A NA V T I CAL CHEMISTRY EDITORIAL October 1965,Vol. 37, No. 11
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY W d h g t o n , D . C. 20036 1165 Sixteenth St., N.W.
Microanalysis and Automation
Phone: 202-737-3337 Teletype WA 23 Editor, LAWRENCE T. HALLETT Assistant Editors: John K. Cnun, Patricia A. Morgan, Josephine Pechan, Virginia E. Stewart Editorial Assistant: Mary Ann Wingwd Contributing Editor: R. H. Miiller Production Staff Art Director: Joseph Jacobs Asmiate Editor: Charlotte C. Sape Assistant Editor: Elizabeth R. Rufe Aduimrv Board: R. N . Adam. 0. U. And-. F. C.-Amon, G. H. Ayrea, H. W. Habgood, P. B. Hamilton, G. A. Harlow, D. M. Hercules. F. W. McLaffertv. M. W. MaUett. G. H. Morrison, w. H. keinmuth, J. K. Taylor, R. E. Thiers, J. C. White AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATIONS Director of Publications, Richard L. Kenyon Assistant Director of Publications and Director of Ressarch Journals, Richard H. Beknap Director of Business Operations, Joseph H. Kuney Executive Assistant to the Director of Publications, Rodney N. Hader Asaistant to the Director of PublicatbM, William Q. Hull REGIONAL EDITORIAL BUREAUS NEW YORK, N. Y. 733 Third Ave.
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22-27 marked the second International Symposium on Miheld a t Penn State University. A highlight of the meeting, attended by about 500 people, was the closedcircuit television demonstration by instrument manufacturers of their automated carbon-hydrogen apparatus. Some units also made provisions for the determination of nitrogen on the same sample. I n the evening, August 25, an open discussion of these new developments was held and, as might be expected, many microanalysts were somewhat skeptical of the advisability a t this time of purchasing instruments costing several thousand dollars, which in their opinion had not been fully tested. Microanalysis has been one area where sophisticated instrumentation has lagged. However, certain laboratories over the years have shortened the Pregl methods from 11/2 hours to 15 minutes. Pregl techniques have also been modified to meet the problems of, burning difficult compounds. The main contribution of the instruments, which are based on published work over the past five years, is in the elimination of the weighing of absorption tubes and a faster burning cycle which permits analyses to be performed in 15 minutes or less. Standard combustion fillings and long established burning procedures are used. The instrumented procedures are mainly more convenient. Accuracy and precision are also no better than with the old methods. The new instruments favor samples of less than 3 milligrams and this, of course, makes the accurate weighing of samples a limiting factor, especially when hygroscopic and static and nonhomogeneous samples are encountered. The apparatus must also be standardized and checked to ensure that the syistem is not giving erroneous results. The results must be calculated manually. With instruments using gas chromatography to measure the products of combustion, peak height measurements must be made by a ruler. These instruments are here to stay. As we see it, the new instruments in elementary analysis must be perfected so that they can accommodate a greater range of sample size, provide methods for detection when the instrument is off calibration, and contain a readout system which will calculate results. Then, the average technician can do the job. Relief from the constant pressure of weighing samples and calculating results will produce a better acceptance. However, the instrument manufacturer cannot be expected to do all the work to make the current instruments better. As in other fields, the development of useful instruments must be a joint effort between manufacturers and users. This kind of effort plus the competition will result in the production of efficient, inexpensive instruments suitable for elementary analysis. UGUST
A crochemical Techniques
eVOL 37, NO. l l , OCTOBER 1965
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