UV under USB operation 

Shimadzu Scientific Instruments of Columbia, US, launched the UV-1800 UV-Vis spectrophotometer at Pittcon 2008. While still maintaining a resolution of 1nm, the UV-1800 functions as a standalone instrument, or can be PC-controlled with USB memory. UVProbe data processing software allows users to drag and drop data from an optional USB memory stick onto a PC. This interface gives users the advantage of macros and graph functions available with commercial spreadsheet software to reduce effort and enhance efficiency. With the UV-1800, stray light and noise levels are reduced, and multiple modes, including photometric, spectrum, quantitation, kinetics, time-scan, multicomponent quantitation and biomethod, come as standard. The UV-1800 also offers automated security, and enhanced instrument validation and maintenance functions. 
info@shimadzu.com 

GC and GCMS enhancements 

At Pittcon 2008, Agilent Technologies of Santa Clara, US, introduced a new cryogen-free GC x GC operation (comprehensive gas chromatography which involves separation of complex samples by diverting each peak from a GC column to a second column) for its 7890A GC. The new GC x GC operation uses a differential flow modulator to focus and transfer eluent from the first column to the second with great precision and repeatability; no cryogenic cooling is required for modulation between the columns. 

Agilent also announced a new triple-axis detector for its 5975C GCMS, delivering a very strong signal at any given operating gain, thanks to unique geometry and a new electron multiplier design. The signal is enhanced while neutral noise is substantially reduced. 
chem.@agilent.com 

Gold for small molecules in 3D 

Bruker AXS received both the gold and bronze Pittcon Editors' Awards at the 2008 Pittcon Conference held in New Orleans, US, from 2-7 March 2008. 

The gold award went to the Bruker AXS SMART X2S Crystal-to-Structure small molecule x-ray system, which allows organic, inorganic and organometallic chemists without crystallographic experience to obtain routine small molecule 3D structures. This benchtop system automates the previously difficult aspects of x-ray structure determination, from sample loading and alignment through data collection all the way to the mathematical structure solution. It weighs less than 150kg and requires only 0.5kW of standard single-phase AC power, allowing it to be installed easily in any academic or industrial chemistry laboratory. 
info@bruker-axs.com 

MS and UPLC 

At PittCon 2008 Waters of Milford, US, launched the SYNAPT MS system, a quadrupole orthogonal acceleration, time-of-flight mass spectrometry platform for use in proteomic, metabonomic profiling, biomarker discovery/validation and pharmaceutical R&D. Researchers can analyse samples differentiated by size, shape and charge, as well as mass. 

Waters also introduced the quantitative, real-time PATROL UPLC process analytical technology system to detect and quantify complex multiple component manufacturing samples and final product on the production floor. This in-process analysis facilitates increased production yields and decreased production cycles. 
info@waters.com  

Silver for EDT technology 

Thermo Fisher Scientific, of San Jose, US, received the silver Pittcon Editors' Award at Pittcon 2008, for its LTQ XL linear ion trap mass spectrometer featuring electron transfer dissociation (ETD) technology. ETD significantly improves protein characterisation, post-translational modification (PTM) analysis and top-down or middle-down sequencing of proteins and peptides.  

The LTQ XL is the only mass spectrometer that offers multiple dissociation techniques, Pulsed Q Dissociation (PQD), ETD and CID (collisionally-induced dissociation). 

ETD data is processed using a new version of BioWorks software - both CID and ETD spectra are searched independently, with results from both searches combined for easy sorting and comparison. 
analyze@thermofisher.com 

ChemImage collaborations 

ChemImage of Pittsburgh, US, a leader in chemical imaging especially with its Falcon II wide-field Raman chemical imaging system with dispersive Raman spectroscopy, has announced a collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Services (USDA-ARS) to develop high-speed imaging technology for monitoring chemical and biological contaminants in food. 

ChemImage and Oak Ridge National Laboratories (ORNL) are also collaborating to develop a field-transportable macroscopic Raman chemical imaging system for visualising latent prints on skin, for use in forensic investigations of prints on human skin in murder and assault cases. 
info@chemimage.com 

For the mobile crime lab  

Jeol USA of Peabody, US, launched the CarryScope mobile scanning electron microscope (SEM). This instrument is ideal for the mobile crime lab where imaging and analysis of trace evidence are conducted right at the crime scene. The CarryScope delivers several of the high-resolution performance imaging and analytical capabilities of conventional SEMs, making it easy to observe high and low magnifications of fine structures and digitally recorded images. Standard features include 8x to 300 000x imaging and up to 5.0nm resolution. The CarryScope produces a sharp image that makes it possible to conduct and annotate high-precision measurements on sub-micrometre structures. 
salesinfo@jeol.com  

Fast scanning Raman 

Horiba Jobin Yvon of Stamore, UK, has launched the SWIFT and DuoScan fast scanning Raman technologies. 

SWIFT enables per pixel measurement times of as fast as 7ms, which means that a 50 000 spectrum image can be obtained in 6 minutes. It can be used with a choice of detectors and either standard motorised mapping stages or piezo stages. 

DuoScan enables the image pixel size to be chosen to match features of interest, enabling optimised mapping speeds. It retains the full confocal advantage of the Raman technique without restriction on laser wavelength. 

Combining SWIFT and DuoScan results in extremely fast mapping of large samples; for example, whole pharmaceutical tablets can be measured in ten minutes or less. 
info@jobinyvon.co.uk 

Raman microscope 

Thermo Fisher of San Jose, US, unveiled the DXR Raman Microscope at Pittcon 2008, designed to help non-specialist users achieve rapid sampling and analysis of particles, down to one-micrometre resolution. The microscope is equipped with fully integrated, pre-aligned components for fast and easy field installation and configuration. A fibre probe option is available for remote sampling, and a complete system validation package enables compliance with cGMP and FDA regulatory requirements. This microscope is ideal for such applications as forensic trace evidence analysis, routine manufacturing troubleshooting in the polymer industry and authentication of gemstones. 
analyze@thermofisher.com 

Bronze for multi-element analysis 

The bronze Editors' Award at Pittcon 2008 went to the Bruker AXS benchtop S2 PICOFOX TXRF system, for fast quantitative and semi-quantitative multi-element analysis in the ppb and ppm ranges of liquids, solids and contaminants using total reflection x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Due to its complete independence of any cooling medium, the analyser can be used not only in the laboratory but also for on-site analyses in the field. 
info@bruker-axs.com 

Connecting columns 

NLISIS of Veldhoven, the Netherlands, has launched the Meltfit One - a connector to couple capillary columns. It is a small glass tube which is gently positioned around the columns as a second skin, leaving no room for dead volume or leaks. A combination of heat and pressure fixes the columns in the tube, establishing a seamless connection. 
welcome@NLISIS.com 

China Anti-Doping Agency  

Agilent is providing the China Anti-Doping Agency with 18 LCMS units and 19 GCMS units for drug testing at the 2008 Olympic Games. Agilent has recently arranged technical training for members of the agency staff on the instruments, which will examine more than 4500 samples during the Games. 
chem.@agilent.com 

Filtering out toxics 

Erlab of Salisbury, UK, has introduced the Captair Chem range of fume hoods. With no ducting required, these fume hoods, based on carbon filters with efficiency of 99.9 per cent, can be installed in less than 30 minutes. 
salesUK@erlab.net 

Automated chromatography 

Advanced Chemistry Development (ACD/Labs) launched Autochrom at PittCon 2008 for use with Agilent ChemStation and Waters Empower 2 software. AutoChrom software adapts to the chromatographer's workflow, for unparalleled usability. This new automated method development software provides the most flexibility to solve the toughest problems. AutoChrom will perform column, solvent and buffer screening experiments, as well as method optimisation experiments. Unique LC-MS and LC-UV instrument control capabilities, and state-of-the-art peak matching algorithms, make it easier than ever for chromatographers to take advantage of rational, computer-assisted method development. 
tara.sinclair@acdlabs.com 

ICP-OES 

PerkinElmer announced at Pittcon 2008 the Optima 7000 series of inductively coupled plasma-optical emissions spectrometers (ICP-OES). The Optima 7000 family is designed for inorganic analysis in environmental, geochemical, product testing and biofuel applications. It includes a universal data acquisition mode that records all of the spectral data for each sample. This enables customers to retrieve data that was not initially reported without needing to run the sample again, saving them time and increasing productivity. 
info@perkinelmer.com 

Fast extraction 

Dionex of Sunnyvale, US, launched its ASE 150 and 350 accelerated solvent extract systems at Pittcon 2008. 

ASE 150 is a single-cell system for the extraction of solid and semisolid samples using common solvents at elevated temperatures and pressures. The 150 runs faster than Soxhlet, sonication, and other extraction methods, requires less solvent and labour, and accommodates 1, 5, 10, 22, 33, 66 and 100-mL cell sizes.  

The 350 can automatically extract up to 24 samples, and like the 150 uses less solvent and labour and accommodates 1, 5, 10, 22, 33, 66 and 100-mL cell sizes. 
info@dionex.com