Liquid Lab: Standard Automation for ICP analysis, chromatography, and other procedures

Liquid Lab: Automation for ICP, chromatography and other methods

With the LiquidLab, HERZOG has developed a modular solution that specializes in the automated preparation and analysis of samples for chromatography, ICP, MS analysis, and other methods. The LiquidLab revolutionizes the automation of various procedures, including solid-liquid extraction, acid digestion, microwave-assisted extraction and the QuEChERS method. It also integrates customized preparation steps to ensure full coverage of all necessary processes. Each component has been optimized for maximum reproducibility with minimal risk of contamination to ensure precise and accurate results.

The design of the LiquidLab is compatible with the dimensions of a standard laboratory bench. This facilitates seamless integration into existing laboratories. The design ensures corrosion resistance to ensure long-term reliability even when acids are used. The LiquidLab was developed for high system throughputs in industrial operations and analytical laboratories. The modular concept enables fast and cost-efficient upscaling of automation as sample numbers increase or the analytical spectrum is expanded.

Flexible handling of different vials and tubes

The LiquidLab is characterized by its high flexibility in handling a variety of sample containers. Thanks to an advanced x/y-z portal system, vessels can be transported safely and efficiently. The system's specially designed grippers not only ensure safe transportation, but also enable space-saving arrangement of the containers in the modules and the input and output stations.

Our innovative decapping station allows the reliable opening and closing of containers with different types of closures - from screw caps of different sizes to special pressure caps for microwave containers. This makes it possible to use a wide range of containers within a single system. 

Dosing liquids and powders

In the LiquidLab, specialized modules handle the exact dosing of liquids and powders, with a focus on precision, accuracy, contamination avoidance and efficient sample throughput.

Our liquid dosing units are equipped with membrane pumps or syringe pumps, depending on the specific dosing volume and accuracy requirements. These units are capable of precisely dosing up to five liquids, including spike. If required, the liquid level of the container can be detected by either an ultrasonic detector or our innovative SparkPoint vision module to accurately dispense the required volume. Gravimetric dosing of liquids is also possible.

The Powder Dosing Units are designed to precisely dispense both sample material and additives into the intended vessels. Depending on the specific application, different dosing techniques and materials are used to ensure high dosing accuracy and avoid contamination.

Transferring liquids

Many applications require the transfer of sample liquid between containers. The LiquidLab's Liquid Transfer Unit provides various technologies to enable efficient liquid transfer.

A pipette can be used for the transfer of smaller volumes. Either a permanently installed pipette tip can be used, which is thoroughly cleaned both inside and out after each use. Disposable pipette tips, which are automatically replaced after each use, are also available for applications with the highest contamination-free requirements.

A hose valve system is typically used when transferring large quantities of liquid. This system enables efficient and thorough cleaning using rinsing liquid.

Automation of further process steps: Homogenization, heating, centrifugation

The LiquidLab covers all routine processes such as homogenization, heating and centrifugation with specially designed modules that are tailored to the specific requirements of the respective application and can be flexibly adapted.

For energy-intensive mixing processes, such as those required in the QuEChERS process, we offer high-performance vortex shakers. Platform shakers with various movement patterns are available for the simultaneous processing of several samples. Our range is supplemented by overhead shakers and automated magnetic stirrers, which ensure effective mixing of the samples.

Thermal processes for extractions and digestions are supported by heating modules, which can also be used in combination with platform shakers and can reach temperatures of up to 450°C. The LiquidLab enables the automatic mounting of reaction vessels with watch glasses. 

The LiquidLab carries out automated centrifugation of various sample quantities. Swing-out rotors are mainly used, but fixed-angle rotors can also be used if high speeds are required. 

Clean-up procedure

The complete QuEChERS procedure, including the addition of sorbents to remove matrix interferences, can be mapped in the LiquidLab. Usually, the corresponding PSA-C18 or GCB sorbents are already contained in the corresponding centrifuge tubes. However, it is also possible to dose the substances individually using the Powder Dosing Unit.

SPE clean-up can be carried out in different ways. Depending on the analytes, the column used and the required flow rate, negative pressure or positive pressure methods can be used. Column conditioning, washing and elution are of course fully automatic and contamination-free.

Connection to analytical instruments

The analytical liquid can be supplied to the analyzer in the LiquidLab in various ways. One option is to transfer the analysis liquid directly to the instrument using the ICP Transfer Unit. If required, a filter can be integrated to remove potential solid particles.

Alternatively, the analysis liquid can be transferred by the Liquid Transfer Unit into suitable vials, which are then inserted into the autosampler of the analyzer via a rack. Sample identification is synchronized between the PrepMaster software and the analytical instrument seamlessly, ensuring an efficient and error-free data flow.