WATER ALIQUOTING SYSTEM
Regulatory requirements mandate that governments and companies maintain strict control over their water samples, which may include industrial wastewater, surface water, and groundwater. These samples require multiple analyses to determine the presence of various elements. To assist customers in this time-intensive process, Nucomat has developed an advanced water aliquoting robot.
AUTOMATED PLATFORM FOR PREPARATION AND ALIQUOTING OF WATER SAMPLES
This automated system efficiently subsamples from a primary (mother) container into six designated vessels, each allocated for a specific analysis: total nitrogen, total phosphate, Kjeldahl method, TOC/DOC, and COD. Beyond aliquoting, the system also executes essential sample preparation steps, such as reagent addition, pH adjustment, mixing, capping, and decapping.
With a processing capacity of up to 300 mother containers per 24-hour period, the system generates an average of 900 aliquots daily, significantly optimizing workflow and accuracy.
To ensure precision and efficiency,
the system incorporates:
- An integrated Kinematica disperser for mixing samples.
- A transfer station with a sample mixer, ensuring homogeneous sample distribution before aliquoting.
- Pumps for accurate fluid transfer of the sample and 3 additional reagents into designated vessels.
- Gravimetric control by an integrated balance, ensuring precise volume measurement and data storage in a central database.
MODULARITY
The system consists of 3 robotic units: an input robot, a decap robot and an output robot.
- The input robot: Handles the mother samples. The pneumatic gripper on the XYZR gantry robot moves the samples and (de)caps the bottles. Each bottle has a barcode. The code is automatically scanned. The system will retrieve the relevant data out of the customers database to know what to do with the sample.
- The decap robot: dedicated to moving and (de)capping on the 50ml vials for total nitrogen and total phosphate. Via shuttles the decapped vials are brought to the output robot.
- The output robot: an XYZ gantry robot with 6 parallel pneumatic grippers. The robot collects and moves alle the required vessels at once. The samples are collected from storage racks and are dropped off on the balances at the transfer station. The dispense tips in the transfer stations are mounted on a motorized shuttle. While one station is occupied with filling vessels, the output robot can retrieve the filled vessels on the other station, and load new empty vessels.
SOFTWARE CONTROL
The platform is controlled by ROBIN, a real time event driven scheduling software developed by Nucomat. The user-friendly web interface allows the user to run samples, oversee the processes and get information and timely warnings on addition of fresh reagents.
A web based user interface is provided with the unit to enable the operator to view the status of the device and to configure the operation to their needs.
Sample data can be validated online through the web interface and released for reporting, typically to a LIMS system. Input and reporting functionality is available with various file formats.
RECIPIENTS AND RACKS
Incoming water samples are loaded in standardised field sample collection flasks. Automatic de-capping and re-capping is included in the input robot.
Outgoing samples can be dosed into a combination of different flasks, beakers, or tubes, and loaded in racks specific for the autosamplers. Ask for your specific output vial requirements. Completed output samples are positioned on a removable tray for safe and easy retrieval.
Analysis can also be integrated on board. In the example above, conductivity and pH measurements are included online, while chemical analysis is run offline.
YOUR BENEFITS
- Operator safety
- Reliable 24/7 operation
- Free up time for lab technicians
- Traceability and repeatability
- Gravimetric accuracy
- Scalable to your needs
Download the product brochure here: Water Aliquoting System
Or take a look a this compact unit for industrial water sample preparation