Vulcan

Vulcan Automated Digestion and Work-Up System:

• Improves lab safety
• Lowers sample analysis costs
• A contamination-free environment for trace level sample preparation
• Eliminates repetitive and tedious movements
• Increases sample throughput
• Unattended operations
• Process up to 84 samples in 50 ml vials

The Vulcan Automates:

• Precise addition of corrosive acids, reagents and internal standards
• Multi-step heating of QBlocks
• Final dilution at the end of digestion
• Stirring and mixing of samples
• Cooling samples between reagent additions
• Transferring and diluting samples to autosampler racks
• Two digestion methods at the same time

Heating (QBlocks)

• Capable of heating up to 230º C
• QBlocks available to accommodate 15, 25, 50 and 100 ml digestion vials
• Vials available in Teflon, Glass and Polypropylene material
• Customise QBlocks are available to accept specific size and shape of digestion vessel
• PTFE coated graphite block and housing to prevent contamination
• Choice of All-plastic housing for extreme corrosion resistance
• Unparalleled Temperature homogeneity of +/- 1º C across the block

Post Digestion Sample Work-up

Makeup Volume (Final Dilution):: Sample levels are monitored for individual vials using a non-contact level sensor. The sensor reads the initial sample volume and dilutes the samples to the user’s specified volume.

Dilutions and Sample Transfer:: The PTFE-coated carbon fibre probe and sample loop pick up, stores, dilutes and transfers samples to autosampler racks. The sample probe and loop are thoroughly cleaned externally and internally between each sample. It is possible to generate multiple dilutions for one sample.

Cooling: Pneumatically driven tray lift moves samples in and out of the digestion block. This provides precise, automated heating and cooling of the samples.

Stirring: Samples are homogenized by a stream of bubbles which force the sample to mix with the lighter diluent. The probe also moves laterally to help speed up this process. Duration of mixing for each sample is user-defined.

Wash Station: The sample probes are washed in a dual chamber wash station to eliminate sample-to-sample cross-contamination. The diluent flows within the well to clean the sample from the sample loop.

Dispensing Reagents

• Independent reagent lines reduce priming operations, increase dispensing speed and minimize contamination.
• Capable of handling corrosive acids like HF, H2SO4 and HClO4
• Deliver reagents and acids as required by each sample in a single run, thus can handle multiple types of samples at one time
• Can be configured to dispense reagents in multiple vials to increase the speed

Syringe Pump

• 6 individually operated syringes
• PTFE-syringe to handle HF acid
• All PTFE-values and fittings provide an inert environment
• Programmed to dispense precise amounts from 6 syringes at the same time
• Easy mounting and replacement of syringes

Peristaltic Pump

• 8 individually operated pumps
• Accurate delivery over a wide range of flow rates
• Specialized design to provide low drift in the flow rate
• Good repeatability in low volume dispensing