NEW PRODUCTS Instruments
ROBOT CHEMIST T h e Robot Chemist, an entirely new approach to automated wet chemistry, has been introduced by Warner-Chilcott Laboratories, Instruments Division. T h e Robot Chemist automates repetitive wet chemical analyses commonly performed in clinical, bioanalytical, analytical, and quality control laboratories. It duplicates exactly the manual techniques of the laboratory analyst a n d chemist. T h e first automated system to offer complete freedom in the selection of chemistries, the Robot Chemist completes u p to 120 tests per hour. T h e average analyst can only handle about 20 tests per hour. Specifically, the Robot Chemist automatically pipets, adds reagents, mixes, incubates, a n d prints out test results in digital form along with positive sample identifications. T o minimize cross-contamination, the sample remains discrete throughout the entire processing cycle. T h e Robot's design enables the operator to change tests quickly and simply; therefore, different groups of chemistries can be processed in
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rapid succession. Only a few easy changes are required to switch tests. No disassembling or flushing out of the tubing or reagent sources is necessary. An important advantage of the Robot Chemist for clinical laboratories is its sample us. blank capability. T h i s capability assures accurate determinations by eliminating photometric errors caused by differences in serum color, turbidity, or other interfering factors. Applications of the Robot Chemist are widespread throughout process industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, foods, tobacco, wines, pulp and paper, water pollution, fertilizers, malt beverages, sugar refining, and public utilities. T h e Robot operates as follows: Using push buttons, the operator programs the instrument and sets the reagent volumes, incubation time, temperature, a n d spectrophotometer wavelength. Next the operator loads the Robot Chemist with u p to 100 samples, and the instrument's master controller orders the system to: pipet a measured volume of sample and deliver it
INDUSTRIAL AND E N G I N E E R I N G CHEMISTRY
with diluent to a process module; add a measured volume of one or more reagents to the sample; stir the reaction mixture if necessary; incubate the sample for the preselected time a n d temperature; deliver the reaction mixture to the dual-beam s p e c t r o p h o t o m e t e r ; measure the absorbance a n d convert it to digital form; print out the result with sample identification number. M'ith proper interface equipment, the digital test results can be fed to a computer for storage or analysis. Key specifications include: electronic timing accurate to within 1 second over a 15-minute incubation period; temperature stability at 37 2 0.1" C.; sample volume picku p accuracy, 1yo; a n d reagent volume delivery accuracy, *0.5%. T h e coniplete system is approximately 6 ft. long. T h e Robot Chemist may be purchased for $17,500, which includes installation a n d a one-week training course in instrument operation, applications, a n d maintenance. War201 ner-Chilcott Laboratories
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Product Information Available The numbers on the adjacent reply cards correspond to identical numbers at the bottom of the advertisements in this issue or to the numbers accompanying the items in our New Products section. To obtain free information on as many items as you wish, simply tear out one of the reply cards, circle the appropriate numbers, print your name and address, and mail the card. When we receive your card it will be processed rapidly by computer and the information you reqyested will be on its way to you in a few days.
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JANUAW 1967
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Additional II Sources of Produd Information I I
I Four other American Chemical Society publications offer you a I similar product information sewI ice: the ACS Laboratory Guide, I Analytical Chemistry, Chemical & Engineering News, and EnI vironmental Science & Technology. I If the productyou need does not appear in this issue of Industrial & Engineering Chemistry, chances are you'll find it in one of theotherfour sources. For example, if you are looking for a research instrument or want to locate the manufacturers of specific types of research products, consult the annual ACS Laboratory Guide. It's the definitive directory of research instruments, equip. ment, chemicals, services, tradenames, books, supply houses, and manufacturers.
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ILEC
I
FLOW CONTROLLER
LEVEL DETECTOR
LITERATURE
T h e Model 61H has advantages of design simplicity, dependable performance, operating convenience, and simplified servicing, and is priced competitively with a pneumatic indicating controller. All components in the standard proportional-plus-reset controller are mounted o n one side of a single, vertically mounted circuit board. Instrument side covers slide off to allow accessibility to both sides of the board. All controller operating adjustments and indicators have been designed to provide maximum readability and operating convenience. Included on the instrument face plate are deviation and valve output meters, calibrated set point dial, manual knob, and automatic/manual transfer switch. Foxboro Co. 202
An electronic device which converts a sight glass to a n on-off level control or alarm will find application wherever a convenient level control is desired in industry or on laboratory glassware. A clamp-on sensor designed to fit on the outside of a standard 3/,-in. sight glass tube detects the level of the liquid inside the glass by the capacitance method. T h e control instrument is solid state and contains a “plug-in” control relay. Customs Controls co. 205
Oxygen Bomb Combustion Apparatus. Bomb combustion equipment for burning solid and liquid samples in oxygen to analyze for sulfur, halogens, and other elements is described in a 4-page bulletin. Applications to standard methods for analyzing coal, petroleum, and other combustible materials are de209 scribed. Parr Instrument Co.
OXYGEN METER
A new unit provides an indication of the partial pressure of oxygen in both liquid and gaseous media. This instrument features a long life, fully temperature-compensated oxygen polarographic electrode in conjunction with its amplifying system and meter read-out. Other features include low cost, high level output, and inherent stability such that n o “zero drift” control is required. Battery- a n d line-operated configurations are 203 available. Technology Inc. PULSED H-F IONIZATION TESTER
An impulse testing device detects flaws in wire insulation in a minimum of time and space. T h e tester was initially developed for the highspeed in-line production of PVC a n d Teflon-jacketed wire. The jacketed wire to be tested is passed through a test chamber of ionized air which has been produced by a repeating train of high-frequency bursts of high voltage emanating a high-efficiency autofrom transformer. Because the ionized air is essentially conductive, a highvoltage gradient is produced across the wire jacket, which will cause a nondestructive spark discharge t o occur if a flaw exists in the insulation. Sensitive circuits in the tester decisively detect a n d indicate the fault in the wire jacket. Slaughter co. 204
THERMISTOR PROBE
A ready-to-use bead-in-glass probe thermistor with exclusive patented metal mounting seal is available for high-pressure applications. T h e probes provide fast time response and moderate to high power sensitivity; can be made impervious to electrically conductive a n d / o r otherwise corrosive media; and have excellent stability during long periods of exposure to harsh environments. Victory Engineer206 ing Corp.
High-Voltage Electrophoresis. A procedures manual explains how high-voltage electrophoresis gives rapid separations, provides compact spots with excellent resolution, and eliminates the need to desalt specimens. A description of the HEV system is included along with operating procedures and a section on specimen preparation. Gel210 man Instrument Co. Solids and Liquids Level Control. Bulletin 500, “Sonartrol for Measuring Level,” describes sonar instrumentation for measuring, indicating, and optional control of the level of solids or liquids in such diverse areas as chemical processing, metal producing, mineral processing, power generation, mining, milling, plastics, and petroleum refining. American Electromatic Controls, Inc. 211
IMAGE CONVERTER CAMERA
A new building block image converter camera system, the X500, is used i n quantitative nanosecond photography. Applications include the study of lasers, plasmas, exploding wires, hypervelocity impact, shocks, cavitation, nucleation, and arc discharge. T h e cameras record at exposure times from 5 to 1000 nanoseconds. Pictures recorded are u p t o 31/2 in. in diameter with 760 resolved line pairs linear across the field. Beckman & Whitley, Inc. 207 ELECTROPHORESIS SCANNER
A sensitive instrument has been developed to read absorbed dye intensity of clear electrophoretic separations. Although it is effective with any of the new electrophoresis support media, it is recommended that cellulose polyacetate strips be used for consistently sharp results. T h e new scanner features two separate meter scales, 0 to 1.5 optical density unit and a low range of 0 t o 0.35 optical density unit for finer readings. As an additional feature, the instrument plotting rule expands the actual serum migration length three times. Gelman 208 Instrument Go.
Analysis Instrumentation. A 4-page brochure describes the process stream analyzers for monitoring product quality, measuring toxic gas concentrations, controlling batch and continuous processes, and analyzing production and research. It gives specific information on many different types of analyzers-combustible, thermal conductivity, gas elution, trace and per cent oxygen, nearinfrared, and UV-visible. Teledyne Analytical Instruments, Inc. 212
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Quartz Accelerometer. A 4-page bulletin provides information on Model 818 Piezotron low-impedance instrument. A basic circuit diagram shows that only one single wire-shielded cable is required to supply d.c. power and transmit the acceleration signal. Performance data are presented in graphic form and a typical systems diagram helps explain operation. Specifications and ordering information are also included. Kistler Instrument Corp. 213
M o r e information is as near as your mailbox. Just circle the number of the item in which you are interested on the Readers’ Information Card.
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