| Macro-distillation Glassware |
MICRO DIST® |
| There are many fragile pieces to disassemble, clean and reassemble between each distillation |
The MICRO DIST® tube consists of only two pieces which are disposed of after use |
| Leaks at glass joints are a major cause of low recoveries |
The tube has one plastic press-fit joint that will never leak |
| The flow rate of the purge gas stream is critical |
The in situ steam is self-purging so no external gas stream is required |
| Irregular contact with the heating mantle causes variable heating for each sample |
The high contact block heater is temperature controlled for high precision across all samples |
| About 10 samples per day can be distilled in a typical lab |
Over 100 samples per day can be distilled |
USEPA-approved QuikChem® methods for the determination of several chemical species
in environmental samples have been used for several years with the QuikChem® Automated Ion Analyzer.
Based on the techniques of flow injection analysis (FIA), these methods provide rapid, accurate
and precise determinations. However, for some analytes samples must be taken through a
complicated and time-consuming distillation process to remove the analyte from a potentially
interfering matrix prior to automated analysis. As a result, the analyst is required to use
a low-throughput, large-volume manual distillation method involving classical vaporization,
condensation, and collection with expensive and fragile macro-scale glassware. This is incompatible with the productivity features of high-throughput
automated analyzers.
