The First Fully Automated Sample Clean-up System for PCB and Dioxin Analysis.

DEXTech 16, from LCTech can perform the fully automated and unattended processing of up to 16 samples within one sequence around the clock, or even at the weekend. The specialist for automated sample preparation, LCTech GmbH specialise in automated sample preparation and have set a new and unique standard by introducing the first complete automation for the clean-up of food, feed, environmental, and biological samples in the PCB and dioxin analysis.

All 16 samples are quantitatively loaded one after the other by an autosampler and then transferred onto the 3-column setup of the system via the sample loop. The sample clean-up is based on the extensive expertise gained on the DEXTech product family using an acidic silica gel column, an aluminium oxide column, and a carbon column.

Default methods that are compliant to European regulations and USEPA method are stored in the system. However, users can also set their own parameters, should they wish. Existing, already evaluated customer methods on the systems DEXTech Plus and DEXTech Pure can be transferred to the fully automated system DEXTech 16.

The system can be prepared to start a sequence within only 30 minutes. The user just has to place the samples into the system, chose or modify a stored method and insert the ready-to-use columns into the column carousel. Having done that, DEXTech 16 processes 16 samples one after the other and separates PCBs and dioxins in one fraction each’ so that each sample can subsequently be measured in one GC-MS run..

Due to design and automated rinsing steps, cross-contamination is reliably avoided as proven by previous DEXTech systems.

Sophisticated and easy to handle software builds the core of the system and offers a comfortable operation via touch screen to the user. The software includes intelligent solvent management, permanent overview of process status and report generation.

DEXTech 16 also includes various safety features like controlled and monitored robotic operations, overpressure detection with “non-stop policy”, waste sensor, or password protected software.