He is one of only ten scientists working in Europe who secured the prestigious EMBO Installation Grant this year. After four years in the United States, immunologist Matouš Vobořil recently returned to the Faculty of Science at Charles University to build his own team and advance research focused on the development of immune cells and their training in the thymus. His efforts to combat autoimmune diseases have already caught the attention of numerous grant review panels.<h5>Reportedly, one of the motivations for your studies was the awareness that in science, there is still more that is unknown than what is known. You made this statement after receiving the Doctorandus Award for Natural Sciences in 2020, adding that during your lifetime you would like to shift something toward the “known” category. How has that been going so far?</h5>The topic for which I&nbsp;take the greatest credit to date is one I&nbsp;began exploring during my doctoral studies and fully developed as a&nbsp;postdoctoral fellow in the U.S., and that is inflammation of the thymus. When you delve into the literature and articles focused on autoimmune diseases, eventually you begin to notice that autoimmune diseases often develop after undergoing some kind of infection. This is particularly evident in connection with long COVID. During inflammatory processes in the body, the immune system responds, and we were interested in whether there is a&nbsp;mechanism that recognises this inflammatory response and teaches T-lymphocytes (immune cells) that this is not a&nbsp;problem, but rather a&nbsp;process inherent to the body.During my doctoral studies, I&nbsp;investigated the basic inflammatory response in the thymus, without the presence of actual bacterial or viral inflammation. This turned out to be extremely important. Over time, we discovered that the thymus contains many antiviral molecules and molecules that play a&nbsp;key role in allergic reactions or in the recognition of bacteria and viruses. These molecules create a&nbsp;specific environment in the thymus that mimics what may happen in our bodies later in life, and they train T-cells not to respond to these stimuli. I&nbsp;consider this to be my greatest contribution to the field. Of course, there are still many unexplored areas in this field.<h5>The interview I was referring to was published in the magazine of the grammar school where you studied, and which proudly acknowledges your scientific achievements. Was that where your interest in science first began to show?</h5>The fact that I&nbsp;studied in Dvůr Králové nad Labem was a&nbsp;huge stroke of luck. Not only is there a&nbsp;zoo, where my parents used to work, so I&nbsp;spent a&nbsp;lot of time there, but thanks to that, I&nbsp;also joined the local Natura club, which brought together people interested in nature and was led by the Dobroruk couple. When I&nbsp;was ten, my parents sent me to a&nbsp;nature-oriented summer camp with them, and I&nbsp;ended up staying with them – which is why I&nbsp;also attended the local high school, where Mrs. Dobroruková taught. She was a&nbsp;wonderful teacher. Her classes really encouraged students to think about what’s&nbsp;happening in nature. Thanks to that, I&nbsp;began participating in biology competitions and got involved in the Czech high school research competition. Although my first scientific experiments focused on ornithology, they gave me the opportunity to present scientific data and meet many people from the Faculty of Science at Charles University, including Professor Jan Černý, who lectured our class on immunology. Suddenly, while still in high school, I&nbsp;realized that this was the path I&nbsp;wanted to take.<h5>During your master’s studies, you joined the team of immunologist Dominik Filipp at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, where you then continued as a doctoral student. How did working with him influence you, and where did it lead you?</h5>Dominik Filipp had several ongoing projects related to the peripheral immune response, signalling, and identification of viruses and bacteria. The project I worked on focused on a rare population of cells found in lymph nodes or the spleen. I studied the effect of pathogen-recognising receptors on these cells. Since these cells are similar to those in the thymus and I needed a negative control, I used the thymus for that purpose. To our surprise, the result was not negative but positive. This led us to the phenomenon itself and prompted us to begin investigating its consequences in the thymus.<h5>You then travelled overseas to study this discovery – which you actually made rather by chance – in detail. What was your experience like at American research institutions?</h5>Amazing. I&nbsp;went to the University of Minnesota to work with particular people, especially my future supervisor, Kristin Hogquist. I&nbsp;had met her at several conferences while I&nbsp;was still in my PhD programme, and I&nbsp;had a&nbsp;feeling that our collaboration could work well both professionally and personally.But we were also fortunate to pick Minnesota. It’s&nbsp;a&nbsp;great place to live, and at the same time, excellent science is being conducted there. The Center for Immunology, where I&nbsp;worked, rivals the world’s&nbsp;leading scientific institutions in terms of its research results. I&nbsp;think this is mainly down to the highly supportive environment there, which fosters collaboration. Thanks to this, you can really grow as a&nbsp;scientist there.In addition, they focus on explaining and describing the chosen phenomenon as a&nbsp;whole, rather than worrying too much about whether it will result in one or five articles, or whether it will take ten years. Their method of funding supports this approach. In a&nbsp;system of short-term grants, as we know it here, you can’t structure research this way. That’s&nbsp;a&nbsp;major disadvantage for us.<h5>How did you develop your own research there?</h5>It was there that I&nbsp;fully realized the potential of what we had discovered in the lab in Prague. Kristin Hogquist and her team were working on something similar, but it wasn’t until we teamed up that we were able to take it further. I&nbsp;focused primarily on how various antiviral signals or signals triggered during allergic reactions influence T-cell training and defence against autoimmune diseases following viral infections or allergic reactions. Suddenly, it became clear that this was a&nbsp;vast topic and the foundation for establishing a&nbsp;separate subfield of research on tolerance (the training of immune cells in the thymus so that they do not harm the body while remaining capable of fighting pathogens).One great thing was that two labs were coming together at the facility: the one led by Kristin Hogquist and the other led by her husband, Stephen Jameson, which focuses on how different types of infections affect T-cell activation and their response. I&nbsp;realised that these two areas needed to be connected, and I&nbsp;based my own research plan on that – namely, to study how the inflammatory environment, actual inflammation, and viral or bacterial infections can retroactively influence processes in the thymus. This is a&nbsp;topic that no one has addressed yet.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Forum_UK_Voboril_O_imunitnim_systemu_toho_stale_mnoho_nevime_2_b020119f2e.jpg" alt="Forum UK/Petr Jan Juračka: Vobořil: There is still much to learn about the immune system: As head of research, Matouš Vobořil strives to ensure that everyone on his team feels comfortable." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Forum_UK_Voboril_O_imunitnim_systemu_toho_stale_mnoho_nevime_2_b020119f2e.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="1000" height="667"><h5>You mentioned how important it was to you that you got along with Kristin Hogquist not only professionally but also on a&nbsp;personal level. To what extent did you take this “personal” aspect into account when putting together your own team at CU SCI?</h5>This is tremendously important to me. Kristin Hogquist is not only an outstanding researcher, but also a&nbsp;very kind person. And that really helped me feel at home in the American environment, which sometimes tends to become highly competitive. I&nbsp;realized that I&nbsp;would like those who will one day work on my own team to feel the same way I&nbsp;did on hers.<h5>So far, we’ve been talking about what led you to science. Have you, on the other hand, encountered anything during your career so far that has discouraged you from pursuing science?</h5>Moving overseas with my family and my two-and-a-half-year-old son during the pandemic wasn’t the easiest thing to do. We had to apply for a&nbsp;national exemption just so that I&nbsp;and my family would be allowed into the U.S. at all. Fortunately, as an immunologist, I&nbsp;fell into a&nbsp;special category subject to less stringent pandemic restrictions. Packing up the family, moving overseas, and learning to navigate a&nbsp;completely different system is undoubtedly a&nbsp;major challenge. It required sacrifices not only from me, but above all from my wife, who had to put her own career on hold for several years because of mine. This is one of the biggest and most demanding obstacles that scientists and their families must overcome.The second major obstacle you have to deal with as a&nbsp;scientist is paperwork – something I’ve only fully realized now that I’m leading a&nbsp;research group. Even though you hear about it from those around you, it still doesn’t prepare you for when it comes. As a&nbsp;trainee, you do science and conduct experiments in the lab, but suddenly everything shifts, and you become a&nbsp;manager and administrator of all sorts of things. I&nbsp;spend about 30 percent of my time on paperwork. It’s&nbsp;not exactly fun.<h5>You obtained a&nbsp;Primus grant, a&nbsp;Junior Star grant from the Czech Science Foundation, and most recently an EMBO Installation Grant. What research challenges do you now face with these grants?</h5>I&nbsp;would also like to apply for an ERC Starting Grant this year as well. In the Junior Star project, we are studying cell migration to the thymus. We hypothesize that so-called dendritic cells migrate to the thymus from the periphery (skin, lungs, intestines) – that is, from sites exposed to the external environment and inflammation. These cells are thought to bring information about their own antigens to the thymus and teach developing T-cells tolerance. We aim to determine whether this migration actually occurs, under what circumstances, and how important it is for establishing tolerance to specific tissues. This could help answer the question of why autoimmune skin diseases, such as psoriasis, develop following inflammatory processes.The second objective is broader. We would like to answer a&nbsp;major question in immunology: why do autoimmune diseases develop after a&nbsp;person has had an infection? We want to study how different types of inflammation (viral, bacterial, or yeast infections) affect the training of immune cells in the thymus.We would like to introduce a&nbsp;system of so-called “dirty mice.” The entire field of immunological research is based on working with mice raised in sterile conditions so that we can easily manipulate them and observe how these manipulations affect the immune system. In reality, however, the immune system does not function this way. I&nbsp;brought this idea back from the University of Minnesota, where they placed standardized mice in the same cage with mice purchased from various pet stores around Minneapolis. After a&nbsp;few weeks to months, the mice contract almost everything the store-bought mice have, thereby developing a&nbsp;true physiological immune response. Yet they are still the same mice – genetically identical – that we can manipulate. This is an excellent system that allows us to study immune responses in a&nbsp;much more physiological context.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Forum_UK_Voboril_O_imunitnim_systemu_toho_stale_mnoho_nevime_3_c458457e12.jpg" alt="Forum UK/Petr Jan Juračka: Vobořil: There is still much to learn about the immune system " srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Forum_UK_Voboril_O_imunitnim_systemu_toho_stale_mnoho_nevime_3_c458457e12.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="1000" height="667"><h5>Will you be applying for a&nbsp;European Research Council (ERC) grant with that goal in mind?</h5>Exactly.<h5>In order to succeed in the competition for ERC grants, the projects should push the boundaries of knowledge, which also involves a&nbsp;certain degree of risk. Where do you see the greatest risks in your own research?</h5>There are many risks. One of the biggest is that although all the infections we plan to introduce are controlled and well-documented, you still never have full control over them. So it’s&nbsp;possible that not only will the mice become peripherally infected, but the thymus itself will also become infected, which could complicate the experiments. At the same time, this is a&nbsp;physiological system – and I’m talking mainly about the “dirty mice” – which means that each mouse will respond a&nbsp;little differently, and that will generate enormous variability in the samples. Immunologists strive to have the purest system possible, so that when they introduce, for example, a&nbsp;single infectious agent, they can then observe exactly what’s&nbsp;happening there. In this regard, we are actually taking a&nbsp;step back, so to speak, because we want it to be more variable and closer to reality. Setting up and analysing data from such experiments so that they’re reproducible and reveal a&nbsp;real phenomenon can be a&nbsp;real challenge. But that’s&nbsp;the only way we can get closer to real life.<h5>The most recent Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to three immunologists: Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi, who recently gave a&nbsp;lecture in Prague. Did you meet him? How much did awarding the Nobel Prize to immunologists motivate you further in your work?</h5>When Shimon Sakaguchi was in Prague, I&nbsp;was still in the U.S., but I&nbsp;did meet him several times at various conferences and even had the opportunity to talk with him on multiple occasions, given that we’re both involved in T-cell research. In our community, people have long been placing bets on when they’ll finally get the Nobel Prize. For me, their discoveries are truly inspiring, but the Nobel Prize itself doesn’t motivate me that much anymore. I&nbsp;find the story behind it to be more interesting. It took a&nbsp;very long time for the scientific community to accept their findings. One of the seminal articles was published in the Journal of Immunology, which isn’t a&nbsp;journal with as high a&nbsp;profile as Nature or Science, and not one where you’d expect to read about such a&nbsp;groundbreaking discovery. It took several years before it became clear just how significant this discovery was. Now I&nbsp;often remind my students of this – even an article in the Journal of Immunology can win you a&nbsp;Nobel Prize, and that is incredibly inspiring.<blockquote><h5>Matouš Vobořil, PhD</h5>Graduate of the Faculty of Science at Charles University. His research focuses on the development of immune cells in the thymus, the onset of autoimmune diseases, and the function of antigen-presenting cells. After spending four years as a&nbsp;postdoctoral fellow at the University of Minnesota on Kristin Hogquist’s&nbsp;team, he returned to Europe in 2025. Thanks to a&nbsp;Primus grant from Charles University, he established his own research group at the Faculty of Science. He subsequently received a&nbsp;Junior Star grant from the Czech Science Foundation and, this January, an EMBO Installation Grant. For his dissertation, he was awarded the Doctorandus Prize as part of the Česká hlava initiative.</blockquote>

Vobořil: There is still much to learn about the immune system 

<h3>How are PFAS regulations changing, and what role will ion chromatography play in the future of environmental testing?</h3>In this episode, &nbsp;David interviews Jay Gandhi, PhD, Vertical Markets Manager at Metrohm USA, for an in-depth discussion on PFAS analysis, the rise of AOF (Adsorbable Organic Fluorine) testing, and the development of EPA 1621 and ISO 18127 standards.With more than 30 years of experience in ion chromatography, Jay shares valuable perspective on how the field has evolved—from early applications and NASA water recovery projects to today’s challenges involving PFAS, TFA, and emerging contaminants.<h4>Topics covered in this episode include:</h4><ul><li>What PFAS are and why they matter</li><li>The difference between targeted PFAS methods and AOF analysis</li><li>How combustion ion chromatography works</li><li>Behind the scenes of EPA 1621 and ISO 18127 method development</li><li>Regulatory trends in water, textiles, and food packaging</li><li>TFA analysis using IC-MS and IC-MS/MS</li><li>The future of ion chromatography in environmental labs</li></ul><h3>Video Transcription</h3>For more than three decades, Jay Gandhi has worked with ion chromatography (IC), watching the technique expand from a specialized tool for water analysis into an analytical platform used across environmental testing, food and beverage analysis, semiconductor manufacturing, battery applications, and, increasingly, PFAS analysis.In an interview for Concentrating on Chromatography, Gandhi discusses his introduction to IC during his work on a NASA Mars exploration project, the emergence of PFAS as a major analytical challenge, and why techniques such as adsorbable organic fluorine (AOF) determination and combustion ion chromatography (CIC) can provide information that targeted LC-MS analysis alone cannot deliver. He also examines the development of standardized methods, sample preparation challenges, and the future role of IC-MS and total fluorine approaches in PFAS monitoring.<h4>From NASA to ion chromatography</h4>Gandhi's introduction to ion chromatography came through his work as a principal scientist on a NASA Mars exploration project focused on water recovery under zero-gravity conditions. IC played an important role because it enabled researchers to establish the ionic balance of anions and cations in water.The technology was used both to investigate micronutrients relevant to agricultural applications and to evaluate water purity for potential astronaut consumption. During approximately three years of this work, Gandhi gained extensive experience with ion chromatography. This ultimately led him deeper into IC instrumentation and, 24 years ago, to joining Metrohm.At the beginning of his career, IC was strongly associated with relatively straightforward anion and cation analysis in water. The technique itself had been used for water analysis since the 1970s, but Gandhi has seen its application range expand dramatically.Food and beverage testing and environmental analysis became important fields, supported by both direct and indirect detection strategies. More recently, IC has also found applications in areas such as the semiconductor industry and battery recycling.In Gandhi's words, ion chromatography has effectively "bloomed" into numerous application areas.<h4>PFAS changes the analytical challenge</h4>PFAS represent a particularly important chapter in this development. These chemicals have been used for decades in numerous consumer and industrial products, including non-stick materials, firefighting foams, water-resistant textiles and other applications.Gandhi recalls work on PFOA and PFOS using ion chromatography with conductivity detection as early as 2008. However, the achievable detection limits were insufficient for the extremely low concentrations that later became important in PFAS analysis.A major turning point for him came in 2015, when he encountered research from Sweden using combustion ion chromatography to investigate total fluorine. Subsequent collaboration with researchers at Clarkson University and Harvard University, particularly on aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), further demonstrated the importance of looking beyond individual targeted PFAS compounds.<h4>Why targeted LC-MS does not tell the whole story</h4>Targeted LC-MS is highly sensitive and selective and can provide detailed information about individual PFAS compounds. However, according to Gandhi, the number of possible PFAS structures in the environment is vastly greater than the number routinely included in targeted methods.A targeted method may monitor dozens or perhaps around one hundred compounds, while the overall PFAS universe can include thousands of chemical structures. Consequently, targeted analysis may characterize only a small fraction of the total PFAS burden.There are other practical considerations. LC-MS measurements can be affected by matrix-dependent ion suppression, while accurate quantification frequently relies on isotope-labelled internal standards. Such standards are available for only a limited number of compounds and can be expensive.This is where measurements of total or adsorbable organic fluorine can provide complementary information. Rather than asking which specific PFAS compounds are present?, these approaches can help answer a broader question: how much fluorine associated with this chemical space is present in the sample?<h4>AOF as a complementary approach</h4>Adsorbable organic fluorine analysis provides a different perspective from targeted LC-MS. In the workflow discussed by Gandhi, organic fluorine compounds are captured during sample preparation and subsequently measured using combustion ion chromatography.The principle of CIC builds upon older total organic halogen analysis. The sample is combusted at temperatures above approximately 1,000 °C, breaking carbon-halogen bonds. In PFAS-related analysis, carbon-fluorine bonds are broken and the resulting fluoride is collected in an absorption solution.Ion chromatography is then used to separate and quantify the fluoride.Replacing older detection approaches with IC provides both sensitivity and selectivity for the halogens being measured. Effective combustion is critical: oxygen supports the combustion process, while a carrier gas transports the products into the absorption solution for subsequent IC analysis.<h4>The challenge of inorganic fluoride</h4>The broad response of CIC is simultaneously one of its strengths and one of its analytical challenges. Combustion does not distinguish fluorine originating from PFAS from fluorine present in inorganic compounds such as fluoride salts.This becomes particularly important when analyzing water containing relatively high concentrations of inorganic fluoride while attempting to quantify organic fluorine at very low levels.Sample preparation therefore has a critical role. Inorganic fluoride must be effectively separated from the fraction of interest, while materials used during sample preparation must themselves have sufficiently low fluoride backgrounds.Contamination can come from unexpected sources. Gandhi points out that background fluoride may originate not only from reagents and sample preparation materials but potentially from the laboratory environment. Careful blank control, appropriate materials and rigorous evaluation of interferences are therefore essential when moving toward increasingly low detection limits.<h4>From research method to international standardization</h4>The development of standardized AOF methods illustrates the importance of collaboration between academia, industry, regulatory organizations and analytical laboratories.Gandhi describes work that began in Europe around 2015 and subsequently progressed through German standardization activities, ISO development, ASTM-related collaboration and the U.S. EPA. The process eventually contributed to methods such as EPA Method 1621.He emphasizes that this was not the work of a single scientist or organization. Developing a robust method required years of experiments, discussions and sometimes difficult technical debates among numerous stakeholders.For Gandhi, the essential principle was that experimental evidence ultimately had to determine the outcome. Collaboration becomes possible when scientists focus on the data rather than the organizations they represent.<h4>PFAS monitoring is moving beyond drinking water</h4>Regulatory attention to PFAS is also expanding beyond drinking water. Gandhi describes a broader strategy that begins with reducing the manufacture and use of PFAS-containing materials and continues with removing existing contamination from the environment.Wastewater represents an important part of this picture because PFAS can enter it from numerous sources. Historical contamination from landfills and contaminated sites can also migrate into groundwater and ultimately affect drinking-water supplies.Consumer products are another area of increasing attention. Food packaging, disposable containers, automotive fabrics, outdoor clothing and water-repellent textiles have historically used fluorinated substances to provide properties such as grease, water or stain resistance.Reducing PFAS use in such products could therefore gradually decrease the amount entering waste streams and the wider environment.<h4>Screening first, regulation later?</h4>Gandhi expects AOF to be particularly valuable as a screening tool, providing an estimate of broader fluorine contamination before laboratories proceed to more specific analyses.Its importance becomes clear when AOF results are compared with targeted PFAS measurements. Gandhi reports that laboratories working with EPA Method 1621 have observed differences between targeted PFAS results and broader AOF measurements ranging from approximately 300- to 4,000-fold in the total fluorine mass balance.Such discrepancies suggest that targeted methods can leave a substantial portion of fluorine unexplained.Rather than competing with LC-MS, AOF and CIC therefore provide complementary information. A broad screening method can reveal the magnitude of total contamination, while targeted mass spectrometry identifies and quantifies specific compounds of interest.<h4>Where IC-MS fits into the PFAS toolbox</h4>No single technique can cover the entire PFAS problem. Gandhi highlights very short-chain, highly polar fluorinated compounds as another analytical challenge.Compounds such as trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) are highly water-soluble and may not be quantitatively retained by the carbon materials used for AOF sample preparation. Direct ion chromatography can provide an alternative route for separating such compounds from common inorganic anions.Coupling IC with mass spectrometry adds another level of sensitivity and selectivity. Gandhi therefore sees IC-MS and IC-MS/MS as increasingly important tools for highly polar fluorinated compounds. Similar approaches can also be useful beyond PFAS, including the determination of polar pesticides such as glyphosate and glufosinate.<h4>Toward lower detection limits and more complete PFAS analysis</h4>For Gandhi, current standardized methods represent a beginning rather than an endpoint. Improvements in instrumentation and particularly sample preparation could push total fluorine analysis to substantially lower concentrations.He notes that current combustion IC configurations can reach approximately 0.5 ppb, or 500 parts per trillion, and believes that improvements in sample volume, preparation procedures and mitigation of inorganic fluoride backgrounds could eventually move detection below 100 ppt and potentially toward 50 ppt.Extractable organic fluorine workflows could provide another bridge between broad fluorine screening and targeted LC-MS methods. Combining improved extraction with CIC could allow samples to be screened for organic fluorine before more detailed compound-specific characterization.The broader message from Gandhi's career is that PFAS analysis is unlikely to be solved by a single analytical technique. Targeted LC-MS provides compound-specific sensitivity and selectivity; AOF and combustion IC reveal a broader fluorine picture; and IC-MS can address highly polar compounds that are difficult to capture using conventional workflows. Used together, these techniques can provide laboratories with a much more complete understanding of PFAS contamination than any one approach alone.<blockquote>This text has been automatically transcribed from a video presentation using AI technology. It may contain inaccuracies and is not guaranteed to be 100% correct.</blockquote><blockquote><h4>Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast</h4>Dive into the frontiers of chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation with host David Oliva. Each episode features candid conversations with leading researchers, industry innovators, and passionate scientists who are shaping the future of analytical chemistry. From decoding PFAS detection challenges to exploring the latest in AI-assisted liquid chromatography, this show uncovers practical workflows, sustainability breakthroughs, and the real-world impact of separation science. Whether you’re a chromatographer, lab professional, or researcher you'll discover inspiring content!You can find Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast in podcast apps:<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1wZg67rCjoGju4yhqxI3tL">Spotify</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/tz/podcast/concentrating-on-chromatography/id1788429185">Apple podcast</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podscan.fm/podcasts/concentrating-on-chromatography">podscan</a></li></ul>and on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/@ChromatographyTalk/videos">YouTube channel</a></blockquote>

The Future of Ion Chromatography | PFAS Testing, EPA 1621 & AOF Explained

In late February 2025, a train carrying benzene derailed in Hustopeče nad Bečvou, and within hours, a race was on to save the groundwater and surface water. One of the most toxic industrial substances began seeping into the gravel-sand subsoil. While fieldwork was underway to prevent the spread of contamination, decisions were already being made in the CXI TUL laboratories regarding how to subsequently clean up the contaminated rock environment.The accident ranks among the most serious environmental incidents in the Czech Republic in recent years. After a tanker train derailed, hundreds of metric tons of benzene leaked; due to the highly permeable geological subsoil, it quickly seeped into deeper soil layers and into the groundwater. The combination of the substance’s high toxicity and local conditions complicated both the emergency response and the subsequent remediation. The key was to stop further spread, determine the extent of the contamination, and establish a remediation strategy for the entire site.It was at this stage that CXI TUL became involved in the solution. At the request of the renowned remediation company DEKONTA, a.s., a team led by RNDr. Jan Němeček, Ph.D., began testing the feasibility of the in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) method. This technology is designed to break down benzene directly within the rock matrix, without the need for extensive excavation of contaminated soil or the pumping out of large volumes of groundwater. The goal was simple: to find a method that would work quickly, safely, and under the actual conditions of the affected site.<h4>Benzene Remediation: Technically Simple, Complicated in Practice</h4>Benzene is a highly toxic and carcinogenic substance that rapidly penetrates into groundwater in permeable subsoil, where it dissolves and spreads further as the water flows toward surface water bodies. Benzene also binds to rock particles and migrates in the form of vapors into overlying unconsolidated layers.Scientists in Liberec therefore tested in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) technology under laboratory conditions. The goal was to find an oxidant capable of breaking down benzene directly underground into less hazardous substances.The tests evaluated two main options: activated hydrogen peroxide and sodium peroxodisulfate. Both substances removed up to 99.99% of the benzene, but there was a difference in their kinetics and impacts on the natural environment. Activated hydrogen peroxide achieved nearly complete degradation of the contaminant within a single day. Activated sodium peroxodisulfate was slower and also significantly altered the chemistry of the water; it acidified the environment and increased the sulfate content in the water, which poses an additional environmental burden.For field applications, the researchers therefore unequivocally recommended activated hydrogen peroxide.<h4>Dosage Matters</h4>It was not just the oxidant’s effectiveness that was key. It was equally important to determine how the chemical reaction would behave in a real geological environment. The team of scientists therefore also analyzed what is known as soil oxidant consumption (SOD). It turned out that a significant portion of the oxidizing agent does not react solely with benzene but is also consumed to a significant extent by the rock environment itself, particularly by natural organic substances present in the fine-grained fraction of the soil.An oxidant consumption value was determined specifically for the local composition of the aquifers, which is essential for the correct dosing of chemicals in the field so that the remediation is not only effective but also economically viable and safe for surrounding ecosystems.<h4>One Year After the Accident: Research Turns into Real-World Assistance</h4>While the public often perceives university science as a distant world of laboratories and grant projects, it is precisely situations like this that demonstrate its practical impact. The results of the work by researchers at CXI TUL did not remain confined to academic studies but directly influenced decisions regarding the technology used to clean up one of the largest environmental accidents in recent years.

Science on the Front Lines: Cleanup of a Benzene Spill

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The Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovations of the Technical University of Liberec, also known as CXI TUL, was founded in 2009. Our mission is to support TUL's long-term vision of collaboration with industry and innovation.

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Organomation, founded in 1959, designs and manufactures high-quality nitrogen evaporators and extraction systems. Known for innovation and durability, their lab instruments are used globally for efficient sample preparation with strong customer support.

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ISTRAN EcaFlow Model 150 GLP automatic laboratory analyser

EcaFlow Model 150 GLP is a PC controlled automatic laboratory analyser for the determination of trace and high concentrations of metals, semi-metals and numerous nonmetals in various samples.

EcaFlow Model 150 GLP is a PC controlled automatic laboratory analyser for the determination of trace and high concentrations of metals, semi-metals and numerous nonmetals in various samples. By making use of the autosampler AS-150 up to 42 samples can be analysed in full automatic mode. The system supports the standardless, calibration curve and standard additions techniques. Over 70 validated applications are available for numerous sample types such as waters, foods, industrial liquids, wastes, etc. EcaFlow is a compact laboratory instrument controlled by a PC.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:675/449;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISTRAN_Eca_Flow_150_GLP_4_26c42795eb.jpg" alt="ISTRAN EcaFlow 150 GLP" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISTRAN_Eca_Flow_150_GLP_4_26c42795eb.jpg 235w," sizes="100vw" width="675" height="449"></figure>The control unit contains the power support unit, control processor with a channel analyser, fast A/D and D/A converters and a high performance generic potentiostat/galvanostat. The compact flow system is controlled by the control unit and operates full automatically. It contains computer controlled electromagnetic valves for switching either to the sample solution or to an electrolyte solution or to a standard solution for the standard addition. Solutions are driven by a peristaltic pump. The heart of the system is the patented compact electrochemical cell.&nbsp;The cell uses disposable flow-through working electrodes made of suitable inert material. The counter and reference electrodes are separated from the flowing solutions hydrodynamically, so the reaction products at the counter electrode cannot interfere at the working electrode. The working electrode can be easily changed simply by loosening a screw. The cell is fixed to the panel of the instrument by a special connector which serves as an electrical contact to the electrodes. The connections of the tubes are made of Luer-type fitting, which facilitates fast manipulation when the electrode or cell is changed.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:675/449;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISTRAN_Eca_Flow_150_GLP_5_ac69cdfecf.jpg" alt="ISTRAN EcaFlow 150 GLP" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISTRAN_Eca_Flow_150_GLP_5_ac69cdfecf.jpg 235w," sizes="100vw" width="675" height="449"></figure><h4>Technical data</h4>Potentiostat/galvanostat: 12 V / 20 mA Measuring cell: EcaCell 353c or EcaCell 104 with three electrodes Flow system: Full computer control with peristaltic pumping Weight: 7 kg Dimensions: 500 x 450 x 140 mm Software: Chronopotentiometry, coulometry, voltammetry Computer (option): Any PC with Windows XP and higher Autosampler (option): 42 positions + blank + standard<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:675/449;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISTRAN_Eca_Flow_150_GLP_3_f4b61911c2.jpg" alt="ISTRAN EcaFlow 150 GLP" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISTRAN_Eca_Flow_150_GLP_3_f4b61911c2.jpg 235w," sizes="100vw" width="675" height="449"></figure><h4>Available applications (all included):</h4><ol><li>Flow-through analyser test&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Cd, Pb and C&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Pb&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Sn and Pb&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Pb, Cd and Hg&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of EDTA&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Cd, Pb, a Cu in wines&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Ag&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of As(III) and total As in urine&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of As(III) and total As in fertilisers&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Se in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Mn&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Hg&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Fe in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Sn&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Bi&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of As in drugs&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of chlorides in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu in wines&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu in spirits&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Cd, Pb, and Cu in beers&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Fe (higher concentrations) in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Cd, Pb, and Cu in soil extracts&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Sb&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of As(III) and total As in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu in pectines&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of iodides in urine&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Au in water samples&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of low Ni contents&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of iodides in foods and beverages&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Cr(VI) and total Cr in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of nitrates in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Ascorbic Acid&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of chlorites in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of bromates in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Boric acid in nickel plating baths&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of total As in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Acidimetry determination of strong and weak acids&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Fe in concentrated sulphuric acid&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Cu in waste waters&nbsp;</li><li>Alkalimetry determination of strong bases&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of total As and Hg&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Zn in galvanic baths&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Ni in galvanic baths&nbsp;</li><li>Chlorides in galvanic baths&nbsp;</li><li>Cr(III) in passivating galvanic baths&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of phosphates with microporous electrodes&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of sub-ppb Hg concentrations&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Zn in waste waters&nbsp;</li><li>Cu in wine samples&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Fe in clear and turbid water samples&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Au in ores&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Sb in the presence of As and Cu&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of low Se concentrations&nbsp;</li><li>Sulphites in wines&nbsp;</li><li>Sulphites in beers&nbsp;</li><li>Titanium in TiO2&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of phosphates in clear as well as turbid water samples&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of total ammonia in underground and tap waters&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of total ammonia in waste waters&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Cr(VI) in clear as well as turbid water samples&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Ni in clear as well as turbid water samples&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of sulphides (S2-) in waste waters&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu in turbid samples&nbsp;</li><li>Coulometric determination of sulphides in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Acid content in wines&nbsp;</li><li>Ethanol in beverages&nbsp;</li><li>Sulphites (SO3-) in foods&nbsp;</li><li>Chlorides (Cl-) in foods&nbsp;</li><li>Chlorites (ClO2-) in disinfected water&nbsp;</li><li>Manganese (Mn) in aquatic samples&nbsp;</li><li>Bromides (Br-) in water&nbsp;</li><li>Cd, Pb and Cu in concentrated zinc sulphate&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Pb, Cu and Hg in water</li></ol>

ISTRAN PCA2 Portable coulometric analyser

The new Portable Coulometric Analyser PCA is designed for laboratory and field analysis of heavy metals, semi-metals and numerous non-metals in aquatic solutions for a broad concentration range addressing contents from sub-μg/L up to several g/L.

The new Portable Coulometric Analyser PCA is designed for laboratory and field analysis of heavy metals, semi-metals and numerous non-metals in aquatic solutions for a broad concentration range addressing contents from sub-μg/L up to several g/L. In battery operation mode it is well suited for field applications. The analysis is full automatic, the sample solution is transported to the electrochemical measuring cell by means of a small but robust peristaltic pump and on completing the analysis the result is displayed and stored in the memory. The human interface is a simple touch screen.<h3>APPLICATION FIELDS</h3><ul><li>Drinking water</li><li>Surface water</li><li>Waste water</li><li>Foods and beverages</li><li>Biological samples</li></ul><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1116/324;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISTRAN_PCA_2_Portable_coulometric_analyser_aae89cc7dc.jpg" alt="ISTRAN PCA2 Portable coulometric analyser" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISTRAN_PCA_2_Portable_coulometric_analyser_aae89cc7dc.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1116" height="324"></figure><h3>UNIQUE FEATURES</h3><ul><li>Metals, semi-metals, non-metals</li><li>Robust portable design</li><li>Full automatic analysis</li><li>At least 12 hours on battery operation ideal for field applications</li><li>Simple and fast operation</li><li>Ready to use applications</li><li>Broad concentration range, starting at sub-μg/L</li><li>Also suitable for coloured and turbid samples</li></ul><h3>TYPICAL APPLICATIONS INCLUDE</h3><ul><li>Arsenic, antimony, tin and selenium in various water samples</li><li>Heavy metals such as mercury, thallium, cadmium, indium, lead, bismuth, silver, gold.</li><li>Manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, gallium in various water samples</li><li>Chromium(VI) and total chromium</li><li>Iron(II), iron(III), total iron</li><li>Arsenic(III) and total arsenic</li><li>C-vitamin in vegetables, fruits, beverages, foods</li><li>Fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide in waters and biological samples</li><li>Disinfection reagents such as chlorine, chlorine dioxide, hypochlorite in drinking water</li><li>Disinfection by-products such as chlorite, bromate in drinking water</li><li>Sulphite in foods, wines and beers</li><li>Sulphides in waste waters</li><li>Ammonia, hydrazine, nitrite, nitrate, cyanide in aquatic samples</li><li>Phosphate in waste waters</li><li>Ethanol in beverages</li><li>Methanol in waste water</li><li>Acids and bases in aquatic solutions, wines</li><li>Samples with suspended particles and solid samples can be analysed after an appropriate sample digestion, e.g. thermal, UV or microwave-assisted sample digestion.</li></ul>Ag, Ammonia, As, Bromate, Bromide, Cd, Chloride, Chlorite, Co, Cr(VI), Cu, EDTA, Fe, Hg, Iodide, Mn, Ni, Nitrite, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sulphide, Tl, Zn<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Screenshot_2025_03_21_at_12_33_28_Istran_2_2d3350cbc8.jpg" alt="ISTRAN PCA2 Portable coulometric analyser" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Screenshot_2025_03_21_at_12_33_28_Istran_2_2d3350cbc8.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1116" height="326"><h3>ANALYSIS PRINCIPLE</h3>The analysis is based on automatic flow-through coulometry and voltammetry making use of a unique robust electrochemical measuring cell with a maintenance-free built-in reference and auxiliary electrodes and a long-life disposable working electrode. The sample solution is pumped into the cell where the determined species (analyte) is measured through its electrochemical conversion, i.e. it is electrochemically oxidised or reduced at the electrode surface. Low concentrations are determined after a preliminary electrochemical deposition of the measured species at the electrode surface (enrichment step), then the deposit is stripped by constant current while the signal is recorded and evaluated. In such a way, concentrations in the sub- μg/L level can be easily measured. A typical response of copper displayed on the touchscreen is depicted below.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1116/326;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISTRAN_PCA_2_Portable_coulometric_analyser_3_d630e0cd53.jpg" alt="ISTRAN PCA2 Portable coulometric analyser: A typical response of copper displayed on the touchscreen" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISTRAN_PCA_2_Portable_coulometric_analyser_3_d630e0cd53.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1116" height="326"></figure><h4>The analytical procedure consists of three main steps:</h4><ol><li>Sample preparation. It includes the filtration of the sample (when necessary) and addition of a reagent to the sample. Solid samples or samples with suspended particles require a sample digestion..</li><li>Analysis. Full automatic procedure yielding the result displayed on the touch screen. The analysis starts on immersing the sampling tube into the sample which is pumped through the measuring cell where the analyte is electrochemically measured. Usually multiple runs are done with measurements repeated and evaluated automatically.</li><li>Cleaning. On completion of the analyses the cell is rinsed with water or a suitable reagent solution and the analyser is set to standby mode or turned down.</li></ol><h3>CONTROL AND COMMUNICATION</h3><ul><li>User interface: Powerful 4.3” Intelligent LCD-TFT display module. 480 x 272 Resolution, RGB 65K true to life colours, TFT Screen with integrated 4-wire Resistive Touch Panel. On-board micro-SD memory card connector for data logging purposes</li><li>User interface for uploading new measuring parameters, downloading results and curves</li><li>User interface with administrator access, firmware upgrading and calibration of electronic circuits</li></ul><h3>MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL DATA</h3><ul><li>Enclosure: The PCA instrument is integrated into a robust transport case made of polypropylene. Watertight, crushproof, and dustproof. Protection class IP 67</li><li>Dimensions (W x D x H): 27 x 24.6 x 12.4 cm (10.62” x 9.68” x 4.87”)</li><li>Weight: 2.9 kg (6.4 lbs)</li><li>Power input: 100-240V/50-60Hz&nbsp;</li><li>Battery: Ni-MH, 14.4V/4.5Ah</li><li>Ambient operating conditions: 5 °C – 45 °C at 5 - 95% relative humidity non-condensing (41 °F – 113 °F)</li></ul><h3>TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS</h3><h4>MEASUREMENT</h4><ul><li>Analysis method: Coulometry and voltammetry in chronopotentiometric mode</li><li>Determined species: Metals, semi-metals, non-metals, organics (refer to the up to date list of applications)</li><li>Measuring cell: robust three-electrode flow-through cell. Built-in maintenance-free platinum auxiliary and silver/silver chloride reference electrodes. Longlife disposable working electrodes made of glassy carbon, gold, silver, platinum, copper. No mercury or gold plating solutions required.</li><li>Detection limit: less than 1 μg/L *</li><li>Precision (RSD, under repeatability conditions): 5 % full scale for calibration or validation solutions</li><li>Calibration: A built-in 10 point calibration curve adjusted in the factory</li><li>Re-calibration: Two point re-calibration (blank and calibration solution) carried out on demand</li><li>Measuring ranges: Please check the respective application list for each parameter</li><li>Analysis time/run: 1-10 min, depending on the analyte concentration *.</li></ul>*Refer to the corresponding application list<h4>DATA LOGGING AND SECURITY</h4><ul><li>Log files with over 1000 results and corresponding curves are stored</li><li>Easy export to spreadsheet files</li></ul><h4>GLP FEATURES</h4><ul><li>Automatic storage of about 1000 results, including the corresponding signal curve, date, time of analysis and the sample identifier.</li><li>Statistical evaluation of the results</li><li>Checking the accuracy and precision by means of a control sample with known analyte concentration.</li></ul><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1116/326;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISTRAN_PCA_2_Portable_coulometric_analyser_4_6b3bf1dde1.jpg" alt="ISTRAN PCA2 Portable coulometric analyser " srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISTRAN_PCA_2_Portable_coulometric_analyser_4_6b3bf1dde1.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1116" height="326"></figure><h4>REAGENTS AND CONSUMABLES</h4><ul><li>Reagents, consumables, containers and tools can be transported in a separate transport case</li><li>Reagent consumption is low, usually 0.1 to 1 mL/sample</li><li>No organic or toxic reagents are used</li><li>All reagents and consumables are delivered by the producer</li><li>Reagent formulas are available against royalties</li><li>Cleaning solution: Demineralised water or in most cases tap water is sufficient</li><li>Calibration or validation solution: Available from the producer, prepared from single element Certified Reference Materials</li></ul><h4>OPTIONS</h4><ul><li>Additional applications each including a measurement parameter file, measuring cell (if needed), electrode</li><li>Transport case for reagents, consumables, tools ideal for field operation</li></ul>

ISTRAN EcaLayer Metal Layer Analyser

The coulometric method ensures accurate and precise results. The analyser is extremely simple to use and therefore it is also suitable for routine measurements not needing any special qualification.

The coulometric technique is used for measuring the thickness of electroplated deposits on a wide variety of substrates such as steel, aluminium, copper, nickel, silver, alloys, some insulators.The coulometric method ensures accurate and precise results. The analyser is extremely simple to use and therefore it is also suitable for routine measurements not needing any special qualification. Moreover, coulometry is the only method allowing the measurement of multi-layer coatings such as chrome, chrome oxide on tin, tin, tin-iron intermetals on steel, etc.<h3>Measuring principle</h3>The fundamental principle is the Faraday’s Law. The method is similar to the electrolytic plating process but here the coating is removed electrochemically from a defined surface area. For this purpose, a piece of the sample is placed to the flow-through measuring cell which is filled with a suitable electrolyte solution and the analysed metal coating is subsequently removed by applying an appropriate current. Hence, metal layers are measured by anodic dissolution, metal oxide layers, such as tin oxide on a tin coating, are measured by cathodic dissolution. The measured sample area is given by the gasket used and it can include 0.2 to 20 cm2. The analysis is performed totally automatically and is controlled by a PC.By applying the Faraday’s Laws, the thickness of a metal layer can be calculated.<h3>The EcaLayer Model 220/220a consists of three major parts:</h3><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:643/961;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISTRAN_Eca_Layer_Metal_Layer_Analyser_4_ab4b7f6aff.jpg" alt="ISTRAN EcaLayer Metal Layer Analyser - Scheme" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISTRAN_Eca_Layer_Metal_Layer_Analyser_4_ab4b7f6aff.jpg 104w," sizes="100vw" width="643" height="961"></figure><h4>1. Analytical Unit</h4><h5>Two types of analytical units can be used:</h5><ul><li>Module A for metal coatings and metal oxide layer measurements needing the removal of dissolved oxygen, e.g. tin oxide measurements, and</li><li>Module B for measurements not needing oxygen removal, e.g. tin layer thickness measurements.</li></ul>Module A encloses a unique flow-through analytical cell with the sample as the working electrode, a stainless steel counter and Ag/AgCl reference electrodes, a peristaltic pump, an electromagnetic valve for the gas and a reservoir for the electrolyte solution.Module B is built in the same way but without the gas unit.<h4>2. Control Unit</h4>The control unit comprises a computer controlled potentiostat/galvanostat with a maximum output of 100 mA, 16-bit A/D and D/A converters. The unit is controlled by a microprocessor linked to the PC through a serial line.<h4>3. Computer and software</h4>Any IBM compatible PC can be coupled to the instrument. The user-friendly software facilitates the use without any special knowledge about electrochermistry. GLP facilities such as archiving, printing of reports, selftesting are included.<h3>Function</h3><h4>The metal layer analyser works as follows:</h4><ol><li>The sample is placed into the cell and the cell is closed. The next steps are performed automatically by computer control.</li><li>The cell is filled with the electrolyte from the reservoir. If needed, the electrolyte solution is with an inert gas to remove dissolved oxygen.</li><li>The coating is removed by applying a suitable constant current and the potential of the sample material (i.e. the working electrode) is monitored and registered in the time.</li><li>The electrolyte solution is removed from the cell.</li><li>In the meantime, the registered potential-time dependence is evaluated giving the dissolution time and the layer thickness is calculated automatically.</li><li>The cell is opened and the sample is removed. The whole procedure takes 4 to 8 minutes.</li></ol><h3>Some applications</h3><h5>Measurements of tin coatings on steel</h5>Tin coatings are measured by anodic dissolution in HCl electrolyte solution with currents up to 100 mA. Both the tin and the tin-iron intermetallic layers can be measured in a single run.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:621/342;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISTRAN_Eca_Layer_Metal_Layer_Analyser_0d2f857bae.jpg" alt="ISTRAN EcaLayer Metal Layer Analyser: Measurements of tin coatings on steel" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISTRAN_Eca_Layer_Metal_Layer_Analyser_0d2f857bae.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="621" height="342"></figure><h5>Measurement of passivating chromous layers on tin coated steel</h5>The chromium layers are dissolved by anodic oxidation in a phosphate buffer electrolyte solution with currents of few mA.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:645/353;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISTRAN_Eca_Layer_Metal_Layer_Analyser_2_31bc2b54d5.jpg" alt="ISTRAN EcaLayer Metal Layer Analyser: Measurement of passivating chromous layers on tin coated steel" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISTRAN_Eca_Layer_Metal_Layer_Analyser_2_31bc2b54d5.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="645" height="353"></figure><h5>Measurement of oxide layers on tin coatings</h5>Oxide layers can be determined by cathodic dissolution in deairated HBr electrolyte solution with currents about -1 mA. Due to the uncertain stoichiometry of the oxide layers, the results are expressed as charge consumed per sample area.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:685/348;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISTRAN_Eca_Layer_Metal_Layer_Analyser_3_0b111ab468.jpg" alt="ISTRAN EcaLayer Metal Layer Analyser: Measurement of oxide layers on tin coatings" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISTRAN_Eca_Layer_Metal_Layer_Analyser_3_0b111ab468.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="685" height="348"></figure><h3>Ordering information</h3><h5>EcaLayer Model 220 includes</h5><ul><li>Control Unit</li><li>Flow System with Module A</li><li>Application software</li><li>PC with printer (specified by the customer)</li><li>All necessary cables</li><li>Users manual</li><li>Methodologies according to EN ISO 2177</li></ul><h5>EcaLayer Model 220a includes</h5><ul><li>Control Unit</li><li>Flow System with Module B</li><li>Application software</li><li>PC with printer (specified by the customer)</li><li>All necessary cables</li><li>Users manual</li><li>Methodologies according to EN ISO 2177</li></ul>

Thermo Scientific Gallery Discrete Analyzer 

Thermo Scientific Gallery Discrete Analyzer automatic discrete analyzer for photometric and electrochemical analysis. Supports up to 90 samples, delivers up to 200 tests per hour, and provides fully automated operation for routine laboratory applications.

The Thermo Scientific™ Gallery™ Discrete Analyzer is a compact benchtop system designed for automated photometric (colorimetric and enzymatic) analysis. With the optional Electrochemical Measurement Module (ECM), the system also supports pH and electrical conductivity measurements. Combining high throughput with reliable performance, it delivers fast, accurate, and reproducible results while minimizing operator involvement.Based on discrete analysis technology, the system can perform multiple analyses simultaneously within a single run. An integrated sample and reagent disk accommodates up to 90 samples and 30 reagents, delivering a throughput of up to 200 tests per hour. Automated sample handling, dilution, repeat measurements, and barcode identification simplify routine laboratory workflows and improve overall productivity.The Gallery™ Discrete Analyzer is suitable for a wide range of applications, including food and beverage testing, environmental analysis, and industrial quality control.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_Gallery_Discrete_Analyzer_1b25bad215.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific Gallery Discrete Analyzer " srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_Gallery_Discrete_Analyzer_1b25bad215.jpg 220w," sizes="100vw" width="650" height="461"><h3>Key Features</h3><h4>Fully Automated Operation</h4><ul><li>Performs all analytical steps automatically with minimal operator intervention</li><li>Simultaneous photometric and electrochemical analysis</li><li>Automatic sample dilution and repeat measurements</li><li>Up to two hours of walk-away operation</li><li>Throughput of up to 200 tests per hour</li></ul><h4>Reliable Analytical Performance</h4><ul><li>Wide concentration range with excellent reproducibility</li><li>Detection of very low analyte concentrations (ppb level)</li><li>Multiple blanking options to minimize sample matrix effects</li><li>User-defined methods for application-specific testing</li><li>Wavelength range from 340 to 880 nm</li></ul><h4>Efficient and Cost-Effective Operation</h4><ul><li>Ready-to-use system reagents reduce preparation time</li><li>Low-volume disposable cuvettes minimize reagent consumption</li><li>Disposable cuvettes eliminate carry-over and cross-contamination</li><li>No external water supply required</li><li>Optional ECM module for pH and conductivity measurements</li></ul><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_Gallery_Discrete_Analyzer_7_8c066c9e29.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific Gallery Discrete Analyzer " srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_Gallery_Discrete_Analyzer_7_8c066c9e29.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="650" height="434"><h4>Easy-to-Use Design</h4><ul><li>Supports a wide range of sample cups and primary tubes</li><li>Automatic barcode-based sample identification</li><li>No glassware washing required</li><li>Automatic startup and shutdown procedures</li><li>Intuitive graphical user interface</li><li>Compact benchtop footprint</li></ul><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_Gallery_Discrete_Analyzer_5_44adfb9076.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific Gallery Discrete Analyzer " srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_Gallery_Discrete_Analyzer_5_44adfb9076.jpg 236w," sizes="100vw" width="650" height="429"><h3>Applications</h3><ul><li>Food and beverage analysis</li><li>Environmental testing</li><li>Industrial quality control</li><li>Routine laboratory analysis</li></ul><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_Gallery_Discrete_Analyzer_11_87d87faf71.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific Gallery Discrete Analyzer " srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_Gallery_Discrete_Analyzer_11_87d87faf71.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="650" height="382"><h3>Specifications</h3><ul><li>Analytical Method: Colorimetric, Enzymatic and Electrochemical With Automated Photometric Analyzer</li><li>Calibration: Factor, Bias, Linear, Logit-Log, Spline, Polynomial and Point-to-Point</li><li>Capacity: Mix of 9 to or 18 to Position Sample Racks</li><li>Cuvettes: Discrete Disposable Cuvettes. On Board Capacity 360 Measurement Cells.</li><li>Depth: 70 cm</li><li>Distilled Water Consumption: Deionized Water Consumption 1.5 L/hr.</li><li>Frequency: 50/60 Hz +/-5%</li><li>Height: 62/130 cm (Cover Closed/Cover Open)</li><li>Measurement Method: Photometric and Electrochemical (ECM)</li><li>Operating System:&nbsp;<ul><li>Automated Photometric (Colorimetric and Enzymatic)&nbsp;</li><li>Analysis with The Optional Electrochemical (ECM)&nbsp;</li><li>Measurement of pH and Electrical Conductivity</li></ul></li><li>Quality Control Details:&nbsp;<ul><li>Real-Time QC Program with Multiple and Variable Rules</li><li>Control Frequency User-Definable</li><li>Out-of-Specification Control Results Flagged</li></ul></li><li>Reagents: 6-Position Reagent Racks, Max 6 Racks on-Board</li><li>Sample Dilution:&nbsp;<ul><li>Automatic Sample Pre-Dilution</li><li>Automatic Sample Dilution of Over-Range Tests with Automatic re-Run</li><li>Addition of Manual Pre-Dilution Value for Result Calculation</li></ul></li><li>Throughput: 200 Tests/hr.</li><li>Voltage: 100/240 V +/-10%</li><li>Weight: 85 kg</li><li>Width: 75 cm</li><li>Type: Discrete Analyzer</li></ul>

Thermo Scientific Gallery Plus Discrete Analyzer 

Thermo Scientific Gallery Plus high-capacity automated discrete analyzer for photometric analysis with an optional ECM module. Supports up to 108 samples and delivers up to 350 tests per hour for demanding routine laboratory workflows.

The Thermo Scientific™ Gallery™ Plus Discrete Analyzer is a high-capacity benchtop discrete analyzer designed for automated photometric (colorimetric and enzymatic) analysis. An optional Electrochemical Measurement Module (ECM) extends the system to perform pH and electrical conductivity measurements. Combining high throughput with advanced automation, the analyzer delivers fast, accurate, and reproducible results for demanding routine laboratory applications.Utilizing discrete cell technology, the Gallery™ Plus enables parallel processing of multiple analyses while minimizing operator intervention. The integrated sample and reagent disks accommodate up to 108 samples and 42 reagents, supporting a throughput of up to 350 tests per hour. Automated sample handling, dilution, repeat analysis, and barcode-based sample identification help streamline laboratory workflows, improve reproducibility, and increase productivity.The Gallery™ Plus Discrete Analyzer is designed for high-throughput laboratories performing food and beverage analysis, environmental testing, and industrial quality control.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_Gallery_Plus_Discrete_Analyzer_24615c57a8.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific Gallery Plus Discrete Analyzer " srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_Gallery_Plus_Discrete_Analyzer_24615c57a8.jpg 244w," sizes="100vw" width="650" height="416"><h3>Key Features</h3><h4>High-Capacity Automated Operation</h4><ul><li>Fully automated analytical workflow with minimal operator intervention</li><li>Photometric analysis with optional electrochemical measurements (ECM)</li><li>Automatic sample dilution and repeat analysis</li><li>Up to two hours of walk-away operation</li><li>Throughput of up to 350 tests per hour</li></ul><h4>Reliable Analytical Performance</h4><ul><li>Wide working concentration range with excellent reproducibility</li><li>Detection of very low analyte concentrations (ppb level)</li><li>Multiple blanking options to reduce sample matrix effects</li><li>User-defined analytical methods for application-specific testing</li><li>Wavelength range from 340 to 880 nm</li></ul><h4>Efficient and Cost-Effective Operation</h4><ul><li>Ready-to-use system reagents reduce preparation time</li><li>Low-volume disposable cuvettes minimize reagent consumption and waste</li><li>Disposable cuvettes eliminate carry-over and cross-contamination</li><li>No external water supply required</li><li>Optional ECM module for pH and electrical conductivity measurements</li></ul><h4>Easy-to-Use Design</h4><ul><li>Compatible with a wide variety of sample cups and primary tubes</li><li>Automatic barcode-based sample identification</li><li>No glassware washing required</li><li>Automatic startup and shutdown procedures</li><li>Intuitive graphical user interface</li><li>Compact benchtop design despite high sample capacity</li></ul><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_Gallery_Discrete_Analyzer_3_e28920a8ff.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific Gallery Discrete Analyzer and Gallery Plus Discrete Analyzer " srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_Gallery_Discrete_Analyzer_3_e28920a8ff.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="650" height="344"><h3>Applications</h3><ul><li>Food and beverage analysis</li><li>Environmental testing</li><li>Industrial quality control</li><li>Routine high-throughput laboratory analysis</li></ul><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_Gallery_Discrete_Analyzer_11_87d87faf71.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific Gallery Plus Discrete Analyzer " srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_Gallery_Discrete_Analyzer_11_87d87faf71.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="650" height="382"><h3>Specifications</h3><ul><li>Calibration: Factor, Bias, Linear, Logit-Log, Spline, Polynomial and Point-to-Point</li><li>Cuvettes: Discrete Disposable Cuvettes. Capacity 360 Measurement Cells.</li><li>Depth: 70 cm</li><li>Description: Gallery Plus Discrete Analyzer with/without ECM Unit</li><li>Distilled Water Consumption: Deionized Water Consumption 2.5 L/hr.</li><li>Frequency: 50/60 Hz +/-5%</li><li>Height: 62/130 cm (Cover Closed/Cover Open)</li><li>Measurement Method: Photometric</li><li>Operating System: Automated Photometric (Colorimetric and Enzymatic) Analysis</li><li>Quality Control Details:&nbsp;<ul><li>Real-Time QC Program with Multiple and Variable Rules</li><li>Control Frequency User-Definable</li><li>Out-of-Specification Control Results Flagged</li></ul></li><li>Reagents:&nbsp;<ul><li>9- or 18-Position Sample Racks, Max 108 Positions (= 6 Racks) on-Board</li><li>Reagent Capacity 42 Positions on-Board</li></ul></li><li>Sample Dilution:&nbsp;<ul><li>Automatic Sample Pre-Dilution&nbsp;</li><li>Automatic Sample Dilution of Over-Range Tests with Automatic re-Run</li><li>Addition of Manual Pre-Dilution Value for Result Calculation</li></ul></li><li>Throughput: Up to 350 Tests/hr.</li><li>Voltage: 100/240 V +/-10%</li><li>Weight: 110 kg</li><li>Width: 94 cm</li><li>Sample Type:&nbsp;<ul><li>Food and Beverage Sample&nbsp;</li><li>Environmental Sample</li></ul></li><li>Type: Photometric Analyzer</li></ul>

Products focused on Electrochemistry - page 1

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