Heavier workloads = less time per sample
A growing list of aqueous contaminants and increasingly stringent regulatory requirements require labs to process more samples in less time, without sacrificing accuracy.
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The nature of the samples measured in environmental laboratories is such that sample preparation is required—this always involves filtering the samples, and in many cases diluting them as well. This procedure is the only way to prevent damage to the analysis system and to achieve accurate results.
However, sample preparation is an expensive step, as it involves a significant amount work as well as costly consumables.
(Ultra)filtration
All aqueous environmental samples must be filtered prior to analysis. This prevents particles from the sample contaminating or blocking the separation column, significantly extending its lifetime. The high volume of samples at the lab involved in this study drove material cost down to only $1 USD per syringe filter. However, since each individual sample requires a new filter, with 14,300 samples a year this still amounts to $14,300 – just for filtration materials!
The integrated ultrafiltration in the ion chromatography system from Metrohm only needs one filter change per day, saving this laboratory over $12,000 per year. What’s more, the ultrafiltration process is fully automated.
Compared to manual filtration, this saves three minutes of working time per sample. With labor costs of $18 per hour, this again corresponds to savings of around $13,000 per year.
Suppression
Suppression reduces the conductivity of the eluent, resulting in a more sensitive conductivity detection of the analyte. This makes it possible to achieve particularly low limits of detection and quantification.
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The instrument previously used at this laboratory (from a different supplier) employed membrane-based suppressors. These suppressors have to be replaced every three months, costing approximately $1,200 each time. The Metrohm Suppressor Module (MSM), on the other hand, is a one-off purchase because it utilizes ion exchanger particles in a robust micro-packed bed for suppression instead of membranes. The three suppression cartridges of the MSM alternate between suppression, rinsing, and regeneration, thereby ensuring continuous suppression at all times.
The regeneration reagents are inexpensive, averaging $52 per 1,000 samples, resulting in total annual costs of $750 for 14,300 samples. This is much cheaper than the cost of replacing a membrane suppressor multiple times!
Automatic Inline Dilution eliminates this expense: the analysis system dilutes the relevant samples fully automatically and then measures them again. This makes the laboratory much more efficient: the daily sample throughput increases, and samples with a limited shelf life are always analyzed in good time.
Find out more about the many different Metrohm Inline Sample Preparation options available here:
Metrohm Inline Sample Preparation
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