LCTechThe FREESTYLE Robotic System
Flexible, Precise, Modular
The FREESTYLE Robotic System
Flexible, Precise, Modular
This robust automation is excellently suited to the fields of food, feed, environment, forensics and other areas of application. The FREESTYLE system takes care of routine everyday tasks in the laboratory, while also offering the user the unique opportunity to combine certain work steps, which were previously performed individually. The FREESTYLE system can reliably run throughout the night and can be utilised optimally.
The FREESTYLE system is probably the most adaptable robotic device for sample preparation on the market. This series of systems, which can be used virtually, allows many work steps to be automated.
FREESTYLE SPE
The manual processing of samples in many laboratories often takes up a great deal of the laboratory staff’s time. This is true both for solid phase extraction and for subsequent concentration (evaporation). Reproducibility is impaired by the many manual steps, such as the manual rinsing of the loading containers or the use of a rotary evaporator. This can lead to inaccurate or inconsistent results and undermine trust in the methods. Automation of these processes helps to improve the efficiency and reproducibility of the methods.
SPE (Solid Phase Extraction)
Flexible Sample Loading
The various types of sample loading open many different possible applications: from large volumes of up to approx. 100 mL in mycotoxin analysis down to just a few µL, such as in forensics.
The FREESTYLE technology offers the right solution for any application, which can simply be selected in the software when setting up the method.
Sample loading of large-volume samples
These samples (up to approx. 100 mL) are ideally aspirated into the sample loop (possibly several times) via the needle (first Z axis) and then released onto the SPE column (second Z axis).
Loading of small-volume samples (e.g. 500 µL)
The column is conditioned and positioned in the wash port. The small sample volume (e.g. 500 µL) is directly pipetted into the column using the needle. The SPE unit then takes up the column again and the process continues.
Flexible Elution
Elution from the SPE column can be performed in many ways. Even highly complex elution processes can be carried out. The different procedures are saved as a macro in the software and can easily be integrated into a method. A selection of different racks enables elution into different containers, e.g. into a 2 mL or 5 mL graduated flask, if a defined final volume is needed.
FREESTYLE ThermELUTE
LCTech FREESTYLE ThermELUTE™ for fully automated mycotoxin analysis
The FREESTYLE ThermELUTE™ enables fully-automated sample preparation for the analysis of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, and M1 as well as ochratoxin A and zearalenone in all regulated matrices.
The FREESTYLE BASIC is equipped with the SPE and the ThermELUTE™ module for this purpose. The system is then combined with any HPLC system – the result is comprehensive automation with processing from the raw extract to the finished chromatogram without any manual working steps. Minimum workload for maximized sample throughput.
Sample processing day and night and even at the weekend
High sample throughput of up to 500 samples/week
Noteworthy sensitivity in the lower ppt range
Very good recovery rates
Reproducible results
Suitable for feed/food and baby food
Measurement in the ppq range instead of ppt
Unique: Thermal Denaturation
The extracted, diluted, and filtered sample is loaded onto the high-performance SMART column via the FREESTYLE system. After washing, the column is heated, breaking the bond between the toxin and antibody thermal denaturation. The toxins are now eluted in a large volume as aqueous eluate directly into the HPLC sample loop via partial filling. Via an interface, the sample is released to and taken over by the HPLC, derivatized (aflatoxin B1, G1), and analyzed.
FREESTYLE XANA
Processing water samples to detect any harmful substances is an important task in most laboratories.
To detect a wide range of chemical compounds, large-volume water samples are usually processed and an extensive repertoire of individual steps is applied. The manual processing of these often time-consuming and monotonous steps poses a challenge for the laboratory staff in routine laboratories.
Parallelised automation, which processes all the necessary steps precisely, makes it much easier to process large-volume water samples in the laboratory, while also reducing variance in the results.
Specifications
Developed for unattended 24/7 operation.
24 samples are loaded in groups of 3 for sequential throughput.
Use of 3 mL and 6 mL SPE columns made of polypropylene.
Liquid and pressure tight up to 4 bar.
Free adjustable flow rates of 0.1 – 30 mL/min.
Drying with pre-set nitrogen pressure.
Up to 8 solvents selectable for conditioning and washing.
FREESTYLE SPE PFAS
PFAS Analysis:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have special properties and are used in many industrial processes and products, such as textiles, household goods, firefighting, the automotive industry, food processing, construction, and electronics. The chemicals can now be found in the environment (rivers, lakes, soils) and in food (drinking water or other food). The substance group comprises more than 4,700 compounds, making it also an analytical challenge.
Based on the robust and established FREESTYLE XANA robotic system for large-volume water samples (0.1 L – 10 L), LCTech has developed a solution specifically for PFAS applications, in which plastics containing fluorine such as PTFE are avoided.
High throughput in PFAS analysis
The FREESTYLE robotic systems have proven themselves in sample preparation for PFAS and are a valuable support for high throughput. They are blank-free due to the use of PTFE-free materials and compatible with all commercially available 3 mL or 6 mL columns.
The right FREESTYLE for every sample volume
The following FREESTYLE PFAS models are all PFAS compatible thanks to PE tubing, PTFE-free syringe and valves, but differ in their sample volume. All systems are standard-compliant and meet the requirements of the official methods.
FREESTYLE XANA PFAS
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Max. Volume per sample | up to 4 L (10 L retrofitting possible) |
| Samples per sequence | 24 |
| Duration per sequence | approx. 8 hours (for US EPA 537.1) |
| Samples simultaneously | up to 6 |
| Location | on bench supplied |
| 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 |
FREESTYLE SPE PFAS
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| 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 |
FREESTYLE XANA PFAS TableTop
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Max. Volume per sample | up to 250 mL |
| Samples per sequence | 30 |
| Duration per sequence | approx. 8 – 9 hours (for US EPA 537.1) |
| Samples simultaneously | up to 6 |
| 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 |
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SPE COLUMNS FOR PFAS ANALYSIS
Reliable clean-up and successful enrichment of PFAS analytes are essential for any good analysis.
LCTech offers self-developed universal columns for improved recovery of longer-chain PFAS and neutral sulfonamide PFAS. For highly pigmented matrices (e.g. spinach) these are available as HP version.
The LCTech portfolio also includes SDVB and WAX SPE columns optimised for PFAS, which can be used according to the current European, American and international standards.
EluCLEAN® PFAS Universal
Food/Feed, Drinking Water, Aqueous and Solid Environmental Samples
EluCLEAN® PFAS Universal HP
Highly Pigmented Food/Feed Samples and Highly Colored Environmental Samples
Features:
Specifically developed columns with various interactions to improve recovery rates of longer chain PFAS (≥ C12) and neutral sulfonamide PFAS
Suitable for all types of PFAS analytes according to current standards and beyond
EluCLEAN® PFAS – Universal is suitable for various types of matrices including food/feed, aqueous and solid environmental and drinking water matrices
EluCLEAN® PFAS – Universal-HP column should be used for highly pigmented food/feed and highly coloured environmental matrices
Outstanding recovery rates and low standard deviations
Excellent reproducibility
EluCLEAN® PFAS – WAX and SDVB
For Drinking Water, Compliant to International and National Standards
Features:
SDVB and WAX materials optimised for PFAS applications
Suitable for all types of PFAS analytes according current standards
Recommended for use in drinking water applications
Very good recovery rates and low standard deviations
Excellent reproducibility
| Column | Sorbent | Compliant to standards |
| EluCLEAN® PFAS SDVB | Polystyrene/Divinylbenzene Copolymer (SDVB) 500 mg/6 mL | US EPA 537.1, ISO 25101 |
| EluCLEAN® PFAS WAX | Weak Anion Exchanger, mixed-mode polymer (WAX) 500 mg/6 mL | US EPA 533, prEN-17892-2022, DIN 38407-42, ISO 21675:2019, ISO 25101 |
| EluCLEAN® PFAS WAX | Weak Anion Exchanger, mixed-mode polymer (WAX) 200 mg/6 mL | US EPA 533, prEN-17892-2022, DIN 38407-42, ISO 21675:2019, ISO 25101 |
EluCLEAN® PFAS – WAX / GCB
For Aqueous and Solid Environmental Samples, Compliant to International and National Standards
Features:
WAX material optimised for PFAS applications
Suitable for all types of PFAS analytes according current standards
Recommended for use in solid and aqueous environmental applications
No tendency to clog with remaining particles after centrifugation
WAX + Carbon already combined in one cartridge (no second carbon cartridge or dispersive clean-up with carbon necessary)
Very good recovery rates and low standard deviations
Excellent reproducibility
| Column | Sorbent | Compliant to standards |
| EluCLEAN® PFAS WAX/GCB | Sorbent 1: Weak Anion Exchanger, Mixed-Mode Polymeric Sorbent (WAX)
Sorbent 2: Graphitized Carbon Black (GCB) 150 mg/10 mg/6 mL |
US EPA 1633 (3rd Draft), DIN 38414-14, DIN 38407-42,
ISO 21675:2019 |
| EluCLEAN® PFAS WAX/GCB | Sorbent 1: Weak Anion Exchanger, Mixed-Mode Polymeric Sorbent (WAX)
Sorbent 2: Graphitized Carbon Black (GCB) 200 mg/50 mg/6 mL |
DoD und DoE QSM 5.1/5.3, US EPA 1633 (3rd Draft),
DIN 38414-14, DIN 38407-42, ISO 21675:2019 |
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