FREESTYLE SPE PFAS loaded with 3 racks | © LCTech GmbH
Automated Determination of PFAS

All-in-one Solution for your PFAS Clean-up

It is well understood that PFAS can be harmful to health. Short-chain PFAS make their way into the groundwater more easily, whereas long-chain PFAS tend to accumulate in the soil and thus find their way into food. Due to an ever-growing analyte spectrum and changing regulatory requirements, the sample volume is increasing steadily. LCTech has solutions that take care of the labour-intensive steps for you while also significantly increasing the quality of the data. 

Details at a Glance

SPE (Solid Phase Extraction)

FREESTYLE SPE PFAS with laptop loaded with 3 racks | © LCTech GmbH

The column is firmly connected to the arm, therefore sample and solvent can be dosed precisely and at a constant flow rate via the SPE column with positive pressure using a syringe pump. Drying is also carried out via positive pressure with nitrogen.

  • Non-stop Policy: If a column becomes blocked, the system detects the overpressure. The column is reset, the system cleans itself automatically and continues with the processing of the next column
  • One rack for all types of columns: reusable adapters allow easy changing and mixing of columns of any standard format
  • Columns can be moved to any position in the rack area
  • Three solvents as standard, upgrade option up to six or even fifteen solvents

Double-walled with two independent lines inside the needle. Spray holes are arranged 360° around the needle:

  • Spraying solvent into a vial (e.g. for quantitative transfer) or into the vacuum chamber for rinsing and/or cleaning
  • Filling into vials closed with septa (e.g. 1 mL vial with insert)
  • Sharp tip for piercing a septum without punching out parts of the septum

Fluidics management is a central component of the robotic system, where precise dosing and control of fluids is essential:

  • 10 mL syringe pump for an exact way to dispense solutions and samples in defined quantities with defined flow rates
  • 6 freely selectable ports for solvent supply. (Optional upgrade for 15 freely selectable solvents possible)
  • N2 valve for drying or evaporation process

All components in the fluidic path (tubings, valves, ...) are PTFE-free!

More than 40 different racks (also temperature-controlled) can be freely combined with the FREESTYLE system.

Maximum flexibility for your applications, just as you need it, also for IAC columns. Only one rack type is needed for all columns in standard formats up to 15 mL. Adaptation is done by adapters. The racks are hooked in easily and transferred to the software with just a few mouse clicks.

SPE method: The software enables the transfer of almost any manual method directly into automation.

  • Simple operation through drag & drop
  • Dual SPE: Two solid phase extractions can be automated in one method

Specifications

Max. Volume per sample

up to 100 mL

Samples per sequence

27

Duration per sequence

approx. 13 hours (using the example of “Dual-SPE for food samples” / duration varies, depending on the standard, volume and flow rate used)

Samples simultaneously

1

Location

on the laboratory bench

Fume hood

not required

PFAS compatibility

PE tubings, PTFE-free syringe, PTFE-free valves

Solvent compatibility

all necessary solvents according to the regulations are compatible

Assignment of LCTech Systems and Columns to the Official Standards

Detailed view of FREESTYLE SPE PFAS tubes | © LCTech GmbH

No PFAS Background from the System

  • PE tubings
  • PTFE-free syringe
  • PTFE-free valves
  • Dual-SPE procedure possible (29 min. per sample)
  • Validation EURL Freiburg
  • Recommended in the Guidance Document on Analytical Parameters for the Determination of PFAS in Food and Feed!
System Overview

Other Solutions for PFAS Applications

LCTech developed robotic systems, specially for the sensitive PFAS application, almost completely free of plastics containing fluorine such as PTFE and thus offers a solution to the problem. It has not been possible to determine any blank values that come from the system.

The FREESTYLE PFAS system is available for 2 further FREESTYLE configurations:
FREESTYLE XANA PFAS loades | © LCTech GmbH
Automated Determination of PFAS in 250 mL Water Samples

With the FREESTYLE XANA PFAS TableTop, the automated clean-up of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances from up to thirty 250 mL water samples is possible quickly and without supervision, even at the weekend or overnight. 

A high sample throughput per day is achieved thanks to the parallel performance of the individual process steps “conditioning”, “loading” and “washing” and the simultaneous processing of 3 samples each. 

FREESTYLE XANA PFAS loades | © LCTech GmbH
Automated Determination of PFAS in 0.05 – 10 L Water Samples

With the FREESTYLE XANA PFAS, the automated clean-up of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances from up to twenty-four water samples from 0.05 to 10 litres is possible quickly and without supervision, even at the weekend or overnight. 

A high sample throughput per day is achieved thanks to the parallel performance of the individual process steps “conditioning”, “loading” and “washing” and the simultaneous processing of 3 samples each. 

Do you have any further questions?

The LCTech experts are happy to provide you with individual solutions.