New APOC Feature for Combustion-Ion Chromatography

Combustion-Ion Chromatography (C-IC) has become an essential analytical method for various applications such as fluoride in LPG, bromide in electronics (RoHS), halogens in waste materials, halogens/sulphur in coal, and many others. As the first manufacturer in the world to develop a fully automated combustion/absorption system for CIC, Mitsubishi Chemical Analytech is dedicated to constantly improve the features of its AQF-2100H system.

The latest feature is an Automatic Program Optimization for Combustion (APOC function) in conjunction with the CM-210 module. CM-210 has been offering the capability for users to visualise combustion by monitoring the fluctuation of oxygen level in combustion gas. Whenever a sample combusts, oxygen in the carrier gas is consumed. The CM-210 monitors and records this change in oxygen level so that users can utilise the data to optimise their combustion program and to review combustion status of samples that were run unattended.

Now with the new APOC feature, an unknown sample can be first measured with a safe boat program. Then, based on the CM-210 data of this first combustion, the software will automatically generate the optimal program for this sample. Following replicates will be run using the optimised program, thus saving time and realising true replicate measurements.

The AQF-2100H system acknowledges the current IC measurement time and the combustion time required for the next sample. While the IC is analysing the current sample, the AQF-2100H will start the next combustion automatically so that as soon as the current IC analysis is finished, the absorption solution for the next sample is ready to be injected into the IC. This allows sequential measurements to be run without losing any time. Analysis time for one sample is usually the time needed for one IC analysis. By combining the AQF-2100H with an HPIC (High Pressure Ion Chromatography), the total turnaround time for a complete CIC measurement can be significantly shortened.

Combustion monitoring by oxygen sensor plus the new APOC function offers true monitoring of combustion, fully automated program optimisation, and true replicate measurements with fast turnaround time.