Chromatography is one of the most widely used techniques in analytical laboratories, supporting applications in environmental testing, pharmaceuticals, food safety, and forensics. However, sample preparation plays a crucial role in ensuring accurate and reproducible results. Choosing the right sample preparation system can improve efficiency, reduce solvent use, and enhance overall laboratory throughput.
Before investing in a chromatography sample preparation system, it’s essential to ask the right questions to ensure the equipment meets your lab’s needs. Below are the top six questions you should ask when selecting a system for chromatography analysis sample prep.
Time is a critical factor in high-throughput laboratories. Some sample preparation steps, such as solid-phase extraction (SPE), liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), or accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), can be time-consuming. A high-quality extraction system should:
✔ Complete extractions quickly, ideally within 10 minutes.
✔ Ensure thorough analyte recovery, minimizing the need for repeat extractions.
✔ Reduce manual labor, increasing overall lab productivity.
???? Why It Matters: Faster extractions mean shorter turnaround times for chromatography analysis, allowing labs to process more samples per day without compromising accuracy.
Automation is becoming increasingly important in modern laboratories. A fully automated extraction system that can operate unattended overnight offers several benefits:
✔ Reduces hands-on time, freeing analysts for other critical tasks.
✔ Increases sample throughput, enabling overnight runs for next-day analysis.
✔ Minimizes human error, improving consistency and reproducibility.
???? Why It Matters: If your lab handles large sample volumes, an unattended system can significantly boost productivity and reduce labor costs.
Cross-contamination is a significant concern in chromatographic sample preparation, especially when dealing with trace-level analytes. A self-cleaning system with automatic solvent changes and rinsing offers:
✔ Reduced carryover risks, ensuring accurate results.
✔ Elimination of manual solvent switching, improving workflow efficiency.
✔ Consistent solvent exchange, ensuring each sample is prepared under optimal conditions.
???? Why It Matters: Automated solvent changes and rinses prevent contamination and ensure reliable sample preparation, reducing the risk of inaccurate chromatographic results.
For laboratories involved in environmental testing, compliance with U.S. EPA methods is a must. Many regulated analyses, including EPA A for pressurized fluid extraction and EPA for semi-volatile organic compounds, require strict adherence to validated protocols.
✔ Ensure the system meets EPA, ISO, or AOAC guidelines for your specific application.
✔ Verify method compatibility, especially for extractions involving pesticides, PAHs, and VOCs.
✔ Look for pre-programmed methods, reducing setup time and ensuring regulatory compliance.
???? Why It Matters: Non-compliant systems may require additional validation efforts, increasing costs and delaying method implementation in a regulated environment.
Solvent usage is a critical factor in chromatography due to cost, environmental impact, and safety considerations. When evaluating an extraction system, ask:
✔ Does it reduce solvent waste compared to manual methods?
✔ Does it have built-in solvent recycling capabilities?
✔ How does it compare to traditional Soxhlet or LLE techniques?
???? Why It Matters: A system that minimizes solvent consumption helps labs reduce operating costs, improve sustainability, and comply with green chemistry initiatives.
Sample matrices vary widely in chromatographic applications. Whether you analyze solid, semi-solid, or liquid samples, your extraction system should be versatile enough to handle multiple sample types.
✔ Supports multiple sample forms (e.g., soils, biological tissues, sludges, or food samples).
✔ Eliminates the need for multiple instruments, streamlining workflows.
✔ Adapts to different preparation methods (e.g., SPE, pressurized liquid extraction, or filtration).
???? Why It Matters: A multi-purpose system reduces instrument redundancy, lowers capital costs, and improves lab efficiency.
Selecting the right chromatography sample preparation system is essential for improving efficiency, ensuring accuracy, and maintaining compliance with industry regulations. By asking the right questions, laboratories can invest in the most effective and scalable solution for their needs.
✔ Speed matters – Look for a system that performs extractions in 10 minutes or less.
✔ Automation saves time – Choose a system that can operate unattended overnight.
✔ Avoid cross-contamination – Ensure automatic solvent changes and rinsing.
✔ Regulatory compliance is critical – Confirm the system meets EPA, ISO, and AOAC standards.
✔ Minimize solvent use – Opt for an efficient system with lower solvent consumption.
✔ Versatility improves ROI – A system that handles solid and semi-solid samples is ideal.
By focusing on these six key questions, you can make an informed decision and invest in a high-performance chromatography sample preparation system that enhances accuracy, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in your lab.
Would your lab benefit from a faster, more automated sample prep system? Consider these factors before making your next purchase!
Chromatographic analysis with techniques like HPLC, UHPLC or GC is commonly used in analytical R&D and QC labs to identify, quantify and purify individual components of a mixture. Component purity, concentration and composition have a major influence on final product quality, which can impact product efficiency, safety, shelf-life, and many other important features. To obtain quantitative results, calibration standards or reference substances in known concentrations are needed.
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Why weighing is important?
In analytical chromatography, accurate weighing, proper calculation of concentrations and error-free transfer of data have a significant impact on the quality of chromatographic results. Sample preparation can use up to 60% of analytical laboratory time and effort. Moreover, data management such as results transcription and archiving can use up to 25% of working time. Underlying the importance of state-of-the-art process automation and data management: the more tasks that can be automated and simplified without compromising accuracy, the better in terms of conserving resources and enhancing throughput and accuracy.
The preparation of samples or reference standards involves similar work steps, whereby the type of procedure depends on the sample in question. Quantitative statements about chromatographic analyses of samples can only be made with the aid of reference substances, so-called calibration standards or simply standards.
Sample preparation
Samples must be prepared individually, and dissolved, filtered or chemically extracted if necessary. Sample preparation objectives include:
Manual volumetric vs. automated gravimetric liquid powder and dispensing
Manually weighing out powdery substances with a spatula can be a tedious and challenging task. Especially when amounts are in the low milligram range, it takes skill and experience to weigh accurately.
Even in the best of hands, traditional solution preparation with volumetric glassware is time-consuming and prone to error. An operator will typically weigh a substance onto weighing paper and then transfer it into an Erlenmeyer flask. Does the operator back weigh the paper to ensure no substance is left behind? If not, doubt is created about process accuracy. If so, extra time is added to the workflow. Neither choice is ideal.
With the amount of laboratory time spent processing standard solutions estimated to be greater than 60%, measures that can reduce such incidences can significantly improve overall accuracy and laboratory productivity.
Data management, transfer and traceability
Data handling and traceability of chromatographic data is laborious and prone to error. For example, a lab technician must be diligent in recording each step of a dataset’s journey when switching among instruments and systems. Especially when a high throughput is necessary and data must be traceable, software-driven workflows and networked systems lead to a modern and highly efficient lab.
Accelerate your processes — apply automation and digitalization strategically
Automation is increasingly employed in laboratories to keep productivity high, reduce results subjectivity, and free scientists for high-value experimentation. The tactical adoption of instruments and software aligned with day-to-day procedures can substantially benefit operations.
Where higher throughput is necessary, laboratories can leverage software-driven workflows that integrate instruments into a network and ensure that complete data is collected and securely recorded for every sample.
Here, we provide an overview of our solutions that can help you automate and digitalize your sample and standard preparation for chromatographic analyses. Which one is right for you based on your current chromatographic analyses and throughput requirements?
Reliable analytical results begin with accurate weighing. METTLER TOLEDO's XPR Analytical Balances offer readabilities from 0.002 mg to 0.1 mg and a capacities up to 320 g. With a vast range of proven innovative technologies and advanced quality assurance functions, you can be sure of fast, reliable and valid results every time you weigh.
XPR Analytical Balances enable manual and volumetric workflows by means of manual powder solvent dispensing into a volumetric flask. Investing in a XPR Analytical Balance is an excellent start for future automation and digitization of your sample and standard preparation for chromatographic analyses. Many labs consider automation and digitalization prohibitively expensive. With our modular approach, the latest solutions are affordable.
Choose your level of automation and put together your individual digitalized solution. You can either upgrade your analytical balance for accuracy or opt for a more automation and time savings with the XPR Automatic Balance or robotic solution.
The appropriate software can be used at any level of weighing with an XPR balance. Upgrade your sample and standard preparation process and benefit from:
By making the switch to gravimetric standard preparation, both solids and solvents are measured by weight, not volume. The user defines the concentration required and the target amount of solution. Then, the system software calculates the target amount of solid to dispense and delivers the appropriate amount of diluent according to the actual amount of solid dispense. This assure an extremely accurate and precise concentration.
Add a QLX3 liquid dispensing module to your XPR Analytical Balance, automate the liquid dispensing step and make the switch to the more accurate gravimetric solution preparation with less material required. This is a simple and inexpensive solution for automated calculation and automated gravimetric dispensing of solvents based on manually weighed solid substances (even non-powders).
Gravimetric standard and sample preparation offers the following benefits:
Fully automate your sample and standard preparing processes with the CHRONECT XPR robotic dispensing system and prepare up to 288 solutions in one run, consisting of up to 32 powders and 6 liquids and enabling many-to-many methods. The unique system combines the advanced weighing and dispensing technology of the XPR Automatic Balance with a state-of-the-art 6-axis robotic arm and the easy-to-use CHRONOS software. Reduce time spent at the bench and attend to more valuable tasks.
Watch the video: fully automated sample and standard preparation with CHRONECT XPR robotic dispensing
CHRONECT XPR features fully automated dispensing of powders and liquids, including robotic vial handling. It offers unprecedented accuracy, repeatability, efficiency, and flexibility. Samples and reference standards for chromatographic analyses can be prepared conveniently overnight, making them ready for next steps in the morning.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Chromatography Sample Preparation Equipment.