Equipment
PE 2400 Series II CHN Analyzer
The PE 2400 Series II CHNS/O Analyzer (Perkin Elmer, USA) serves for simultaneous determination of C, H, and N in organic compounds. In the CHN operating mode the instrument employs a classical combustion principle to convert the sample elements to simple gases (N2, CO2 and H2O). The PE 2400 analyzer performs automatically combustion, reduction and homogenization of product gases, separation and detection. A microbalance MX5 (Mettler Toledo) is used for precise weighing of samples. The accuracy of CHN determination is better than 0.30% abs. The current instrument was installed in 2014.
X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer XEPOS P
The simultaneous energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence benchtop spectrometer XEPOS P (SPECTRO Analytical Instruments, Kleve, Germany) allows the identification of Na-U and multi-element non-destructive semiquantitative and quantitative analyzes for various sample types of unknown matrix (except gaseous). Excitation radiation is generated by a low-power x-ray tube with air-cooled Pd/Co anode and adapted according to the determined groups of elements. The characteristic fluorescence radiation is processed by the thermoelectrically cooled SDD detector, the sample space is flushed with helium when light elements are measured. The device is equipped with a 12-cell carousel with cell diameter of 32 mm, but it is also possible to measure large samples.
Autopol VI Polarimeter
The AUTOPOL VI (Rudolph Research Analytical, USA) is a modern microprocessor based automatic polarimeter for measurement of optical rotation (±89.99° Arc), specific rotation ±999.99° Arc) and concentration (0 - 99.9%). The Autopol VI comprises Glan Thomson calcite quartz prism polarizer. For Racemic Solutions and very low concentration samples, the Autopol VI laboratory Polarimeter provides unmatched 4th decimal optical rotation accuracy of ±0.0003°Arc over ±1°Arc. Instrument performance for readings between -1 and 1° Arc is: Resolution ±0.0001, Reproducibility ±0.0002, and Accuracy ±0.0003. However, usually the resulting values of specific rotation are given with one decimal place. TempTrol™ system alows electronic cooling & heating from 15°-35°C ±0.2°C. Six Standard wavelengths are available: 365 nm, 405 nm, 436 nm, 546 nm, 589 nm and 633 nm. The polarimeter accepts sample cells up to 200 mm. The instrument was installed in 2023.
SPECTRO Arcos SOP
SPECTRO Arcos (SPECTRO Analytical Instruments, Kleve, Germany) is an optical emission spectrometer (OES) with radial observation of inductively coupled plasma (ICP). The SPECTRO ARCOS features a Paschen-Runge spectrometer mount, employing the Optimized Rowland Circle Alignment technique with 32 linear CCD detectors. The optics is hermetically sealed and filled with argon. Thus, high optical transmission in the VUV is achieved, allowing the determination of non-metals as well as the use of prominent and interference-free lines in this region. The wavelength range between 130 and 770 nm can be simultaneously analyzed, allowing complete spectrum capture within 2s. Hence, a new measurement is not required even if additional elements or lines are to be determined later. All relevant ICP OES operating parameters are software controlled, allowing easy selection of the optimum operating conditions.
ETV 4000c
ETV 4000c (Spectral Systems, Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany) is device for electrothermal vaporization of samples. Main part of the device is graphite furnace cooled by water and connected to ICP-OES by PTFE tube. The furnace can be heated up to 3000°C, the temperature is continuously checked by a built-in pyrometer. The furnace works in argon atmosphere, stream of argon carries vapors and dry aerosol from the furnace through a PTFE tube to the ICP-OES. A small amount of CClO2FO2 (freon R12) is added into the argon stream to transform elements into their more volatile compounds. ETV 4000c is equipped with autosampler with 50 positions for graphite boats, which provides comfort when analyzing big series of samples. The gas flows are adjusted by electronically controlled valves. ETV 4000c is connected to ICP OES via computer, allowing simple synchronization of furnace operation and data collection.
SPECTRO Arcos MV
Spectro ARCOS MultiView (SPECTRO Analytical Instruments, Kleve, Germany) is an optical emission spectrometer with the possibility of true radial or true axial observation of inductively coupled plasma, allowing both heavy matrix analysis and trace analysis with detection limits in the range 10-1 – 10-5 mg/kg according to the sensitivity of the individual elements. The optic device in the Paschen-Runge mount allows simultaneous scanning of the spectrum in the wavelength range from 130 to 770 nm and processing of fast transient signals. The spectrometer is equipped with a robust generator operating in the range of 500 - 2000 W. In case of presence of an element other than expected, this element can be later identified and determined without the need for new measurements.
TA Instruments DCS 250
Differential scanning calorimeter DCS 250 (TA Instruments, New Castle, Delaware, USA) is used for measuring of thermal events in the temperature range from -180 °C to 550 °C in a nitrogen atmosphere. It also allows the application of temperature modulation with a sinusoidal course with an amplitude from +/- 0.01 to 3 °C and a period from 10 to 200 seconds to obtain data with a higher accuracy.
