Laboratory equipment

For selected turnkey projects we supply and install the complete equipment needed for a laboratory or for an all-embracing quality management, repectively.

Depending on the project we act as a system supplier or as an advisory consultant.

We do not see ourselves as a laboratory dealer and usually supply equipment only within the scope of a project.

Technochemical analysis

Devices, which are used for material and purity testing and for extraction and preparation of chemical products. Serving the qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Samples: Spectral photometer, devices for the interpretation of nitrogen (e.g. Kjeldahl), density measuring devices, devices for the measurement of conductivity.

Biology and biotechnology

Devices and systems, which are serving the enrichment/cultivation, analysis and interpretation of material of biological origin or the production of (active) substances or biotransformation, respectively.

Samples: Devices for the PCR-measuring method, incubators, digester.

Chromatography (Greek: “colour drawing”)

Physicochemical method for the separation of mixtures of substances. In the process, the sample (gas or liquid) is brought into a separating system that consists of a separating segment and two non-mixable phases. Depending on differently strong interactions with the flow substance (mobile phase) and the non-motile (stationary) phase, the single components are transported through the separating segment with different velocities. At the end of the separating process, the components are detected (e.g. peak, dyeing) and, if applicable, isolated for additional analysis purposes.

Classification of the chromatography types:

• By separation principle: adsorption, distribution (solubility), ion exchange, size (molecule strainer), affinity, enantiomers.
  Remark: In general, most chromatography types utilize multiple seperation methods.
• By aggregate state of the mobile phase: liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, supercritical fluid-chromatography.
• By geometric design of the separating segment: columns, flat base (planar) and layer chromatography.

Widely used column chromatography systems:

Gas Chromatography (GC)

A gaseous or without decomposition vaporizable sample is put on a heated column and then conducted through a liquid or solid stationary phase by an inert carrier gas as a mobile phase. Separation by boiling point, distribution and adsorption forces.

Application: Medicine, biology, food chemistry, environmental analysis, forensic

Examples: Emission control of industrial production facilities; Combined with mass spectrometer for metabolite analysis.

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

The dissolved analytes are pumped together with the flow substance under high pressure (up to 500 bar) through a column containing a solid stationary phase. Particle sizes less than 10 µm (stat. phase) increase the performance of the seperation significantly. About 80 % of all HPLCs utilize a reversed phase (RP) which is less polar than the eluent. This method for example is used to detect doping substances like erythropoietin in blood.

Spectroscopy

The term spectroscopy refers to a class of methods for analyzing the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and matter. The single methods are differentiated by wavelength (e.g. microwave, infrared, VIS, UV or X-ray radiation) and analyzed matter (ions, atoms, molecules).

Essentially, spectroscopy is utilized for identifying and determining the chemical structure of ions, atoms and molecules.

Besides the so-called elastic (e.g. X-ray deffraction “XRD”) and inelastic scattering (Raman spectroscopy) additional types of interactions are the absorption and emission of photons/light quanta. The latter at times are called “spectroscopy in the strict sense”.

Samples of spectroscopy types:

• Atomic spectroscopy
  • Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS)
  • Electron spectroscopy
  • Gamma spectroscopy
  • X-ray spectroscopy
• Molecule spectroscopy
  • Fluorescence spectroscopy
  • Vibration spectroscopy → infrared spectroscope i.a.
  • Microwave spectroscopy
• Laser spectroscopy
• Ionic spectroscopy

Especially the near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS; wavelength range: 760–2500 nm) combined with the Fourier transform (FT) recenty has been gaining in popularity. An interferometer that is integrated into the spectrometer provides a so-called interferogram. From the latter the actual spectrum is derived mathematically by using the Fourier transform. Mainly, the benefit of this method lies in the noticeably reduced measuring times.

Inline & online systems

With inline and online measuring systems, measurements are carried out directly in the process environment. The primary characteristics of such systems are the continuous sampling and transmission of the readings from the measuring site to displaying/analyzing systems (e.g. PC).

If necessary, the system is directly connected to the process constrol system.

Advantages over offline systems:

• High information content
• Early warning system
• Increased flexibility in the construction due to variable distances between the measuring and processing systems

Disadvantages compared to offline systems:

• Only few analysis methods applicable: Essentially, photometric and electrochemical methods
• Possibly, lower measuring accuracy

Difference between inline and online measurement:

Online: The sample is extracted directly from the process, transferred to a measuring cell and discarded afterwards.

Inline (In situ): The probe is installed directly in the reactor or placed in a bypass. Therefore, no sample has to removed from the process. That makes this method suitable especially for toxic, explosive, air- or temperature-sensitive substances.

Samples: Online analyzer for turbidity measurement, inline carbon dioxide measuring device.

Packaging analytics

Devices for controlling the quality of packaging (glass, plastic or metal) and the contents.

The tested properties include intactness, sufficient stability of the packaging material, interactions between packaging and content, accordance of expiry date and filling quantity to the product information.

Samples: Oxygen measurement in filled bottles and cans, filling quantity control, can fold control, measurements of wall thickness and resistance to internal pressure.

Basic lab equipment

Electrical devices, vessels, tools and other auxiliaries that are used commonly in laboratories.

Samples: Compartment drier, waterbath, Bunsen burner, stand with bosshead and clamps, magnetic stirrer, crucible tongs, rubber bulbs, glassware, porcelain mortars.

Consumables

Raw materials and supplies that are used up in analytical processes.

Samples: Filter papers, chemicals, Eppendorf tubes, Petri dishes, cannulas

Biological culture media

Substrates which are used for proving or cultivating microorganisms (bacteria), cells and tissue. Basically, there are liquid culture media, also referred to as nutrient solutions and solid culture media. Additionally to the actual nutrients (organic or inorganic carbon, nitrogen, sulfur and phosphate sources), inorganic salts and if applicable gelling agents, the following substances are often contained in variable amounts as well: Buffer substances, dyes or their parent substances, inhibitors for other microorganisms, indicators

The selection of a culture medium mainly depends on the requirements of the microorganisms that are to be cultivated.

Samples: Agar Agar, bouillon