analysis 'at line' 

Process Lab from Metrohm UK of Buckingham is a new 'at line' analyser. The equipment is configured to user requirements by combining several analytical modules: direct measurement (pH, redox, conductivity, ion-specific electrode measurements), titration (dynamic and monotone, end point and Karl Fischer titration), photometry and spectroscopy. 

The Process Lab also allows third party equipment to be integrated into the system - for example, refractive index, viscometry or density. The modules have hermetically separated process and electrical sections which are housed in a dust and splash proof housing. 

enquiry@metrohm.co.uk 

Analysing mercury 

Quantitech, Milton Keynes, UK, has launched Hydra mercury analysers from Teledyne Leeman Labs, US. The analysers offer cold vapour methods with atomic absorption or atomic fluorescence analysis in compliance with US Environment Protection Agency and European standard methods. 

The Hydra AF Gold Plus provides a working range from less than 0.05 ppt to 250 ppb, together with the ability to pre-screen for high concentration samples. This is important because analysts are often required to test materials with a completely unknown mercury content and as such they need to be able to measure accurately across a broad spectrum of concentrations. Hydra is equipped with an automatic high concentration protection system.  

quant@quantitech.co.uk