874 Oven Sample Processor

Importance of the Topic

The accurate determination of moisture in solid and liquid samples is critical for quality control, compliance, and product stability across industries such as pharmaceuticals, food, and petrochemicals. Thermal extraction combined with Karl Fischer titration minimizes sample preparation, prevents atmospheric moisture uptake, and enables reliable quantification of water content in challenging matrices.

Study Goals and Overview

This document describes the design, setup, and operation of the 874 Oven Sample Processor. The manual aims to provide users with detailed instructions for installation, safety, sample handling, and integration with Karl Fischer titration systems to achieve automated, high-precision moisture determinations.

Methodology and Instrumentation

• Sample handling and sealing

• Use hermetically sealed vials (PTFE-coated septa) for sample introduction to prevent moisture exchange.
• Racks hold up to 36 standard 6 mL vials or custom racks for varying diameters.

• Thermal extraction module

• Oven temperature range 50 – 250 °C with ±3 °C accuracy and software-controlled heating rates up to 15 °C/min.
• Carrier gas (air or inert gas) flow adjustable from 10 to 150 mL/min via built-in pump or external supply.
• Heated transfer tubing (approx. 40 – 50 °C) prevents condensation during moisture transport.

• Karl Fischer titration coupling

• Supports both coulometric and volumetric cells with custom stoppers for heated-tube insertion.
• Integrated magnetic stirring ensures efficient gas-liquid contact in the titration vessel.
• Drying columns filled with molecular sieve protect the sample path and titration cell from moisture and dust.

Main Results and Discussion

Key performance characteristics include reduced sample preparation time, automated conditioning, and blank determinations to stabilize baseline drift. Typical conditioning requires 3–5 blank runs. Troubleshooting guidance addresses high drift, condensate formation, and gas-flow deviations by recommending seal inspection, tubing replacement, and drying media renewal.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Minimizes manual handling and exposure to moisture, improving reproducibility.
• Automates multi-sample sequences and integrates seamlessly with tiamo™ software for method programming and data management.
• Handles reactive or difficult matrices that release moisture only upon heating, broadening the range of analyzable samples.
• Enables coupling with dosing devices, stirrers, remote control interfaces, and barcode readers for full laboratory automation.

Future Trends and Possibilities

Advancements may include integration with laboratory information management systems (LIMS), enhanced remote monitoring via IoT connectivity, real-time data analytics for process optimization, and expanded compatibility with hyphenated techniques such as GC or MS for volatile component analysis.

Conclusion

The 874 Oven Sample Processor offers a robust, automated solution for moisture determination by thermal extraction and Karl Fischer titration. Its modular design, precise temperature and flow control, and software integration support high throughput and reliable results in diverse analytical laboratories.

Reference

No specific literature references were provided in the original document.