New FAME Workstation Enables Automated Analysis of Oils and Fats
Axel Semrau have developed an automated sample preparation workstation to allow food manufacturers and researchers to easily and efficiently determine the fatty acid composition of foodstuffs.
13 Aug 2017
Animal and plant fats play an essential role as components of our everyday diet. According to the EU food information regulation from December 2016 manufacturers are obligated to declare the fatty acid composition on the packaging. Thus, the importance of fatty acid determination is increasing.
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For the analysis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) regarding their fatty acid composition there are various methods which Axel Semrau has automated. These for example are the methods DGF C-VI 10 and C-VI 11, SLMB 269.1 and AOCS Ce 2-66. The latter includes a methylation using boron trifluoride, a highly toxic chemical - a highly unpleasant step for every operator. A manual sample preparation needs to be performed reliably and cleanly to avoid the risk of carryovers and achieve a good reproducibility.
Axel Semrau has developed an automated online sample preparation with subsequent gas chromatographic analytics. The FAME Workstation assumes manually difficult steps and provides a fast sample preparation. So, the automation does not only increase reproducibility but also the sample throughput.
The FAME Workstation assumes all steps which are necessary for the transesterification, methyation of fatty acids, extraction and injection. A integrated centrifuge accelerates the phase separation. Due to the chromatographic conditions, 27 - 40 samples may be processed within 24 hours. For the alternative sample preparation, for example the transesterification of short-chain fatty acids, the autosampler may be adjusted quickly and flexibly. Furthermore, various methods can be automated at one workbench.
Benefits:
- Manual handling limited to weighing of the sample and exchange of solvents
- Safe and user-friendly handling of chemical substances
- Clean sample transfer by robots
- Minimized risk of carryovers
- Minimized use of solvents through small volumes
- High reproducibility
- Online coupling of autosampler with the analytics
- Increased throughput by interlacing via CHRONOS
- Comparable data to manual sample preparation
The entire system is controlled by the software platform CHRONOS. A flexible evaluation at the GC can be performed by either Clarity 6.2 or MassHunter.
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Chronos
Axel Semrau GmbH & Co. KGCHRONOS software organizes parallel processes for sample preparation. This utilizes the analysis system to a much greater extent, while observing the time margins of each individual sample preparation. To this is added further strengths of the software: a user-friendly interface minimizes the number of parameters which need to be changed depending on context. A graphic representation of the sample processing is created at the touch of a button, which means that overall duration and current progress can be followed in real time. All encompassing functionality Import and export of sequences in ChemStation and Xcalibur or cvs-format Control of multiple PALs including PAL RTC Support of DualPAL systems Support for liner exchange in a ATAS Linex system Programmability of Valco valves over a serial interface Customizable sample list for easy user interface adjustments Management of multiple sample lists Management of priority samples Call up external programs for data interpretation from within the method reading of gravimetric data from a Mettler balance Support for Gilson dilutors for sample dilutions Support for SPME fiber changer Support for ITEX functions Support of 2D bar code reader Ability to send SMS messages Control of peristaltic pumps for liquid handling Support for Masshunter for GCMS Support for IKA-Shaker Support of DLW-Injection (Dynamic-Load-and-Wash-Injection) from CTC Direct integration in LIM-Systems from ICD Easy navigation through bundling of tasks New comfortable functions to create task lists Free choice of units with helpful proposals Simple cut/copy/paste functions Automatic reports permit fast control Updates are easy to implement, existing methods can be transferred in a simple and safe way.