Laboratory Robotics and Automation最新文献

The next flow system with fully rotary valve (FRV) has been designed and applied for calibration purposes in chemical analysis. In the present case the system was aimed at performing two-component analysis, namely, at preparing the set of two-component standard solutions and using them for calibration and determination of both components in a sample. It has been proven that the FRV, if suitably configured and operated, was capable of using only two initial standards for preparation of eight two-component solutions and furthermore, of composing them in accordance with the incomplete 3² experimental plan. Owing to that, the mathematical models then formulated on the basis of measurement data could serve not only for estimation of the concentrations of both analytes in a sample, but also for evaluation and elimination of the mutual influences between them. It has been experimentally revealed that the system developed allows the calibration procedure to be performed with low consumption of time, work, and reagents, providing reliable analytical results and valuable information about interferences. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lab Robotics and Automation 12:228–235, 2000

A fully automated spectrophotometric analyzer for continuous, unattended determination of inorganic nitrogen (nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia) was developed. The analysis involves online UV photo-induced conversion of nitrate to nitrite and chemical oxidation of ammonia to nitrite. In both cases, nitrite was then subsequently determined by spectrophotometry using the sulfanilamide and N-1-naphthyl-ethylenediamine color reagents. Experimental conditions investigated to optimize the determination of nitrate and ammonia are presented. The linear ranges of the methods for nitrate and ammonia are 0.01–14 ppm and 0.01–5 ppm, respectively. The proposed method is simple, low cost, and sensitive. The analyzer was operated automatically and unattended for a period of 30 days. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lab Robotics and Automation 12:312–316, 2000

A flow-through spectrophotometric sensor for determination of copper based on retention of Cu(I)-1,2 ciclohexanedione thiosemicarbazone complex on C₁₈ bonded phase beads packed in a flow-cell was developed. The method is highly selective for copper; it features a detection limit of 50 ng mL⁻¹ and a linear range from at least 0.1 to 10 μg mL⁻¹. The method is subject to very few interferences and is more sensitive than the batch procedure. The proposed method was applied to the determination of copper in catalysts and alloys. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lab Robotics and Automation 12:241–245, 2000

This work describes the software and hardware developed for implementation of on-line microwave-assisted sample digestion in an automated sequential-injection analysis (SIA) system. The system was completely developed with conventional equipment available in analytical laboratories. The software and hardware allows for the acquisition and manipulation of analytical signals and also for the synchronization of the actuation of each component. The assembled system is composed of a mixing valve, three solenoid valves, a commercial microwave oven, a peristaltic pump, and an ultrasonic bath. Additionally, it is possible to program 60 different events that can be controlled by the operator according to the requirement of analysis. The operator only needs to inject the samples, and the other steps are carried out by the automated SIA system. This system was applied for direct determination of Fe in white wines and presented a sampling frequency of 10 h⁻¹. The limit of detection was 0.6 mg L⁻¹, and an addition-recovery experiment led to recoveries in the 98–101% range. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lab Robotics and Automation 12:246–252, 2000

Monitoring of urinary glucose level is of great interest in health control. As a fast and accurate means to achieve this purpose, a potentiometric glucose biosensor based on SnO₂ film was developed. The optimum manufacturing conditions and the functional characteristics of the biosensor were established. The n-type Sb-doped SnO₂ semiconductor film properties were characterized using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Measurements on urine samples yielded results that are in good agreement with those obtained with the Nylander method and more accurate than those obtained with a test paper. Taking into account that urine samples do not need pretreatment and that by the renewal of the enzyme membrane the stability period of the biosensor may be prolonged over 8 days, it may be used in continuous flux, too. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lab Robotics and Automation 12:291–295, 2000

Managing vast amounts of information associated with DNA array technology presents a challenge. This article describes a synergistic analysis management (SAM) system, which integrates microarray and laboratory data along with analysis steps to present a synergistic view to the researcher. We describe tools for data management in array fabrication, automated image analysis, and array data mining. All the described modules allow for seamless flow of information and are connected through a database. SAM will enhance microarray projects at pharmaceutical and academic institutions, which face the problems of high throughput microarray data management. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lab Robotics and Automation 12:317–327, 2000

This article reports the use of solid phase spectrophotometry associated with flow injection technique for simultaneous determination of zinc and nickel with 1-(2-thiazolylazo)-2-naphthol (TAN) immobilized on a C₁₈ bonded silica support in the concentration range from 0.30 to 1.0 μg mL ⁻¹ of both ions. The multicomponent analysis was implemented using the absorbance signals in different intervals of time in a flow injection analysis peak for each sample solution inserted into the analytical path. A partial least squares (PLS) algorithm for model construction was developed in QuickBasic 4.5 as a subrotine in order to assemble it in a data acquisition program, permitting the concentration estimation in real time. The proposed method was successfully applied to nickel and zinc determination in synthetic mixtures with analytical throughput of 43 samples per hour. The results obtained with the proposed method were compared with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic E Mission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) data, and the results agreed with 95% confidence level. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lab Robotics and Automation 12:305–311, 2000

A robotic system was implemented to automate the polymer ash procedure performed in the Plastics Technical Center's Materials Evaluation Laboratory. The system automates ASTM Test Method D 5630: “Standard Test Method for Ash Content in Thermoplastics (Procedure B)” and Phillips Ryton poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS) laboratory procedures “Determination of Ash of PPS Compounds” and “Ash Content of Polyphenylene Sulfide.” These procedures determine the ash content of the respective resins using a rapid, muffle furnace ashing technique. The robot system automates all aspects of the procedure, including taring the crucibles, inserting the samples into and retrieving the samples from the muffle furnace, weighing the crucibles, recording the weights, cooling the crucibles, calculating and reporting the results, and storing the data. Data generated on polyolefin (polyethylene and polypropylene) and Ryton poly(phenylene sulfide) samples show that the system generates data that are reproducible and equivalent to those obtained by manual application of the ASTM and Phillips procedures. The robot system has been successfully used to determine ash values ranging as low as 0.02 wt% for polyolefin resins and as high as 40+ wt% for PPS compounds. A comparison of results from the automated procedure to those obtained by the manual application of the procedure demonstrated that the robot provided equivalent values, with estimates of the precision that were at least as good as the manual procedure. Since its installation, the system has been used extensively, increasing the laboratory's testing capacity and providing labor savings of more than 0.5 human-years annually. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lab Robotics and Automation 12:296–304, 2000