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Sophisticated transportable trace element analysers
Volume28/Number 1/January 1994 predecessors, stand as a starting point for an in depth approach to the literature valuable for professional and advanced students alike. The review of most direct relevance to readers of Marine Pollution Bulletin is that of Coull and Chandler: "Pollution and Meiofauna: Field, Laboratory and Mesocosm Studies". This substantial review is in two parts, the first concerned with a critical analysis of the levels at which pollution impacts the meiofauna. Experimental procedures with both field and mesocosm changes are reviewed and this is the first review to evaluate these different approaches. The second part adopts a handbook approach presenting the literature in a series of tables designed to facilitate tracing the effects of specific pollutants on meiofaunal organisms and assemblages. The remaining articles present a good balance between 'in depth' specialist reviews and others which will reach a wider non-specialist audience. Gerhard Graf's review of "Benthic-Pelagic Coupling" is an innovative and original article that should stimulate further quantitative work. Joseph Pawlik's review of the
"Chemical Ecology of the Settlement of "Benthic Marine Invertebrates" and Childress and Fischer's account of the "Physiology, Biochemistry and Autotrophic Symbioses of Hydrothermal Vent Organisms" will, for instance, find a wide audience. Articles on the Rhodophyta and on the Physiological and Environmental Control of Reproduction of Polychaeta present an update and development of the subject previously reviewed in this series. There are new reviews of bycatch problems for the shrimp fishery and an in depth review of aspects of Cirripede reproduction biology. Oceanography and Marine Biology: A n Annual Review continues to meet the aspirations established at its inception. It provides for in depth review of both oceanographic and marine biological topics and this volume no less than any of the previous issues should be an integral part of any library hoping to serve the interests of oceanographers and marine biologists. PETER OLIVE Dept. Marine Sciences & Coastal Management, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Waterproof Scale from A&D Instruments
Sophisticated Transportable Trace Element Analysers
A&D Instruments has introduced an FS series scale that offers rapid, accurate weighing in wet industrial environments. Versatile FS series waterproof scales are built of stainless steel for durability and toughness. All electronic and weighing load cell parts are totally sealed against the entry of dust and moisture. The instrument can be hosed down with water during cleaning whenever required. The FS scale has an exclusive, 30segment analogue sweep LCD display, designed for quick operator judgement. This is accompanied with clear (-), (OK) and (+) comparator indicators, plus 16 mm high digits that give the sample's exact weight. The instrument's display head and digital keypad are tiltable for the most convenient viewing angle, while the brightness of the display makes it easy to read under most conditions. Where ambient light is generally very dim, however, there is a backlit option. An additional feature of FS waterproof scales is fast and simple checkweighing. As each sample is placed on the scale, the analogue sweep LCD lights up to indicate when the set target weight is approaching. This might be derived from keyed-in high and low set points, or recalled from the FS's, memory, which can store up to eight sets of values. FS scales are typically mains-powered via an AC adaptor. Alternatively, six 'C'-size batteries will give more than 200 hours of operation.
The new TEA 3000 from Sartec is a transportable and versatile trace element analyser offering detection down to 0.1 ppb for a range of metals and some inorganics. It uses the well known and proven anodic or cathodic stripping method in which the elements to be detected, held in solution, are deposited onto an electrode by
The n e w TEA 300 fromSartec. 57
Marine Pollution Bulletin
applying a known potential for a fixed time. During the stripping stage, the same electrode has an increasing opposite potential applied to it which re-oxidises (strips off) the deposited elements back into solution. The small current which is generated as each element is reoxidised is measured and correlated with the concentration of that element in a standard solution. The method is extremely sensitive and can be used to detect very low trace levels. The TEA 3000 offers a number of different stripping wave forms, (staircase, differential pulse and square wave), for greater sensitivity and its sophisticated control system provides enhanced flexibility and ease of use for operators. There is an optional kit of standard solutions, plus electrolyte and mercury plating solutions as well as pipettes for dispensing accurately measured volumes. It has 1, 2, or 3 point calibration with or without blank subtraction. The instrument operates from internal batteries or mains. It offers 100 operator-programmable menus through its front-panel 36 key membrane keypad. Configuration is carried out by using the keypad in conjunction with the easily read 80 character by 25 line backlit liquid crystal display. Communications facilities include an RS 232C serial port, and a parallel printer port. A built-in dot matrix printer records sample time, sample number, concentration and set-up parameters. The TEA 3000 will detect aluminium, antimony, arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, gold, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, palladium, selenium, telurium, thallium, tin and zinc. Measurable inorganics include chlorides and phosphates, and others are under development. More information is available from Sartec Limited, Bourne Industrial Estate, Wrotham Road, Borough Green, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 8DG, UK.
ATI Unicom HPLC System For analysts regularly faced with the task of solvent optimization in method development. ATI Unicam has introduced the Crystal Expert System. The HPLC system includes a 200 series quaternary pump; either the 240 or 250 diode array detector; the 230 autosampler and a PC running Microsoft Windows 3.1 software for system control and data acquisition. Three software packages deal with the process of method development. 'Diamond' solvent optimization software is used to manipulate three-dimensional diode array data from a series of define experiments and to predict the mobile phase composition which gives optimum separation of sample components. The software incorporates sophisticated peak tracking algorithms using peak deconvolution to elucidate complex elution patterns. 3D graphics are used to plot the retention characteristics of individual peaks and to present mobile phases offering optimum separation quality. 58
'Enhancer' software defines the next stage of method development by selecting the best combination of hardware from detector and column data bases to give the desired S/N ratio and resolution for any separation. 'Shaiker' deals with the ruggedness element of method development. Plackett and Burmann designs are used to assess the effect of quantitation of changes in operating conditions likely to be encountered in the lifetime of the method.
HPLC Detector from Shimadzu Shimadzu has launched the SPD-M10A diode array detector, a multi-wavelength UV/Vis detector that uses a 512-element photodiode array to provide real-time spectra covering the wavelength range from 195 nm to 600 nm. Combined with the LC-10A HPLC system, the SPD-M10A has a high-speed data sampling rate to provide exceptionally low noise levels at + 2.5 X 10 -5 AU. The detector has a resolution of 1 nm and is highly stable with virtually no effect from ambient temperature fluctuations. Multi-chromatograms, contour chromatograms, 3D chromatograms and ratio chromatograms can be displayed in real-time and switched even during analysis. A stand-alone version is available which can be fitted to most HPLC systems.
New Process Trace Metals Analyser The OVA 3000 process trace metals analyser has just been introduced in the UK by Sartec, specialists in environmental monitoring instrumentation. The new instrument replaces the OVA-2000 On Line Analyser and complements the existing PDV 2000 and new TEA 3000 field-transportable trace metals analysers. All models work on the principle of anodic stripping in which the metals to be detected, held in solution, are deposited onto an electrode by applying a known negative potential for a fixed time. During the stripping stage, the same electrode has an increasing positive potential applied to it which re-oxidises (strips off) the deposited metals back into solution. The small current which is generated as each metal is re-oxidized is measured and correlated with the concentration of the metal in a standard solution. The method is extremely sensitive and can be used to detect very low trace levels. The OVA 3000 offers a number of different stripping wave forms for greater sensitivity and its more sophisticated control system provides enhanced flexibility and ease of use for operators.
"Chemical Ecology of the Settlement of "Benthic Marine Invertebrates" and Childress and Fischer's account of the "Physiology, Biochemistry and Autotrophic Symbioses of Hydrothermal Vent Organisms" will, for instance, find a wide audience. Articles on the Rhodophyta and on the Physiological and Environmental Control of Reproduction of Polychaeta present an update and development of the subject previously reviewed in this series. There are new reviews of bycatch problems for the shrimp fishery and an in depth review of aspects of Cirripede reproduction biology. Oceanography and Marine Biology: A n Annual Review continues to meet the aspirations established at its inception. It provides for in depth review of both oceanographic and marine biological topics and this volume no less than any of the previous issues should be an integral part of any library hoping to serve the interests of oceanographers and marine biologists. PETER OLIVE Dept. Marine Sciences & Coastal Management, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Waterproof Scale from A&D Instruments
Sophisticated Transportable Trace Element Analysers
A&D Instruments has introduced an FS series scale that offers rapid, accurate weighing in wet industrial environments. Versatile FS series waterproof scales are built of stainless steel for durability and toughness. All electronic and weighing load cell parts are totally sealed against the entry of dust and moisture. The instrument can be hosed down with water during cleaning whenever required. The FS scale has an exclusive, 30segment analogue sweep LCD display, designed for quick operator judgement. This is accompanied with clear (-), (OK) and (+) comparator indicators, plus 16 mm high digits that give the sample's exact weight. The instrument's display head and digital keypad are tiltable for the most convenient viewing angle, while the brightness of the display makes it easy to read under most conditions. Where ambient light is generally very dim, however, there is a backlit option. An additional feature of FS waterproof scales is fast and simple checkweighing. As each sample is placed on the scale, the analogue sweep LCD lights up to indicate when the set target weight is approaching. This might be derived from keyed-in high and low set points, or recalled from the FS's, memory, which can store up to eight sets of values. FS scales are typically mains-powered via an AC adaptor. Alternatively, six 'C'-size batteries will give more than 200 hours of operation.
The new TEA 3000 from Sartec is a transportable and versatile trace element analyser offering detection down to 0.1 ppb for a range of metals and some inorganics. It uses the well known and proven anodic or cathodic stripping method in which the elements to be detected, held in solution, are deposited onto an electrode by
The n e w TEA 300 fromSartec. 57
Marine Pollution Bulletin
applying a known potential for a fixed time. During the stripping stage, the same electrode has an increasing opposite potential applied to it which re-oxidises (strips off) the deposited elements back into solution. The small current which is generated as each element is reoxidised is measured and correlated with the concentration of that element in a standard solution. The method is extremely sensitive and can be used to detect very low trace levels. The TEA 3000 offers a number of different stripping wave forms, (staircase, differential pulse and square wave), for greater sensitivity and its sophisticated control system provides enhanced flexibility and ease of use for operators. There is an optional kit of standard solutions, plus electrolyte and mercury plating solutions as well as pipettes for dispensing accurately measured volumes. It has 1, 2, or 3 point calibration with or without blank subtraction. The instrument operates from internal batteries or mains. It offers 100 operator-programmable menus through its front-panel 36 key membrane keypad. Configuration is carried out by using the keypad in conjunction with the easily read 80 character by 25 line backlit liquid crystal display. Communications facilities include an RS 232C serial port, and a parallel printer port. A built-in dot matrix printer records sample time, sample number, concentration and set-up parameters. The TEA 3000 will detect aluminium, antimony, arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, gold, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, palladium, selenium, telurium, thallium, tin and zinc. Measurable inorganics include chlorides and phosphates, and others are under development. More information is available from Sartec Limited, Bourne Industrial Estate, Wrotham Road, Borough Green, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 8DG, UK.
ATI Unicom HPLC System For analysts regularly faced with the task of solvent optimization in method development. ATI Unicam has introduced the Crystal Expert System. The HPLC system includes a 200 series quaternary pump; either the 240 or 250 diode array detector; the 230 autosampler and a PC running Microsoft Windows 3.1 software for system control and data acquisition. Three software packages deal with the process of method development. 'Diamond' solvent optimization software is used to manipulate three-dimensional diode array data from a series of define experiments and to predict the mobile phase composition which gives optimum separation of sample components. The software incorporates sophisticated peak tracking algorithms using peak deconvolution to elucidate complex elution patterns. 3D graphics are used to plot the retention characteristics of individual peaks and to present mobile phases offering optimum separation quality. 58
'Enhancer' software defines the next stage of method development by selecting the best combination of hardware from detector and column data bases to give the desired S/N ratio and resolution for any separation. 'Shaiker' deals with the ruggedness element of method development. Plackett and Burmann designs are used to assess the effect of quantitation of changes in operating conditions likely to be encountered in the lifetime of the method.
HPLC Detector from Shimadzu Shimadzu has launched the SPD-M10A diode array detector, a multi-wavelength UV/Vis detector that uses a 512-element photodiode array to provide real-time spectra covering the wavelength range from 195 nm to 600 nm. Combined with the LC-10A HPLC system, the SPD-M10A has a high-speed data sampling rate to provide exceptionally low noise levels at + 2.5 X 10 -5 AU. The detector has a resolution of 1 nm and is highly stable with virtually no effect from ambient temperature fluctuations. Multi-chromatograms, contour chromatograms, 3D chromatograms and ratio chromatograms can be displayed in real-time and switched even during analysis. A stand-alone version is available which can be fitted to most HPLC systems.
New Process Trace Metals Analyser The OVA 3000 process trace metals analyser has just been introduced in the UK by Sartec, specialists in environmental monitoring instrumentation. The new instrument replaces the OVA-2000 On Line Analyser and complements the existing PDV 2000 and new TEA 3000 field-transportable trace metals analysers. All models work on the principle of anodic stripping in which the metals to be detected, held in solution, are deposited onto an electrode by applying a known negative potential for a fixed time. During the stripping stage, the same electrode has an increasing positive potential applied to it which re-oxidises (strips off) the deposited metals back into solution. The small current which is generated as each metal is re-oxidized is measured and correlated with the concentration of the metal in a standard solution. The method is extremely sensitive and can be used to detect very low trace levels. The OVA 3000 offers a number of different stripping wave forms for greater sensitivity and its more sophisticated control system provides enhanced flexibility and ease of use for operators.