The Journal of Automatic Chemistry最新文献

The principles and design of a Hadamard transform UV absorbance detector for liquid chromatography are outlined, and some spectra of aromatic compounds passing through its flow cell are presented. This approach could be valuable in providing a low-cost multi-wavelength detection method for liquid chromatography.

A fully automated apparatus for the synthesis and formulation of short-lived (11)C (t(1/2) = 20 min)-labeled carboxylic acids for positron emission tomograpy (PET) has been developed. Injectable solutions of [1-(11)C]acetic acid, [1-(11)C]octanoic acid and [1-(11)C]palmitic acid wilh radioactivities of 6.36-8.29 GBq, 0.070-1.43 GBq and 0.42-0.89 GBq were obtained. The preparation time was under 40 min after the end of bombardment. An automatic washing function means that labeled compound of the same or different kinds can be produced several times a day without any maintenance of the system. The control system is sited away from the 'hot laboratory', so operator exposure to radiation is minimized.

This paper reports on an investigation into determining nanogram/l quantities of mercury in marine and fresh water matrices using a cold vapour generation of mercury, followed by fluorescence detection. Samples were prepared for analysis using a free bromine oxidation technique. A high efficiency gas-liquid separator was used to enhance the detection of mercury. For fresh water, typical method detection limits (MDL) were determined at less than 1 nanogram/l (ng/l). For near shore seawater, the MDL was 1.2 ng/l. Method spikes, which were performed at 20 ng/l, showed mean recoveries within US EPA Contract Laboratory Protocol (CLP) acceptance criteria. System blanks averaged 0.12 ng/l, and recoveries of NIST 1641c diluted to 29.4 ng/l averaged 93.4%. A number of local rivers and streams were sampled, and mercury was determined. All results to date indicate mercury levels below the US EPA chronic water quality criteria for mercury.

The automation and improved design and performance of Flow Injection Gas Diffusion-Ion Chromatography (FIGD-IC), a novel technique for the simultaneous analysis of trace ammonia (NH(3)) and methylamines (MAs) in aqueous media, is presented. Automated Flow Injection Gas Diffusion (FIGD) promotes the selective transmembrane diffusion of MAs and NH(3) from aqueous sample under strongly alkaline (pH > 12, NaOH), chelated (EDTA) conditions into a recycled acidic acceptor stream. The acceptor is then injected onto an ion chromatograph where NH(3) and the MAs are fully resolved as their cations and detected conductimetrically. A versatile PC interfaced control unit and data capture unit (DCU) are employed in series to direct the selonoid valve switching sequence, IC operation and collection of data. Automation, together with other modifications improved both linearily (R(2) > 0.99 MAs 0-100 nM, NH(3) 0-1000 nM) and precision (<8%) of FIGD-IC at nanomolar concentrations, compared with the manual procedure. The system was successfully applied to the determination of MAs and NH(3) in seawater and in trapped particulate and gaseous atmospheric samples during an oceanographic research cruise.

The political and economic climate that exists today is a challenging one for the pharmaceutical industry. To effectively compete in today's marketplace, companies must discover and develop truly innovative medicines. The R&D organizations within these companies are under increasing pressure to hold down costs while accomplishing this mission. In this environment of level head count and operating budgets, it is imperative that laboratory management uses resources in the most effective, efficient ways possible. Investment in laboratory automation is a proven tool for doing just that.This paper looks at the strategy and tactics behind the formation and evolution of a central automation/laboratory technology support function at the Glaxo Research Institute. Staffing of the function is explained, along with operating strategy and alignment with the scientific client base. Using the S-curve model of technological progress, both the realized and potential impact on successful R&D automation and laboratory technology development are assessed.

The program and the arrangement for a versatile, computer-controlled flow injection analysis system is described. A resident program (which can be run simultaneously and complementary to any other program) controls (on/off, speed, direction) a pump and a pneumatic valve (emptying and filling position). The system was designed to be simple and flexible for both research and routine work.

The following is the introductory presentation to the 1994 ISLAR meeting held in Boston from 16 to 19 October 1994. The Editor is again grateful to the organizer, the Zymark Corporation, for permission to publish the papers in the Managing Laboratory Automation Session read at ISLAR.

It has been over 10 years since robots have appeared in the pharmaceutical analysis laboratory. In the early days, it was common for one selected individual to be responsible for the programming, usage and maintenance of the robots(s). However, the increasing use of robotics has prompted the formation of robotics 'laboratories' and/or 'groups'. This is especially true when multiple robotic systems and applications are involved.Over the past several years at ISLAR, many champions of robotics have given presentations on the setup and usage of robotics within their organizations. These managers have described both the 'centralized' and 'decentralized' approaches to the implementation of robotics. In the centralized system, a single group is charged with all aspects of the robotic project, including justification, purchase, validation, use and maintenance. Under such an arrangement, samples are usually given to the robotics group for analysis. In contrast, a totally decentralized approach to robotics would have units interspersed throughout the organization, with each individual group responsible for their respective unit(s), in much the same way as liquid chromatographs are considered.At Hoffmann-La Roche, aspects of both the centralized and decentralized approaches to robotics are used which make our combined system the 'best of both worlds'. This paper describes the Roche philosophy towards robotics and highlights the advantages to the system used.