The PFAS Prep Upgrade That Actually Scales

69331_LM_Organomation_Article_Neutral Template_JL V2

MEET THE SURGE: ENHANCING CAPACITY FOR SMALL TO MEDIUM ENVIRONMENTAL LABS

Boost lab efficiency and meet future demands with nitrogen evaporators for environmental analysis

Anya was concerned. Her laboratory, responsible for environmental assessments across multiple industries, seemed to be gaining clients everyday. But an uptick in demand for

ultra-low chemical detection in air, soil, and water samples was causing bottlenecks in her tightly budgeted operations. Efficient sample concentration was essential to avoid overwhelming their delicate instruments, but their solvent evaporator lagged behind- it couldn't handle higher throughput or adapt to different sample tubes. She eyed the numerous plastic parts skeptically. Would they even meet PFAS analysis standards?

Modern testing landscapes in the environmental sector, including for professionals like Anya, are increasingly shaped by new regulations. A notable example is the EPA's April 2024 update of drinking water standards, which sets limits between 4 to 10 parts-per-trillion for the most notorious PFAS compounds. Thhile these rules have been anticipat- ed-laboratories have long been running standardized EPA methods for these and other contaminants-a sudden surge in sample volume could present an unexpected challenge to time-consuming preparation steps, such as solvent removal.

OPTIMIZING SAMPLE CONCENTRATION: THE ROLE OF NITROGEN EVAPORATORS

Isolating organic contaminants from water often involves extraction with large volumes of organic solvents. Remov- ing excess solvent to achieve the necessary concentration levels for accurate detection, without impacting target ana- lytes, can be complex. Typically, energy is applied as heat, vaporizing the liquid into gas, which is then removed to leave a concentrated or solvent-free product. However, the diversity of sample formats and solvents means no single removal technique provides a universal solution.

Among solvent removal systems, nitrogen blowdown stands out for its efficiency and gentleness. It uses inert gas to create a flow over the sample, reducing vapor pressure and preventing vapor from returning to the solvent. Heat is usually applied to the samples to hasten evaporation.

This process requires precision. If the nitrogen flow is too far from the sample, evaporation slows. If too close, samples may blow over or be unnecessarily cooled by the nitrogen gas. To streamline operations, companies have developed special- ized nitrogen evaporators. These systems combine optimized gas delivery with heating units and often use an array format to enable simultaneous processing of multiple samples.

Organomation has been leading the development of nitrogen evaporators since introducing its 12-position

N-EVAP nitrogen evaporator in 1959. Now accommodat- ing between six to 45 samples with standard heated water baths, the N-EVAP system is renowned for its suitability for environmental analysis and is cited by name in EPA methods 533 and 537.1 for drinking water analysis. New- er versions can be assembled without Teflon fittings for high-precision PFAS analysis.

Organomation's MULTIVAP instruments, on the other hand, can process 64 or 100 samples at once, making them ideal for firms facing bottlenecks in PFAS extractions.

Learn how one lab's switch to a MULTIVAP system sig- nificantly improved their throughput.

CASE STUDY: HOW MICROBAC ACHIEVED 400 PERCENT EFFICIENCY GAIN IN PFAS ANALYSIS

Microbac Laboratories in Marietta, OH, has success- fully utilized Organomation's N-EVAP for drying PFAS extracts before LC-MS/MS analysis. However, due to increased sample throughput needs and limited benchtop space, Microbac transitioned to the 64-position MUL- TIVAP, which offers more than double the sample capacity in nearly the same footprint.

The shift to MULTIVAP significantly enhanced Microbac's efficiency and productivity. Anthony Canter, Operations Manager at Microbac, reported a substantial improvement in their workflow. The compact design of the MULTIVAP, coupled with its efficient thermal energy

transfer and consistent nitrogen blowdown, reduced sample processing time by approximately 50 percent. The timer functionality also allowed sample blowdown to continue after hours, further increasing productivity. This transition has led to at least a 400 percent increase in efficiency in their PFAS analysis workflow, making the MULTIVAP an indispensable tool for their lab.

MAXIMIZE LAB EFFICIENCY WITH THE IDEAL EVAPORATOR

Thhen selecting an evaporator for your lab, it's essential to understand the unique features of Organomation's three main blowdown evaporator lines: N-EVAP, MICROVAP, and MULTIVAP. Each product line serves different appli- cations, making it crucial to match the evaporator to your specific needs.

The N-EVAP line is the most popular, accommodating 6 to 45 samples with standard heated water baths reaching up to 90ºC. These units also offer a dry bath option that can heat up to 130ºC. The spring-assisted sample holder supports various tube sizes (10 to 30 mm) with individual gas valves for precise control. This line is ideal for labs needing versatility and simplicity, especially those using different tube sizes.

MICROVAP evaporators are designed for microplates and small batches of test tubes. These units feature aluminum heat blocks that reach 130ºC and can hold 15 or 24 samples (10 to 22 mm in diameter). They offer easy conversion between microplates and test tubes, making them perfect for labs working with microplates or small, uniform samples.

The MULTIVAP line provides the most options, accommodating nine to 100 samples. These units use aluminum heat blocks or heated water baths, depending on the model. The 64 and 100 position models, in partic- ular, utilize a heated water bath, ideal for large batches of

identical samples. Thith digital temperature controllers and integrated timers, MULTIVAPs are suited for high-vol- ume labs needing efficient, uniform sample processing.

CONCLUSION

Anya can breathe a sigh of relief. Organomation's nitro- gen evaporators offer a solution to her lab's growing pains. Thith a range of models to suit specific needs, from the

versatile N-EVAP to the high-throughput MULTIVAP, she can find an evaporator that optimizes sample concen- tration without breaking the bank. Organomation's focus

on durability, efficiency, and customer support ensures a reliable investment that will keep environmental labs run- ning smoothly well into the future.

EPA METHODS COMPATIBLE WITH NITROGEN EVAPORATION

  To learn more, visit:

www.organomation.com