Autumn 2017

Exclusive Distributor of SEAL Analytical in Australia and New Zealand

Sydney: Unit 7/ 84-90 Old Bathurst Rd, Emu Plains. NSW 2750 Ph: 02 4735 5054 E: sydney@fluidquip.com.au

Robotics Overcome Common Lab Problems..……..………1

Longer Path Lengths- Discrete Analyser….…1

Recent Installations….2

8 Reasons to Replace Manual Methods.…….3

AQ2 Lamp Filter Cleaning……………….4

AA3 Bubble Pattern……………..….4

In this issue

Overcome Common Laboratory ProblemsSEAL Analytical has incorporated a robotic arm in their Discrete Analysers to routinely and consistently pipette, dilute, add reagents, mix, calibrate, measure, calculate, and

report results, ensuring you achieve the same results every time irrespective of the technician or chemist. Discrete Analysers automate almost all the simple colorimetric methods for you. In fact, thanks to the built-in robotics and easy-to-use software an untrained user will achieve the same results as your most experienced chemist- every time. Aside from eliminating errors, and improving the accuracy, Discrete Analysers using advanced robotics enable laboratories to rethink daily routines. Digested, extracted, preserved and neat samples can all be analysed in the one run, with the samples no longer needing to be split and run according to the sample matrix. Multiple tests can be run on the same sample, and samples can be added even after the run has commenced, making it possible for the laboratory technician to immediately analyse samples as soon as they come in, rather than being gathered for analysis at a later time.

SEAL analysers are well known globally as the gold standard in automated wet chemistry for nutrient analysis in environmental samples.

Achieving this standard has required a business model with absolute dedication to nutrient analysis, and a commitment to maintaining a team of in-house chemists. For SEAL’s customers in-house chemists ensure that the support is absolutely of the highest standards, and it is delivered by chemistry experts, essential for applying the technology to customer

applications. In-house expertise also ensures chemists have direct input into analyser design and development. For over 50 years in- house chemists have been contributing to the design of SEAL analysers which are used specifically for environmental samples. SEAL’s ongoing product innovations are driven by SEAL’s own chemists understanding the challenges and analytical problems faced by chemists in modern laboratories.

Right now SEAL chemists are collaborating with a university to experiment with longer path lengths on the AQ400 Discrete Analyser. The AQ400 standard cuvette is 10 mm Hellma quartz, and the team is testing a 20 mm cuvette for even better sensitivity. There is also a team adapting a 500 mm AutoAnalyser Liquid Wave Capillary Cell for use on the Discrete Analyser. Whilst the experiments are still in their early stages, it is certainly innovative and exciting work which when finalised will be perfect for low level water and seawater.

Contact  Paul  Bu,erworth  on  02  4735  5054  if  you  would  like  to  know  more.

SEAL Investigating Longer Path Lengths For Discrete Analysers

S E M I - A U T O M A T E D

Call  Paul  Butterworth  on  02  4735  5054  for  XXXX.  

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Recent installations

Christmas Island

We recently installed a new AA3 HR Segmented Flow Analyser on Christmas Island. This was not your average day in the office for our chemists and engineers with a 4 hour flight from Perth to reach Christmas Island, nearly 2,600 km northwest of Perth in the Indian Ocean.

Christmas Island

Logan City Council in Queensland recently replaced their flow injection analyser with a SEAL AQ400 Discrete Analyser.

Logan City Council

Logan is home to more than 300,000 people from more than 215 cultures making it one of the most diverse cities in Australia. It is situated between Brisbane, Ipswich and the Gold Coast, surrounded by prominent bushland and bordering the renowned Scenic Rim region.

The Logan City Council is committed to providing safe, reliable and high quality water, recycled water, trade waste and wastewater services. With a NATA accredited laboratory they monitor the quality of their water supply network and product quality of their sewage treatment plants as well as testing trade waste samples.

Re?red  Instrument New  AA3HR

Christmas Island is an Australian Territory world renowned for its annual red crab migration and made famous by Sir David Attenborough. The Island is made up of volcanic rocks interbedded with coral limestone, subjected to several phases of uplifting and eventually forming a central plateau about 200-350 metres above sea level. The slow phosphatisation of sedimentary and volcanic rocks over millions of years has formed rock phosphate. Over 90% of the world rock phosphate production is used by the fertiliser industry with the remainder used in animal feeds, detergents and chemicals. Christmas Island Rock Phosphates is a leading producer of rock phosphate in the South East Asia region, extracting nearly 700,000 tonnes annually.

The Christmas Island rock phosphate is highly sought after thanks to the combination of fluorohydroxyapatite, calcium iron and aluminium phosphates which are advantageous in the fertiliser manufacturing process. The relatively high total phosphorus oxide level improves the analysis of many straight and compound fertilisers, and its iron and aluminium content improves the granule strength of a range of acidulated fertilisers. Its reactive characteristics provide additional advantages for compacted fertilisers that do not undergo chemical processes.

Christmas Island Rock Phosphates has a strong focus on continuous improvement and quality control, with the quality process starting long before the actual mining even begins. Drill hole samples of each of the ore bodies are collected, sampled and analysed in the laboratory. A network of holes is drilled and ore samples are taken along each hole for analysis of the total citric acid soluble P205, calcium content and other elements.

Autumn 2017

Page 3

8 Reasons to Replace Your Manual Methods

Designed by chemists for chemists.

1. NO CROSS CONTAMINATION

The only discrete analyser with integrated probe washer, eliminating cross contamination between reagents and samples. This keeps the probe free of reagents, oil and grease, making it ideal for wastewater.

2. INTEGRATED OPTICALLY PURE HELLMA QUARTZ CUVETTE

The AQ400’s 10 mm path length is essential for maximum sensitivity and lower detection levels. The Hellma quartz glass is superior to styrene for sample analysis with the highest precision.

3. EFFECTIVE SAMPLE & REAGENT MIXING

Achieve reproducible results thanks to sample and reagent mixing that approximates manual mixing in a flask.

4. ALL 3 x EPA NITRATE+NITRITE METHODS

The AQ400 gives you complete flexibility in your nitrate+nitrite testing, providing all 3 x EPA approved methods for nitrate+nitrite chemistry options and including an integrated cadmium coil with in situ regeneration. The intelligent software will automatically switch the cadmium coil inline.

5. USE ONLY μl REAGENT & SAMPLE PER TEST

With miniaturised components the AQ400 has reduced reagent and sample consumption which reduces costs per test and lowers waste.

6. COMPLETE REACTION

Constant heating and programable reaction times secure a highly controlled reaction condition. Chemical reactions are brought to completion and precisely emulate manual methods.

7. UP TO 7 CHEMISTRIES ON A SINGLE SAMPLE

Save time by analysing up to 7 chemistries on a single sample, with any analyte in any order and without operator intervention.

8. LOWER DETECTION LEVELS

The AQ400 achieves the lowest detection levels, which are critical for environmental applications and only made possible with the right combination of mixing techniques, longer path lengths and optically pure glass components.

Call  Paul  Butterworth  on  02  4735  5054  for  more  information.

The SEAL AQ400 completely automates manual wet chemistry methods, reducing time and errors often associated with manual methods, generating lower costs per test and significantly improving efficiency. Critically the AQ400 has been designed to mimic the operation of a laboratory chemist as well as adding the ability to measure multiple analytes simultaneously. The AQ400 incorporates many design elements essential for successful analysis of environmental samples.

Autumn 2017

Page 4

Exclusive Distributor of SEAL Analytical in Australia and New Zealand

Ph: 02 4735 5054 Fx: 02 4735 6896Web: www.fluidquip.com.auEmail: Sydney@fluidquip.com.au

Exclusive Australian distributor for SEAL Analytical analysers, parts and consumables.

Contact Us

New Sales & UpgradesPaul ButterworthM: 0417 110 738T: 02 4735 5054E: paul@fluidquip.com.au

Parts & ConsumablesCarina RabergT: 02 4735 5054E: carina@fluidquip.com.au

ServiceBarbara SlatyerM: 0418 456 213 T: 02 4735 5054E: barbara@fluidquip.com.au

Tech TipBubble Pattern

The AA3’s visible bubbles allow you to easily monitor the analytical stream.

For  assistance  contact  techsupport@seal-­‐us.com

In Segmented Flow Continuous Analysers the air segmentation bubbles divide the analytical stream into small segments, facilitating the mixing of reagent and sample. Correct segmentation is critical for increasing sample throughput and improving precision and accuracy.Bubbles in the Tygon tubing must be round at the front and back. If the back of the bubble looks straight, the tubing has not been properly wetted and more surfactant is needed.

It is also important to observe the addition of fluids at each injection point. The addition needs to be smooth and continuous without hesitation or surging.Bubble  too  small

Optimum  length=  1.5  diameter

Bubble  too  large

Tech TipLamp Filter Cleaning

To avoid overheating of the lamp it is important the lamp filter is kept clean.

We recommend the lamp filter be cleaned at least every 4 months and should be replaced if damaged or blocked.

Steps:1. Switch off the analyser and remove the

photometer cover plate.2. Pull the lamp filter assembly up out of

its housing.3. Clean any dust from the filter using a

vacuum cleaner or brush (do not clean near the analyser). Replace the filter if necessary.

4. Replace the filter assembly in its housing and replace the photometer ensuring the tubing from the cuvette is slid to the left hand side of the slot to keep it vertical.

5. Switch the analyser back on.

For  assistance  contact  techsupport@seal-­‐us.com

Correctly  wetted.  Bubble  looks  rounded  at  front  and  back.

Bubble  looks  concave  or  square  at  back.  More  surfactant  needed.

Flow  direction