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.
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.
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.