Chromatography Forum

Hi everyone,
Would like to hear your experience with autosamplers for low level solid volatile analysis (EPA 5035/8260). We are using an EST Centurion WS, and it is a big improvement over the Archons, but still have trouble with robotic arms moving the sample vials to the heating/purge station. The Archon needed constant maintenance, our problem with the Centurion is either the infrared vial sensor (doesn't like different cap colors) or looses its place when picking up samples. Has anyone found a reliable sampler for solid analysis?

I would assume Tekmar has a newer approach by now, but thier Solatek's work pretty well (at least better than the Archon).

I am dissapointed to hear the EST unit has issues, as those folks have some great techs.

It seems that moving the vial to the sampler position is fraught with trouble. I am no longer well informed on what is available, but a sampler that moves to the vial would seem to be a better approach.

Hi twranger,

Our P&T autosamplers have actually gotten completely away from XYZ robitics. Our current soils system, the Atomx, integrates the purge and trap concentrator and the autosampler in one platform. The vials move on a 360 degree rotational carousel where they are moved to the needle where either a water sample is removed or a soil sample is purged in the vial. This eliminates the need to move the vial using a gripper to shuttle samples to and from a sampling station and the issues that can cause.

If you would like any additional information please let me know. You can find much more information at http://www.teledynetekmar.com or feel free to email me at nvalentine@teledyne.com.

Best Regards,

Thanks Nathan, that's what it looked like on the website, but the sales rep hadn't got back to me on the design.

I have installed and maintain several of the Teledyne Tekmar AtomX P&T A/S. Used to run the old Precepts, Archons and then Solateks. Can say these work much better with rarely any problems. If you have to run soils, they are the best thing available.