In the automated wet chemical analysis blog series, this post explicates the automated Photometric methods, Discrete Analyzers and Flow Analyzers. These techniques are based on final photometric detection, but the key difference is how the reagents are dispensed and mixed with the sample before the measurement. Both these photometric-based techniques are commonly used in food, beverage, environmental, drinking water and other industrial applications.
What are Automated Discrete Analyzers? How do Automated Discrete Analyzers work?
Automated discrete analyzers utilize colorimetric and enzymatic measurements of several analytes simultaneously from a single sample through photometric analysis. The discrete analyzer mimics the operation sequence of lab chemists, such as dispensing samples, mixing reagents, waiting for the reaction to complete, followed by photometric measurement, to provide fast and reproducible results. Discrete analyzers consist of four components --, a Photometer with a specific number of filter positions, dispensing probes, an incubator to control the reaction temperature, and a mixer. In discrete analysis, each individual reaction cell is isolated, and the temperature is stabilized, enabling highly controlled reaction conditions.
After the reagents and samples are prepared, they are loaded onto the instrument. Next, the individual cuvettes are loaded into the incubation chamber, samples and reagents are dispensed to the individual cuvettes and then mixed, and finally undergo photometric detection depending on the absorbance of specific wavelengths of light. Each measurement is done using single discrete cuvettes and this data is then interpreted through integrated software platforms.
Advanced discrete analyzers use disposable cuvettes that eliminates the carryover effect and reduces the reagent consumption substantially. The number of wet chemical parameters a discrete analyzer can perform is limited by the number of filter positions and the wavelength range.
What are Flow Analyzers?
This setup is commonly referred to as a channel or chemistry manifold. The number of wet chemical parameters a flow analyzer can handle is limited by the number of channels or chemistry manifold. Flow analyzers are ideal when a larger number of samples are to be analyzed for a smaller number of chemistries.
What are the advantages of FIA, SFA, and CFA over discrete analyzers?
Flow analyzers, being modular, can add additional sample preparation blocks for difficult sample matrices. Some of the flow analyzers can perform inline heating, distillation, dialysis, filtration and digestion. Users could change the measuring pathlength to enhance detection limits. Flow analyzers are suitable for few parameters for many samples.
What are the advantages of discrete analyzers over Flow Injection or Segmented Flow analyzers?
Major advantages of discrete analyzer overflow analyzers include the number of parameters per sample, lowest reagent and sample consumption, lower cost per analysis, very low or no carry-over, easy to use and maintain, stable calibration and walkaway solution.
Discrete analyzers typically have 5 to 12 filters, equivalent to channels in Flow analyzers and are suitable for multiparameter analysis. The Thermo Scientific™ Gallery™ discrete analyzers has 12 filter positions that allow up to 20 different wet chemical parameters per sample to be tested. The discrete, fully disposable, cuvette technology allows laboratories to measure multiple analytes simultaneously while reducing total analysis and operator time. The unique low-volume cuvette design accommodates small reagent volumes and minimizes reagent consumption compared to flow analyzers.
Integrated discrete analyzers, such as the Thermo Scientific™ Gallery™ discrete analyzers, can automate photometric (enzymatic, colorimetric, turbidimetric) and electrochemical (pH and conductivity) measurements providing fast, reproducible results in a compact, benchtop design.
What is better for automating wet chemical analysis? Automated discrete analyzer or flow analyzers?
In addition, apart from the technology type, wet chemical analyzers should be selected based on other factors, such as:
- Current and future sample analysis load
- Additional costs incurred by adding additional tests
- Number of parameters per sample
- Complexity of wet chemistry parameters testing for each sample
- Detection limits
- Reagent consumption
- Waste generation
- Cost per analysis
- User’s skill level
- Regulatory requirements
- Maintenance and bench space requirement of equipment
- Total cost of ownership
- Return on Investment (ROI)
Can an existing Photometric method, Flow analyzers methods, and titration methods be transferred to the discrete analyzer?
Depending on the discrete analyzer type and configuration, the method transfer from other wet chemical technique to the discrete analyzer is possible. Some of the limiting factors could be the total number of reagents per test, sample cleaning steps, such as filtration or dialysis, and measuring temperature range.
Many of the common Flow analyzer methods for barley and malt, such as diastatic power, α-amylase, β-glucan, and Free Amino Nitrogen (FAN), are successfully transferred to the discrete analyzer2. Flexible discrete analyzers facilitate micro and pico malting research. Other drinking water and wastewater analyses, such as silica, total phosphorus, and cyanide could be easily transferred to a discrete analyzer.
Several titration methods could also be transferred to discrete analyzers. For example, free and total sulfur dioxide based on titration method for wine, cider or beer, could easily be transferred. The analysis of 60 samples takes only 35 minutes with the Gallery discrete analyzers and allows simultaneous analysis of various sugars, organic acids, color, and total SO2. Compared to the FIA or titration method, the photometric method requires only small volumes of reagents, thus being the more economically and environmentally friendly choice.
Enzyme activity, enzyme kinetics and enzyme assays are commonly determined using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer. Precise temperature control, waiting time (incubation time), and reagent addition at specific intervals are critical for these tests. Thermo Scientific™ Gallery™ discrete analyzers, automates all the steps involved and performs accurate and reliable enzyme characterization.
Some discrete analyzers are dedicated for a few applications with propitiatory ready to use reagents and do not support third-party reagents or methods. Some discrete analyzers, like Gallery discrete analyzer, are open-system and easy to transfer flow analyzer method conditions. The Thermo Scientific™ Gallery™ discrete analyzers, allows up to four reagent additions, as well as matrix matching reagents, per measurement in a flexible sequence. The incubation temperature is variable and can be defined based on the chemistry needs up to 60 oC. In addition, users have the method development freedom to use their own reagents that are defined in their standard operating procedure. An automated method development series helps the users to optimize the right measuring parameter that provides highest sensitivity and reproducibility and takes away the guesswork from the users.
References:
Thermo Fisher Scientific
United States
