Spectrometer for field use     

Polychromix, of Wilmington, Massachusetts, US, has launched The Phazir, the first handheld all-in-one near-infrared digital transform spectrometer (DTS) analyser.

The Phazir combines a DTS engine, MobiLight lightsource, reflectance probe, rechargeable batteries, integrated computer and LCD display and software into one unit that can be used remotely, such as in field applications.  

Polychromix's DTS technology uses an innovative MEMS spatial light modulator in a portable form factor, featuring a single InGaAs detector and no moving parts.  

The Phazir can be used in a wide variety of spectroscopy applications from laboratories to industrial process controls, including material identification, quantitative analysis, purity analysis, quality control and material inspection. Specific process control applications include flue gas monitoring and trans-fat content in food analysis. 
info@polychromix.com

3D nano movies 

Nanotech America from Allen, Texas, US, has launched NTegra Tomo, an integration of atomic force microscopy (AFM) with Leica UC6 ultra-microtome. The Leica UC6 generates slices of the order of 10 nm or less, and these are imaged directly from the freshly cut block face. The images are fed into software such as Media Cybernetic's 3D Constructor to produce true 3D movies of nanostructures, revolving in space, as well as true 3D measurement. 

For biologists, NTegra Tomo can be used for imaging ultrastructure, while for polymer and materials scientists it can provide insight into internal structures such as spherulites or metallic grains. 

Although NTegra Tomo images from the block face itself, it still makes the original slices available for other microscopies, and it also prepares the very flat slices required for atomic force acoustical microscopy (AFAM), a method for quantifying elasticity and imaging the domains in complex materials such as block copolymers. 
barbara@nt-america.com

NMR cryoprobes 

Bruker BioSpin of Billerica, Massachusetts, US, has introduced two new NMR cryoprobes - the QNP CryoProbe and the Dual NMR CryoProbe.  

The 5 mm QNP Cryoprobe is designed for multipurpose NMR measurements of four different nuclei - phosphorus, carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen - present individually or together in a majority of organic, biological and inorganic compounds. The cryoprobe can be easily switched between these nuclei, eliminating the need to change probes. 

The 10 mm Dual NMR Cryoprobe delivers high carbon-13 NMR sensitivity and is designed for polymer analysis. The high sensitivity, large sample volume and extended temperature range - 0-130?C allows polymer characteristics, such as end groups tacticity and branching to be studied, as well as measurements of polymer melts and solutions. 
brenda.prost@bruker-biospin.com 

High optical throughput 

Centice, from Durham, North Carolina, US, has unveiled its Multimodal Multiplex Spectroscopy (MMS) technology which provides 10 to 100 times higher optical throughput compared with slit and fibre coupled spectrometers.  

MMS technology uses an encoded wide area aperture instead of the slit in conventional spectrometers, thus providing extremely high throughput with no sacrifice in spectral resolution. 

The large area encoded aperture yields 3.5X to 12X the signal-to-noise (SNR) as compared with slit based instruments with equivalent resolution. This extreme sensitivity is achieved without compromising spectral resolution in UV/Vis, NIR, Raman and fluorescence measurement. 
sales@centice.com 

Detecting nuclear threats 

Thermo Electron of Waltham, Massachusetts, US, has launched the Interceptor, a pager-sized instrument that enables anti-terrorism officials and other homeland security personnel to detect and identify possible nuclear threats. It enables immediate identification of the radionuclide and electronically transmits the data, along with a digital picture and an audio description of the situation. 

The Interceptor combines the high sensitivity of a personal radiation detector with the immediate, accurate identification capabilities of a high-resolution CZT and He³ based Radiation Isotope Identifier Device (RIID), all in one compact unit.  

The instrument is available in four versions with options that include combinations of advanced gamma finders, neutron finders and identification capabilities. Its enhanced memory securely stores thousands of results, while an optional voice recorder and digital camera facilitate on-site capture of audio and video.  

Sensing hazardous gases 

Honeywell Analytics, of Uster, Switzerland, has launched Signalpoint Plus, a detector to measure toxic gas hazards. Sensors are available to detect hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ammonia and sulfur dioxide. Signalpoint Plus is designed for use between -50?C and +55?C.  
sales@zelana.com 

LC/MS with ultra performance 

Waters of Milford, Massachusetts, US, has introduced Acquity SQD, an ultra performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry system. The system features the Waters SQ detector with scanning speeds of up to 10,000 amu/sec and IntelliStart diagnostic software.  

The Acquity SQD can be used in drug discovery and development laboratories for peak purity/impurity profiling, synthesis conformation, product deformulation and enhanced methods development through the use of molecular weight-based peak tracking. The mass range of the system extends to 2000 Da. 
brian_j_murphy@waters.com

Lowering bubble formation risk    

Harvard Apparatus of Holliston, US, has launched a new pH meter which is microprocessor controlled and housed in a rugged, waterproof casing.  

The powerful software allows one or two point calibration with memorised buffers (NIST buffer calibration at 6.86 and 9.18, in addition to the standard 4.01, 7.01 and 10.01).  

The meter features a dual level display with graphic symbols that show pH in the range 0-14, oxidation-reduction potential in mV and temperature to 0.1?C. 
bioscience@harvardapparatus.com 

Measuring mineral oxides 

Panalytical from Natick, US, has launched the Axios-Minerals system to meet for the mining and minerals industries.  

The system includes a set of 19 synthetic multi-element wide-range oxides (Wroxi) standards, together with SuperQ software. Axios-Minerals is designed for operation in harsh industrial environments. It provides consistent high quality data across the full elemental range, from fluorine to uranium, in concentrations from ppm to 100wt per cent. An integrated X-Y sample handler and a choice of loading options ensure rapid sample throughput. 

The Wroxi application can determine concentrations of up to 21 common oxides in a wide range of ores and minerals, including limestones, iron/manganese ore, bauxite, clay/shales, rocks, phosphates, feldspar and blast furnace slags. 

Axios-Minerals is ideal for medium-to-high throughput applications in production control and R&D environments.  

LC/MS for new markets 

Agilent of Palo Alto, US, has introduced the Agilent 6000 series of LC/MS systems. 

The Agilent 6410 is a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, providing femto level sensitivity for environmental, food safety, forensic and pharmaceutical applications.  

The Agilent 6510 is a quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometer for proteomics laboratories which offers attomole sensitivity, routine mass accuracy better than 3 ppm, 3.5 orders of magnitude in-spectra dynamic range, fast data acquisition and multiple ion sources. 
christina_maehr@agilent.com 

Sidelong glance into the plasma 

Spectro Analytical Instruments, from Kleve, Germany, has launched the Spectro Genesis SOP (side-on plasma) with radial plasma observation.  

This optical emission spectrometer with inductively coupled plasma excitation records the entire spectrum between 175 nm and 777 nm, enabling the simultaneous determination of more than 70 elements. 

Compared with axial plasma observation used in the previous model of this instrument, radial plasma observation provides much more precision for medium to high contents - from the lower ppm to the per cent range. 

The SOP model is designed for industrial and environmental uses, including examination of industrial wastewater, the analysis of wear metals and additives in oils and examination of soils and sludge in the agricultural industry. 

The instrument can also be used to examine saline solutions or organic samples.  
info@spectro.com 

Software boosts mass spectra 

Cerno Bioscience of Danbury, Connecticut, US, has launched the post-acquisition software package MassWorks which uses MSIntegrity calibration technology to achieve up to 100X improvement in mass accuracy on unit mass resolution mass spectrometers. This allows users to obtain mass accuracies of up to 5 ppm making it possible to perform accurate compound identification through elemental composition determination. 

MassWorks significantly improves the quality of data from any mass spectrometer from unit mass resolution instruments through to FTMS systems.  

MassWorks has been developed for pharmaceutical and biotech environments. 
info@cernobioscience.com 

Detecting in air 

Peak Laboratories of Menlo Park, California, US, have introduced a new process gas chromatograph, PP1, which can incorporate reducing compound photometry (RCP), flame ionization detection (FID) and helium discharge ionization detection (HDID). 

The RCP is capable of continuous sub-ppb analysis of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in air, with a cycle time of approximately two minutes. 
info@anagas.com 

Analysing solids 

Kaiser Optical Systems of Ann Arbor, US, has introduced the Raman analyser, P^hAT system, for analysing solids in R&D laboratories and manufacturing. 

The system eliminates sampling irreproducibility and focusing sensitivity by measuring a representative volume of sample. 

Low dosage measurements, polymorphic form identification and amorphous form content are possible using the P^hAT system in situ or at-line. It can also be used in blending, granulation, coating and tableting applications. 
lewis@kosi.com 

Fragmentation par excellence 

Shimadzu, of Milton Keynes, UK, has launched a new LCMS-IT-TOF mass spectrometer which couples atmospheric pressure ionisation with ion trap and time-of-flight technologies for use with HPLC, delivering high mass accuracy and high mass resolution (10000 at 100m/z), independent of MS mode.  

This instrument allows molecules to be broken up into successively smaller fragments and their masses measured with such accuracy that the likely empirical and structural formulae can be determined. More information can also be collected on a single run, making it ideal for such uses as biomarker discovery and metabolite identification. 
sales@shimadzu.co.uk