Biotage Horizon 5000 - Users Guide

Importance of Topic

The preparation of aqueous samples for trace analysis is a critical step in environmental, pharmaceutical, and industrial laboratories. Traditional liquid–liquid extraction techniques can be labor-intensive, solvent-heavy, and prone to variability. Automated solid phase extraction (SPE) systems address these limitations by minimizing operator intervention, reducing solvent consumption, and improving reproducibility and throughput.

Objectives and Overview

The Biotage Horizon 5000 is designed to automate disk-based SPE workflows for semi-volatile organics and oil & grease determinations in water samples. This user guide details system features, safety considerations, installation, operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. Key goals include:

• Automate conditioning, sample loading, rinsing, and elution steps
• Support 47, 50, and 100 mm SPE disks and prefilters
• Operate up to four extractor modules (12 samples) from a single PC
• Integrate with LIMS and bar-code tracking for full audit trails

Methodology and Instrumentation

The system comprises extractor modules and Windows-based PC software. Each extractor module houses:

• An eight-port rotary solvent selector valve (seven solvents + vent)
• Chemically resistant solvent pump and three programmable vacuum pumps
• Water inlet valves (WIV) with load and overflow sensors
• Adjustable disk holder platforms and collection vessel adapters
• An optional nitrogen inlet for disk drying and a vapor exhaust fan

The SPE workflow follows four main steps:

1. Disk conditioning with sequential solvents to activate and clean the sorbent
2. Sample loading under controlled vacuum to retain analytes on the disk
3. Polar and nonpolar rinses of sample bottles to recover adsorbed analytes
4. Elution of analytes into collection vessels using small volumes of organic solvents

The intuitive software provides a graphical process overview, pre-programmed “factory” methods (e.g. EPA 525.2, EPA 608), and user-customizable methods with parameters for solvent volumes, pump speeds, soak times, and alerts.

Main Features and Discussion

Key system attributes include:

• Modularity: One to four extractor modules connect via USB hub to a PC
• Batch mode operation: Each module runs identical methods on up to three stations
• Bar-code support: Scanner integration for sample identification and LIMS export
• Self-leveling, gravity-fed sample loading with overflow protection
• Flexible solvent configuration via software with density factors and waste routing
• Continuous interactive feedback with pause/resume, manual drain, and notes features

Operational considerations cover site preparation, solvent handling, fume hood or exhaust fan use, and adherence to chemical safety (MSDS compliance, waste disposal).

Benefits and Practical Applications

Implementing the Horizon 5000 yields:

• Reduced solvent usage compared to liquid–liquid extraction
• Lower labor costs and minimized manual errors
• Consistent recovery and enhanced throughput (12 samples in parallel)
• Improved laboratory safety by lowering exposure to hazardous solvents
• Traceable run reports for regulatory compliance and LIMS archiving

Typical applications include environmental water quality testing, wastewater monitoring, food and beverage screening, and QA/QC in pharmaceutical labs.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Advancements likely to shape SPE automation include:

• Integration with cloud-based LIMS platforms and data analytics
• Enhanced sorbent disk chemistries for emerging contaminants
• Machine-learning algorithms for online method optimization and predictive maintenance
• Further miniaturization and on-board detection coupling (e.g., direct LC-MS interfaces)

These trends will drive higher sensitivity, faster turn-around, and lower operational costs.

Conclusion

The Biotage Horizon 5000 offers a robust, flexible, and user-friendly solution for high-throughput automated SPE disk extraction. By combining modular hardware with intuitive software, it addresses modern laboratory demands for efficiency, safety, and data integrity.

Reference

Biotage Horizon 5000 Automated Extraction System Users Guide (2020).