Four-channel Flow Injection Analysis System for Routine Lab Analyses

Low Cost, Simple Operation Make FIAlab-2500 an Attractive Option for Chemistry Labs

Dunedin, Fla., April 2005 – Now available from Ocean Optics is the FIAlab-2500, a flow injection analysis system for automating assays of common environmental and agricultural analytes such as nitrate, nitrite and ammonia. A fully integrated system – including XYZ autosampler – is available for less than $20,000.

The FIAlab-2500 has a four-channel peristaltic pump with six-port injector valve, and comes with software, detector, spectrometer, flow cell, light source, sampling optics, tubing and connectors. The system was developed by flow injection system supplier FIAlab Instruments, and is compatible with Ocean Optics UV and Visible miniature fiber optic spectrometers, light sources and optical fibers for dynamic spectral analyses of optical absorbance or fluorescence of solutions. Systems also can be configured for luminescence and electrochemical applications.

Flexibility and affordability make the FIAlab-2500 ideal for teaching, research and commercial labs, especially environmental and agricultural labs where routine analyses demand a robust, easy-to-use system. What’s more, the FIAlab-2500 can perform nearly any method typically handled by colorimetric flow injection analysis, such as methods used in water quality testing, soil sample analysis, pharmaceutical research and fermentation monitoring. Example assays include nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, ammonia, chloride and iron; many others are available.

The FIAlab-2500 is compatible with a variety of laboratory equipment. Its back-panel output port has four software-controlled TTL output lines, one digital-to-analog output line, two analog-to-digital input lines, and one 24 VDC contact close. An optional low-cost RS-232 module allows control of other devices such as Cavro Syringe pumps, Valco valves and AI Scientific AIM1250 Autosamplers. Other available add-on accessories include a 16-position random-access sample changer and a high-output deuterium source. 

The FIAlab-2500’s Windows-based software comes with FIAX ActiveX control, which allows users to interface to the system and its peripherals from existing software, even if the software is written in Visual Basic, Visual C++, Delphi, LabVIEW, HPEE or other environments.

Flow injection analysis (FIA) is an analytical technique based on microfluidic manipulation of samples and reagents – i.e., FIA automates handling of sample and reagent solutions, so that messy, awkward and inexact manual handling of solutions is unnecessary. Samples are injected into a carrier/reagent solution, which transports the sample zone into a detector while desired (bio)chemical reactions take place. FIA can be used for real-time monitoring of chemical processes, biotechnology applications and immunoassays, including antibody/antigen reactions. More recently, the method has been applied to the study of live cells by fluorescence microscopy.

Contact an Ocean Optics Applications Scientist