Pittcon® 2011 Exposition: New Product Introductions in Optical Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry

Of the 979 exhibitors at Pittcon® 2011, held March 13–18 in Atlanta, GA, 115 were first-time exhibitors, and more than 200 identified themselves as having something to do with spectroscopy, from full instrument systems through OEM components to suppliers of standards and accessories.

In optical spectroscopy, the trend at this Pittcon was the proliferation of handheld, field-portable instruments, and lower-cost instruments aimed at dedicated applications such as QC, regulatory compliance, quantitative nucleic acid, and protein measurement on vanishingly small sample volumes, from 0.3 μL to “0.0 μL.”

All of the products described below were new to Pittcon 2011. Products marked with an asterisk (*) were nominated for the Pittcon Editors’ Award for Best New Product; (#) indicates a first-time exhibitor at Pittcon.

Atomic spectroscopy

Bruker Daltonics (Billerica, MA): aurora M90™ ICP-MS with CRI II™ collision reaction interface and Nitrox™ 500 accessory for lower limits of detection (LODs), especially for critical elements like As and Se. The system has a proprietary all-digital detector, patented ion mirror, and unique optics. A high-sensitivity mode (>1 million counts/sec at 1 ppb) claimed to provide an order-of-magnitude better sensitivity, and operates under Compass CDS 2.0 software. The system offers flexibility and ease of use for routine operations, while the high-sensitivity mode makes it suitable for research in nanomaterials and metallomics.

Teledyne Leeman Labs (Hudson, NH): Hydra IIAF and Hydra IIAF GOLD, additions to the company’s mercury analyzer series incorporating a variety of improvements and options into the automated, compact, high-productivity, method-compliant systems based on cold vapor atomic fluorescence (CVAF), with LODs of 0.1 ppt.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (West Palm Beach, FL): iCAP 6200 ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer), a dual-view, simultaneous instrument. The iCAP 6200 has a wider wavelength range (175–874 nm), enabling detection and measurement of lower LODs for some elements such as sulfur. The optimized gas distribution system includes a unique torch design and plasma gas interface to reduce gas consumption and operating costs. The instrument has preloaded method templates for protocol-compliant analysis, unlimited access to an on-line method library, and preoptimized sample introduction specifications, permitting simple, consistent operation by users at any level. Also released was the iCE 3300GF, a compact, dedicated, low-cost graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer with deuterium background correction, integrated autosampler, and unique furnace vision system for method development.

Spectrecology (Tampa, FL) (#): a U.S. distributor of the Insight™ LIBS (laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy) system (Photon Machines Inc., Redmond, WA). The high-resolution instrument requires little to no sample preparation; provides rapid multielement quantification, including light elements; and is well-suited to analysis of steels, alloys, depth profiling, and inclusion analysis, with spot sizes from 5 μm to 2 mm. LODs are in the 1–30 ppm range with dynamic range and precision performance comparable to X-ray fluorescence (XRF) systems.

Glass Expansion (Pocasset, MA): Assist, an automated sample introduction system for ICP-OES/ICP-MS, consisting of programmable syringe drives and integrated valve system. The Assist controls delivery of both sample and internal standard or diluents, eliminating pulsations caused by peristaltic pumps. Reduced rinse time, stabilization time, and sample movement from autosampler to nebulizer cut analysis time in half, reducing carryover. The system uses less sample and internal standard and improves accuracy and precision. Automatic dilution by up to 20:1 is standard, with optional 200:1 dilution. The Assist software operates with most models of ICP-OES, ICP-MS, and autosamplers. One version is configured for the determination of wear metals in oils.

SCP Science (Champlain, NY): Mini X-Flow nebulizer, an HF-resistant crossflow nebulizer made from ULTEM™, designed for analysis of high dissolved solids samples, sludge, or slurries. The company claims that detection limits are comparable to parallel path and concentric nebulizers.

X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy

Bruker AXS, Inc. (Madison, WI): S8 DRAGON™ (*), the first truly simultaneous XRF spectrometer for high-speed process control analysis in metal production and foundries. The innovative combination of single-element channels with a Multielement Channel™ covers Z ≥ C in one run of less than 40 sec. Rapid analysis, high precision, 25% smaller footprint, integrated TouchControl™, and enhanced data safety bring essential benefits to process control in metal/alloy production facilities. Bruker also introduced the Tracer IV GEO, a flexible, handheld XRF analyzer for geology with the ability to install user-developed calibrations in addition to the factory-installed GEO-QUANT™ Mobile software. Sensitivity is increased threefold by the 30-mm2 XFLASH™ silicon drift detector (SDD).

PANalytical (Almelo, The Netherlands): Epsilon 3 (*) and Epsilon 3XL benchtop energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) systems. The Epsilon 3 is a 1-mAmp, 30-kV system for the lab (field or mobile lab possible with power supply); the Epsilon 3XL with He/air purge is a 3-mAmp, 4–50 kV system capable of measuring Z ≥ F. Performance is equivalent to low-end wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) systems and better than handheld XRFs.

Rigaku (Applied Rigaku Technologies Inc., Austin, TX): NEX QC, a low-cost, versatile, compact benchtop EDXRF designed for routine quality control applications, with 50-kV tube, Peltier-cooled semiconductor detector, Z = Na to U, icon-driven touchscreen interface, and built-in printer. Options include fundamental parameters SW, sample spinner, automatic sample changer, and He purge.

Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Inc. (Columbia, MD): the liquid nitrogen-free EDX-LE, an EDXRF designed for screening elements regulated by RoHS/ELV and other directives. The RoHS-regulated elements can be measured in 1 min, and calibration curves are prestored; the liquid N2-free detector results in lower operational cost and easier maintenance.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (Billerica, MA): Niton FXL field X-ray analyzer (*), a 30-lb, portable XRF lab with FP and Compton normalization, touchscreen operation, enclosed X-ray tube, small spot size, sample spinning, and x-y platform. The instrument is engineered for rugged, harsh mining environments, and oil and gas drilling sites while providing lab-quality data. The Niton FXL offers the lowest LODs in the product line, with encrypted, tamper-proof data. Also launched was the ARL PERFORM’X XRF spectrometer for advanced materials characterization. The system integrates bulk analysis with mapping and small spot analysis (0.5–35 mm); dual sample loading permits processing of 60 samples/hr for ≤84 elements.

Molecular spectroscopy

Active Spectrum (Foster City, CA) (#): Benchtop Micro-ESR™ (*), the world’s smallest benchtop electron spin resonance/electron paramagnetic resonance (ESR/EPR) spectrometer, targeted for use in industry and academia for applications such as crude oil and lubricants analysis, shelf-life of food products, and biodiesel oxidative stability.

Agilent Technologies Inc. (Santa Clara, CA): ML Analyzer with DialPath Technology, a very compact (8 sq. in. footprint) FTIR for transmission spectroscopy of liquid samples with three selectable pathlengths from 30 to 250 μm, and pathlengths not available to attenuated total reflectance (ATR). The system eliminates traditional liquid cells, uses <5 μL sample, and measures in <10 sec.

AstraNet Systems Ltd. (Cambridge, U.K.) (#) won the Bronze Editors’ Award for the single-channel AstraGene UV spectrophotometer for nondestructive determination of DNA, RNA, and protein using “0.0-μL” samples. The system uses a novel UV-transparent polymer disposable micropipet tip that serves as the sample cell. After measurement through the pipet tip, the sample is returned to its original vial intact. An 8-channel version, the AstraVista, is compatible with 96-well plates and robotics.

BaySpec (San Jose, CA): Xantus™ handheld Raman analyzer (distributed by Applied Rigaku Technologies) is the only handheld Raman system to offer three excitation wavelengths—532, 785, and 1064 nm. The 1064-nm version is specifically designed to measure difficult samples having fluorescence interference.