Laboratory Robotics and Automation最新文献

In this article, we describe an automated flow-injection system for simultaneous determination of Cl⁻ and total Fe. Chloride was potentiometrically determined, and total Fe was colorimetrically determined after reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II) and complexation with 1,10-phenanthroline. Both measurements were performed simultaneously, and the signals were continuously shown on the computer video screen. A Turbo Basic program was written to activate the peristaltic pump, valves, and to control signal acquisition and treatment. The operator only needs to inject the samples, and all the others steps are performed by the automated system. The system presented a sampling frequency of 60 h⁻¹, that is, 120 simultaneous determinations of Cl⁻ and total Fe. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lab Robotics and Automation 11: 260–265, 1999

A robotic system that automates method development and performs simultaneous multiple-method, routine sample analysis was jointly developed between Rhône-Poulenc Agriculture Limited (RPAL) and Middlesex University. The system consists of 21 discrete workstations of varying complexity. Three different types were used: those that were ready to use and did not require modification, those that required modification, and those that were purpose-built. In order to achieve such a system, many of the discrete processes in the analytical laboratory were automated in separate work cells. A programmable logic controller and serial interfaces are used to control and communicate with a distributed controlling computer system. A small industrial robot mounted on a six meter length of track functions as a pick- and place-manipulator for the workstations. The control system gives the analyst full control of all the parameters associated with each workstation. A graphical user interface (GUI) allows analysts to use the system with minimal training and to graphically represent the process in a familiar form. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lab Robotics and Automation 11: 289–298, 1999

As high throughput screening (HTS) evolves toward plate densities greater than 96 wells, the ability of fluid-handling devices to accurately transfer proportionately smaller volumes of liquid is challenged. This article examines the performance of four methods for plate-to-plate transfer of fluid volumes ranging from 10 nL to 10 μL. These volumes enable screening assays with plate densities of 384 wells or greater. The hardware are: (1) Zymark's Rapid Plate-96™ modified with an XY-stage, (2) Robbins Scientific's Hydra 384™, (3) Cartesian Engineering's PixSys™, and (4) Packard's BioChip™. The criteria that were chosen to quantitatively evaluate the liquid-handling devices are precision/coefficient of variation and the time to complete a transfer from one 384-well plate to another. In addition, a more subjective discussion is presented on the maintainability of the hardware, reagent waste minimization, general hardware “robustness,” and the capability and ease for integration into an HTS system. These criteria are evaluated from the standpoint of using the hardware in an integrated, fully automated HTS robotic system. This engineering evaluation concluded that the modified Rapid Plate-96™ and Hydra 384™ are best suited for immediate use in an automated HTS system, and the newer technologies employed by the PixSys and BioChip require improvements in reliability, speed, and ease of use. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lab Robotics and Automation 11: 250–259, 1999

One of the most attractive targets in the recent development of industrial and service robotics is the so-called humanoid robot. In this article, we present some kinematic properties of a humanoid manipulator that we obtained by utilizing different kinematic models and simulations of the human arm. We describe and evaluate the proportions of the arm, its reachability and workspace geometry, the manipulability and velocity-torque capability, and the self-motion ability of the manipulator in executing the task of positioning. We demonstrate that these properties can increase the performance and flexibility of robot manipulators. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lab Robotics and Automation 11: 272–278, 1999

A simple, rapid, and accurate spectrophotometric flow-injection method was developed for the determination of sorbic acid in wines based on the oxidation of sorbic acid with K₂Cr₂O₇/H₂SO₄ at 100°C, followed by reaction of the resulting malonaldehyde with thiobarbituric acid, also at 100°C, to give a red product, the absorbance of which is measured at 532 nm. The method requires no prior distillation of the wine and allows a sampling rate of 40 per hour. The calibration graph was linear from 0 to at least 15 μg mL⁻¹ (the linear correlation coefficient was 0.9997), and the detection limit (signal-to-noise ratio, 3) was 0.14 μg mL⁻¹. The relative standard deviation of ten replicate determinations was 1.58%. The method was applied successfully to the determination of sorbic acid in red and white wines. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lab Robotics and Automation 11: 299–303, 1999

A reversible intermittent flow-injection procedure is proposed for the automated determination of mercury in sediments and vinasses by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry, CVAAS. Solutions of sample and stannous chloride are carried by two air streams and sequentially injected into the generator/separator chamber in a segmented asynchronous merging zone configuration. The intermittent flow in the forward direction carries the mercury vapor through the flow cell, and in the backward direction, it aspirates the remaining solution from the vessel to waste. We investigated composition and concentration of reagents, flow rates, commutation times, reactor configuration, and conditions for mercury release. The accuracy was checked by mercury determination in a certified sediment and spiked vinasses and river waters. The system handles about 100 samples per hour (0.50–5.00 μg L⁻¹), consuming ca. 2.5 mL of sample and 50 mg of SnCl₂ per determination. Good recoveries (92–103%) were obtained with spiked samples. Results are precise (RSD <3% for 2.5 μg Hg L⁻¹, n = 12) and in agreement with values for certified reference material at 95% confidence level. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lab Robotics and Automation 11: 304–310, 1999

Continuous flow analysis (CFA) is suitable for rapid and reliable determination of free Fe^III in organic-free, UV-oxidized seawater when used in conjunction with an extrapolation method that predicts the steady-state potentials of an Fe^III chalcogenide glass ion-selective electrode (ISE) by using initial data associated with a step-wise change in aFe³⁺. It is shown that the CFA technique yields a Nernstian response of a 30 mV per decade change in aFe³⁺ in saline citrate buffers in the range of 10⁻²² to 10⁻¹ M Fe³⁺. Validation of the CFA technique in organic-free, UV-oxidized seawater has demonstrated that the response of the Fe^III ISE is internally consistent with the well-known inorganic speciation equilibria occurring in natural seawater. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lab Robotics and Automation 11: 284–288, 1999

It is well known that reliable and accurate control during biochemical processes is important, but sequential and continuous treatment requirements of bioreactors make this task difficult to achieve. In this paper, we report the development of a supervisory PLC-based control system that ensures complete bioreactor operation. Sequential phases founded during sterilization are accomplished by the programmable controller, while continuous regulation of main parameters (pH, temperature, and pressure) is achieved by control units using a PID (Proportional, Integral, Derivative) algorithm with feed-forward circuitry and auto-tuning feature. Finally, an operator graphic interface was developed in FIX MMI™'s intellution ® software, the man-machine interface provides supervisory and data acquisition functions. This system was successfully tested in E. coli and termophiles cultures; satisfactory control precisions of ±0.5°C, ±0.001 bar and ±0.1 pH unit were observed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lab Robotics and Automation 11: 197–206, 1999

The shortening of drug development timelines has caused SmithKline Beecham Chemical Development to rethink its strategies for product development. One approach has been to incorporate robotics and automation with statistical experimental design into new drug development paradigms. This paper will discuss the hardware and the chromatographic configuration required for the screening and optimization of a Suzuki coupling reaction. The reactions were done in a STEM block and the samples were transferred to a Zymark BenchMate workstation for further sample preparation which included dilution and filtration. The treated samples were then analyzed by a HPLC system that was directly connected to the BenchMate workstation. Finally, the chromatographic system was configured so that data can be shared between Synthetic Chemistry and the Environmental Research Laboratory via SB internal network. This automated approach has the potential for accelerating drug development and process optimization in Chemical Development. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lab Robotics and Automation 11: 186–192, 1999