Xylem’s OI Analytical brand is pleased to offer a new water/soil sample processor for purge-and-trap GC-MS analysis of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in drinking water, wastewater, soils, and sediments.
Environmental laboratories performing VOC analysis of drinking water, wastewater, groundwater, soil and sediment samples require a versatile and reliable automation platform to transfer samples to purge-and-trap GC-MS systems.
OI Analytical’s 4100 Water / Soil Sample Processor automates the handling and processing of samples in 40mL VOA vials for purge-and-trap analysis of VOCs in accordance with U.S. EPA methods. The 4100 efficiently processes up to 100 drinking water, wastewater or soil samples and operates with a single or dual OI Analytical Eclipse 4660 purge-and-trap instrument.
Innovative technologies built into the 4100 improve sample processing reliability, analytical performance, laboratory operating costs, and productivity.
The 4100 Sample Processor is equipped with a pneumatically-actuated cylindrical vial gripper that lifts and transports 40mL VOA vials to and from water and soil sampling stations. The VOA Constrictor™ gripper mechanism surrounds and conforms to each vial ensuring reliable vial handling. The unique design of the VOA Constrictor™ gripper handles vials with all types of labels and eliminates dropped and broken vials. A built-in sensor enables the gripper to detect and confirm the presence of a vial or signal if a vial is missing.
A new type of module for addition of internal standards, surrogate and matrix spike standards is integrated into the 4100. This module employs electronically controlled high-speed injection valves to minimize standard usage and decrease laboratory operating costs for expensive standards. The high-speed injection valves inject programmed volumes of standard with no excess overfill volume and waste that fixed-loop based systems require to operate.
Programming and operation of the 4100 is controlled by VOA View™ software. VOA View™ is a Windows-based graphical user interface (GUI) that enables users to program methods, sequences, and internal standard addition. The VOA View™ run screen visually depicts water and soil samples, the status of vials that have been processed, and provides details of the method being run.
VOA View™ software enables the 4100 to communicate and operate concurrently with two purge-and-trap instruments to improve sample throughput and laboratory productivity.
A vial cooling option is available to maintain a deck full of 100 sample vials at 10 ?C or less prior to analysis for compliance with U.S. EPA method 524.3 requirements. Two 50-position insulated vial racks fit into a cooling base fitted with quick-disconnects for easy connection to a recirculating chiller.