easyFILL Automatic Reagent Dosing Station

The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences supports cutting-edge research in environmental science and biotechnology areas. However, the lab relied on manual dispensers to add acids into hundreds of samples, risking errors and inconsistencies. In this application note, Milestone demonstrates how the lab addressed these challenges by implementing easyFILL, an automated reagent dosing system, developed to enhance precision and efficiency in acid handling.

In recent decades, significant strides have been made in enhancing the productivity, quality, and safety of sample preparation processes, particularly by focusing on the digestion and extraction steps to improve efficiency. The advancements in microwave digestion and extraction systems have paved the way for addressing these aspects. However, certain aspects of the sample preparation workflow still possess room for improvement, such as acid supply, reagent addition, vessel handling, and cleaning. In this application note from Milestone, explore the critical tasks of adding concentrated acid into digestion vessels, and solvent systems into extraction vessels, processes that have traditionally relied on manual methods like pipettors, graduated cylinders and more.

Recently, the FDA proposed a 'close to zero' plan to eradicate trace metal contaminants from baby food. However, reducing detection limits of trace metals presents some challenges and laboratories need to have specific protocols and the right set-up to control possible contamination and ensure a robust approach. In this study, Milestone demonstrates how the easyFILL, an automated dosing station specifically designed to be integrated into the sample preparation process, helps to control blanks in elemental analysis in term of reduced risk of contamination and consistency.

In this video, Milestone advocates for a 'total workflow' approach to sample preparation in atomic spectroscopy for elemental analysis. The video emphasizes the significance of other often overlooked steps in the sample preparation process. It proposes methods to enhance various aspects of elemental analysis, including lab throughput, data quality, cost-effectiveness, and safety. Drawing on decades of experience, Milestone introduces tools designed to address routine tasks in sample preparation, covering parameters such as reagents handling, cleaning methods, supply of ultrapure acids, and digestion vessel management.

In this video, Milestone showcases how the task of manually adding reagents can occupy valuable time for the operator, restricting lab productivity and the scientist's ability to complete other tasks. However, with its innovative solution, easyFILL, Milestone automates these steps, significantly reducing the operator's time to just a few seconds.

In this video, Milestone introduces easyFILL, a groundbreaking solution that liberates operators from tedious tasks. By automating reagent addition and dilution, easyFILL saves time and minimizes the operator's exposure to concentrated acids. Additionally, the system ensures consistent and precise execution of the process, resulting in enhanced efficiency and accuracy in the lab.