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While this article is not intended as a biology lesson, the use of flame photometers in the biological sciences is of paramount importance. Diagnostic medicine relies on fast determination of ionic metal ratios in bio-samples for life-saving treatment research. Those samples can be blood, saliva, urine, CSF (cerebrospinal fluid), gastric juices, or virtually any liquid the body can produce.  Indeed, methodologies have been developed to detect these important metals in biopsy samples or…um…solids produced by the body’s waste system. The presence of Sodium, Potassium, Lithium, Calcium, and Barium are all detectable by flame photometry.  Sodium, potassium, and calcium imbalances can result in death, of course, since these are the electrolytes of our bodies’ electrical architecture and the controllers of the on/off and intensity switches (channels) of functions like cardiac muscle contraction processes (heartbeat).  They are what allow our nerves to send all the vital signals that let us function. Barium and lithium have no known natural biological role, but lithium in a specific molecular form (lithium carbonate) can be used to ease bipolar disorders, mania, depression, mood disorders, and some other brain dysfunctions.  In some cases, it may act to reduce suicidal ideation. Some psychopharmacology experts entertain the idea that the lithium found in tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, nutmeg, and many other foods provide lithium in a micronutrient profile sufficient to ward off more serious conditions from developing in otherwise average people, as in this NIH study. Barium is considered nontoxic for humans.  It is used because it shows up well on X-rays, allowing imaging of soft tissues like the gastrointestinal tract, or the bowels. The point is that medical science needs to know when these metals are present, and in what amounts, to determine if they are sufficient to keep us alive, or too plentiful and threatening that status.  Flame photometry can offer the fastest route to that answer. Non-Humans Animals have bodily fluids, too.  Collecting fish, frogs, turtles, insects, and so on, in lakes, rivers, and swamps is extremely revealing to environmental biologists about contamination and pollution of the natural habitats that keep our planet running and in balance.  Similarly, terrestrial creatures can tell us about land use (or abuse). Best of all, you don’t need to kill the sample providers—they can be catch-and-release.  It is to the researchers’ advantage to return them to their habitat to continue acting as field agents collecting more environmental information for them.  Dart guns are less harmful than bullets, as most animal activists will agree. Detecting unexpected increases early provides the opportunity to find pollution violators and solve problems before they become toxic hazards.  This is not just for wildlife, of course, but the cascade that will eventually impact us, the humans. The Takeaway Ultimately flame photometry is an incredibly useful science.  It is easy to master, with only a slight learning curve, allowing someone to become competent in just one day. Our unique and tough portable units are unlike any other company’s offering.  They can operate in the field as easily as in the lab.  In situ testing is just as reliable as laboratory work. Whether your customers, research studies, or contractors provide samples or hire you to assess environments, BWB has just the equipment you need to succeed. Give us a call today and let us set you on the road to success.  We have the tools that you need, and we would love to hear from you to help turn you into the expert provider that customers will seek out!

It would be nice if body scanners and handheld medical tricorders from Star Trek existed.  Indeed, something similar is already in limited use, with an equally competent real life tricorder-like device possible within the decade.  However, since the beloved Dr. Leonard McCoy isn’t due to be born until the year 2227, we’re going to have to make do with what we have now. Luckily, for primitive 21st century humans, BWB Flame Photometers are among the most advanced analysis equipment available for vital detection of alkali and alkali earth metals.  They crank out fast, reliable results at a rate up to 120 per hour or more, detailing all the metal ions at once, instead of requiring a complete test for each individual sample. To attain that speed, samples must be prepared beforehand.  The most basic requirement is that the sample be a solution, completely without solids.  It must be aspirated through a very fine needle into a flame to release the ions so they can produce the light we need for analysis. Bodily Fluids Blood, plasma, red cells, urine, etc., are best diluted (proportionally) to make sure when you’re testing for sodium and potassium (for example) that they will fall in the 100 ppm range whereas the Flame photometer offers its greatest accuracy for those substances. Calcium and Barium, on the other hand, are most accurately quantified closer to 300 ppm, though they can be detected at much lower levels.  If your sample is likely to fall in the 100 ppm range, you can vacuum evaporate it to one-third volume (to triple the concentration) and the flame photometer readout can be divided by three to give you a much more precise result than if you simply tested the 100 ppm solution. This is not strictly necessary, but rather entirely dependent on what your customer specifies as the required accuracy.  If you charge “X” for 3% accuracy, it makes sense to charge “X + x%” for higher levels like 1% or 0.5% accuracy because of the additional prep-work involved. Testing Solids For the testing of organic solids, the samples of known mass are burnt to ash, typically in a ceramic bowl, in a lab oven (furnace).  Once water loss is no longer detected it is removed from the oven, allowed to cool, and then treated with small quantities of Nitric acid, Perchloric Acid, Hydrochloric Acid (et al), which is all fine since hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine, nitrogen, and sulphur are not reactive enough to colour the low temperature flame of a photometer. Once the solids are “digested” the test solution can be strained through filter paper to remove any remaining bits that could clog the aspirator.  Add enough deionised water to make 100ml.  This is now your testing solution. Blank Solutions Generally, you’ll need to make a “blank” solution for calibration purposes.  If during processing of your sample you added 10 ml of Perchloric Acid, and 20 ml of Nitric Acid, those will have to be added to your blank solution, too.  This eliminates crosstalk (ionic interference), keeping the results accurate. Using a 100 ml flask, pour in 50 ml of deionised water (Safety tip: always add acid to water, and never add water to acid).  Now add precisely the same quantity of any acids used to prepare your test solution to the water, and then fill the flask to the 100 ml mark.  Label this “Blank Solution”. Standard Solutions Standard solutions can be purchased in high or very high concentrations to simply your work.  High (1,000 ppm) or very high (10,000 ppm) solutions are handy, inexpensive and increase efficiency.  Very High PPM solutions are quite durable when stored in glass containers that are well sealed.  Low PPM solutions (< 100 PPM) deionise quickly and render inaccurate results so should not be stored. You can make Standard Solutions, particularly if you use a lot of them very quickly and shipping in your country is sometimes unreliable.  Let’s quickly look at a Calcium Stock solution at 1,000 PPM. Weigh 2.498 grams of calcium carbonate and place in a 1,000 ml flask.  Add 100 ml of deionised water.  While stirring or agitating, add up to 20 ml of hydrochloric acid drop-by-drop until all the solids are dissolved.  Add more deionised water up to the 1,000 ml line and you now have your 1,000 PPM Calcium Stock Solution. Knowing how much calcium carbonate is needed to obtain the calcium concentration you require is a simple look-up online if you don’t have a chart in front of you.  Many people have done this before, so there is no need to reinvent the wheel! Set up as many 100 ml flasks as needed.  In the first flask place 0.5 ml of the Stock solution, in the second 1.0 ml, in the third 1.5 ml, and 2.0 ml in the fourth (continuing or altering until your requirements are met). When each flask is then filled with deionised water to the 100 ml line, these examples will render 5 PPM, 7.5 PPM, 10.0 PPM, 12.5 PPM, and so on (respectively).  Any concentration you need for calibrating is just a simple mathematical calculation away. The Takeaway One could invest in pricey high tech equipment such as a Gas Chromatograph or full-fledged Mass Spectrometer, but unless there is a clear need for such devices, it is definitely overkill.  They take time, report on a single sample element being investigated, they take time, require large amounts of consumables for each test, and they take time! Training time for those complex machines is much longer than on a Flame Photometer, particularly one from BWB Technologies, which is automated and computerised to make the whole process easier.  A new employee can be running tests and generating results and income in less than a day! If you need to be running tests for customers in medicine or bio-medicine, pharmacology, water treatment, agriculture, commercial food packaging, or innumerable other fields, BWB Tech is here to help you be the dependable, cost effective service provider that customers come to rely on every day!  Our people are always ready to help you to become that vital in-demand service that powers so many labs around the world.  Call us…we’d love to hear from you!

Just about every student that ever sat in a chemistry class where they conducted practical experiments has had occasion to put a lump of metal in a Bunsen Burner flame and generate a colour.  This manual method can allow them to identify the metal by the colour of the flame it generates in comparison to a chart of known colours for heated metals.  It’s simple and revelatory for the student. This “Wow!” or “Neat!” moment gives teachers a chance to explain that certain types of metals, when exposed to sufficient heat will colour the flame because ions are escaping the metal in a gaseous form.  This allows the valance electrons to jump up an energy level to an unstable state, but since that is not a tenable position for them, they shed a photon to get back to ground state. These photons are at very specific wavelengths for each element.  The colours and specific frequencies of light can inform us about the material we’re examining, but it is very crude information.  Comparing two metals with similar colours can lead to misidentification, and alloys can generate nearly unidentifiable mixes of colour when using this manual method. AES, or Atomic Emission Spectroscopy, often known simply as Flame Photometry, overcomes these difficulties and gives us much more precise information about a substance by using a spectroscope.  This setup is specifically useful for non-organic alkali metals and alkali-earth metals, such as sodium, potassium, beryllium, lithium, and calcium. By detecting the specific line spectrum that identifies your test substance, you can not only see that it is present, but by measuring the intensity of the light, also see “how much” is there.  You can capture both qualitative and quantitative data simultaneously. With modern Flame Photometry equipment like our own, you can read all of the measureable metals at the same time.  You don’t need to repeat the test up to five times per sample, thus making the process much more efficient. The first two metals shown here are both present in the readout show below in the third band.  The whole process is simple, fast, and far less expensive to get the results needed than more complex techniques. The Takeaway Instrumental measurements surpass manual methods by providing fast results, more accurate results, and more sensitive results.  By that we mean you can measure down to parts per million rather than “yes” or “no”.  Further, with automation, techniques don’t have to rely on a human that may not have gotten enough sleep last night, or just got home from a party, so your results can be very consistent for high volumes of testing on large batches. Humans are great, and we’ll probably always need them, but any time you can relieve tedium and use human brains for something creative that a machine cannot do is a great day!  It may be bioassays for medical research purposes that need a human present to make judgement calls, or continuous water sampling at a sewage treatment plant.  Bother are essential functions and Flame Photometry is almost always the fastest way to a useful result!

Applications BWB Technologies - Continually pushing the boundaries of flame photometry From brine to cement, serum to condensate; our range of applications and technical documents and industry specific instruments ensure that we can provide a solution to your analytical requirements. If you have a specific element, or more than one element, that you're interested in, click on the element tiles a little further down the page, to filter the list of application notes to meet your needs. We've added a dilution calculator here, to help with calibration. One common question we've been asked, has been how to calculate the amount of a calibration standard that is required to be generate a sample used for calibration purposes. To that end here is a calculator for you to use - just enter the Stock Concentration, Final Concentration and the Final Volume required, and the Volume from Stock box will be populated with the correct value to use. ppm Stock Concentration: ppm Final Concentration: mL Final Volume: Calculate Dilution Calculator mL Volume from Stock: Application Notes Click here to reset (show all products) Determination of Na and K using Emulsions and Microemulsions for Sample Preparation Learn More Determination of Na in Biodiesel using Dry Decomposition for Sample Preparation Learn More Determination of Sodium in Biodiesel by Flame Atomic Learn More Measurement of Calcium and Potassium in Cereals Learn More Measurement of Calcium in Biological Samples Learn More Measurement of Calcium in DNA and DNP Learn More Measurement of Calcium in Fresh Fruit Learn More Measurement of Calcium in Serum & Urine Learn More Measurement of Calcium in Unashed Plant Leaves Learn More Measurement of Lithium Sea Water Learn More Measurement of Lithium in Minerals Learn More Measurement of Lithium in Saliva Learn More Measurement of Low Concentrations of Sodium in Cement Learn More Measurement of Na, K and Ca in Plant Extracts Learn More Measurement of Potassium and Sodium in Bread Learn More Measurement of Potassium and Sodium in Meat Learn More Measurement of Potassium and Sodium in Wine Learn More Measurement of Potassium in Unashed Plant Leaves Learn More Measurement of Sodium and Potassium in Cheese Learn More Measurement of Sodium and Potassium in Dried Milk Learn More Measurement of Sodium and Potassium in Silicate Rocks Learn More Measurement of Trace Elements in Biodiesel Learn More Potassium Extraction from Soil Learn More Recommended Sample Handling Techniques & Considerations Learn More Salinity in Processed Foods Learn More Units of Concentration Learn More

Welcome to BWB Technologies BWB Technologies is a global company with offices in Europe, America and the Middle East. We offer a world-wide, quick-response technical support network and employ real experts in flame photometry to ensure they remain at the cutting edge year on year. We offer a world-wide, quick-response technical support network of flame photometry experts, to give our customers the best, up-to-date service. The Flame Photometer Experts View Products Get a Quote Contact Us Testimonials from Customers "Easy to install, easy to handle, gives accurate measurements." Wolfgang Glock THG-Glock Instruments Germany View All Testimonials Review Us on Google Why Choose Our Flame Photometers? To offer even further accuracy the majority of instruments across our model range enable up to 10 point calibration curves to be generated per element. This results in a highly accurate method of analysis given that most elements do not have a linear emission spectra, although this is certainly the claim from other manufacturers. Advanced Calibration Hover for more Highly accurate calibration curves can be generated with up to 10 points of calibration per element. Multi-Ion and Multi-Point standards can be used to further expedite your time to analysis. Our range of instruments are all derived from our award winning and best-selling base platform, the XP model. Our five element simultaneous detection system is revolutionary, enabling you to easily calibrate and analyse all five elements at the same time without changing filters. Simultaneous Detection & Display Hover for more Our simultaneous detection and display of all 5 elements drastically speeds up the sample throughput time and prevents operators from constant recalibration procedures. 'One of our top priorities is accessibility and convenience, for all of our international clients. That is why we have a minimalist interface with intuitive controls, and no complicated buttons or dials. Our keypads and FLASH capacitive touch displays were designed by user ergonomic experts, to help us provide the smoothest user experience. Intuitive Interface Hover for more 'With thousands of instruments in use around the world, ensuring accessibility for all is important to us. The BWB range offers easy to use LCD driven user prompts to help you have the best experience with your instrument. 'The BWB range of instruments incorporate a service and oil free compressor built into the system. Our design saves valuable lab space, and removes the issues that old, noisy, leak-prone oil compressors create. This drastically reduces interference and allows a strict control of air flow and known pressures, resulting in stable flame conditions and exceptional quality of result determination. Built-In Air Compressor Hover for more 'Our systems all have a service and oil free compressor, to prevent interferences, noise and footprint. 'Our PC software, included with every instrument, supports further work with your data. The reporting feature generates CSV and PDF reports for your analysed samples and calibration curves can be downloaded from the instrument and saved for later recall. Free PC Software Hover for more 'We offer free PC software that enables the user to create CSV and PDF reports and traceability. We understand that not all labs will have the availability of propane gas ready to use, although propane does offer some of the best results for flame photometry, the instrument can be used with butane or even natural gas without modification. Gas Selection Hover for more A specially developed built in gas regulator enabling the use of Propane, LPG, Butane or Natural Gas (Methane) as standard and with no user modification required. Boasting internal storage for up to 200 results, the instrument surpasses the outdated analogue counterparts that are still prevalent in the market. You can conveniently access the results when needed or easily transfer them to your PC for further use. Internal Results Storage Hover for more Utilise the instrument as a standalone device with no PC requirement. Up to 200 results can be stored within the internal memory. BWB Flame Photometers were designed from the ground up using the newest and most innovative technology to give the user unsurpassed levels of accuracy, usability and reliability; it's able to do all this while still significantly reducing analysis times. We are always improving our products to make sure that we keep ahead of the demanding needs of elemental analysis. Continuous Development Hover for more Our Flame Photometers are designed from the ground up from experts in the field and our continuous development nature ensures that instruments remain at the cutting edge year on year. We supply absolutely everything you'll need to start using our instruments straight out of the box. Calibration standards and basic labware enables the rapid creation of calibration standards. You can be running results within an hour of unboxing. Just Add Gas Hover for more We do not believe in hidden charges and additional accessories. To start using your award winning BWB instrument, all you need to do is 'Just Add Gas!' A two minute introduction to BWB Technologies Product Categories Learn More Other manufacturers may be content with a "one size fits all" policy, but we recognise the value of providing tailored solutions, specifically designed for our targeted applications. Flame Photometers Learn More Truly automate flame photometry analysis with our Automated Fluid Handling System (AFHS) products - auto sampler, auto diluter and printer. Save time, increase productivity, automate analysis and improve reproducibility & accuracy. Automation Systems Contact Us BWB Technologies supply a range of products for our customers to ensure that their flame photometer performs to the highest standards for years to come! We offer FAST delivery - call us today! Consumables Learn More BWB Technologies provide a range of services, like our unique IQ OQ PQ programme, to maintain your instrument's accuracy and ensure swift repair, in the event of a failure. Click below for more details. Services

Application Note Measurement of Calcium in Unashed Plant Leaves Return to All Applications Geyer, R.P. and Bowie, E.J., ‘The Direct Microdetermination of Tissue Calcium by Flame Photometry’, Anal. Biochem., 2, (1961), 360-369. This procedure uses a TCA (trichloroacetic acid) extraction of the tissue to release all of the Calcium Procedure Solution and Standard Preparation Deionised distilled water was used throughout to prepare the following solutions: Organic Diluting Fluid contained 500ml isopropyl alcohol, 300 ml water, 0.2 ml Non-Ion-Ox (ex. Aloe Scientific Co., St. Louis, Mo. USA), 74.6 mg KCl and 292 mg NaCl. TCA solution for tissue extraction was 6.2% w/v and for standard preparation was 8.3% w/v and also contained 19.5 mg NaCl / 100ml. 6.25% trichloroacetic acid solution was first prepared. 6.25grams of TCA acid was accurately weighed and added to a 100ml volumetric flask and was then made up to the mark with deionised or MilliQ water. An 8.3% solution was then made up using 8.3grams of TCA into 100ml of DI water in a volumetric flask. Primary Calcium Standard Solution was prepared by dissolving 250 mg CaCO3 in 25ml of 2M HCl and diluted to 1l to give 100 μg Ca / ml Standards and reagent blanks containing 0 – 3 μg Ca /ml were prepared by mixing 80ml of Organic Diluting Fluid, 15ml of 8.3% TCA, 0 – 3ml of Primary Calcium Solution and made up to the mark with DI water. To this solution 1gram of Lanthanum Chloride was added. The 0 μg Ca /ml solution was used as a blank solution and then calibrated in increasing amounts of concentrations (1, 2 then 3 μg Ca /ml). Tissue Extraction A tissue slice of approximately 0.5mm thickness was prepared and then quickly dipped into a calcium free incubation solution. This was then blotted carefully on a piece of filter paper. The tissue was then accurately weighed to yield samples of approximately 100mg wet weight. The sample was transferred to a centrifuge tube and adequate 6.2% TCA solution was added to bring the total volume of the sample to 2ml. This solution was then vigorously shaken every ten minutes over a half hour period. 8ml of Organic Diluting fluid was added to the tube and then the solution was centrifuged at 2000g for 30 minutes. The supernatant fluid was then pipetted off and 0.1grams of Lanthanum Chloride was added and mixed well. This solution was then aspirated through the pre-calibrated flame photometer. Preparation of Standard Graph Set the flame photometer in accordance to MultiPoint/Single Ion Calibration found on page 24 of the BWB Technologies Installation and Operation Manual, to measure calcium emission. Return to All Applications