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  • Flame Photometer Samples: Preparing for efficiency and speed

    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!

  • Flame Photometer Functions: What do Flame Photometers do?

    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!

  • The Role of Standard Solutions: Making your Flame Photometer Accurate

    The best equipment in the world is useless without calibration.  Much has been done by BWB to automate the process with Flame Photometers for consistency, reliability, and repeatability.  While others lag behind, we’re making flame photometry better, faster, and more efficient. Our objective is to eliminate (as far as possible) human error by using an internal computerized process that tells the operator when to introduce the various solutions for calibration. Many existing flame photometers still require the user to stay in the lower concentration ranges, for example, of 50 ppm or less, and to manually calibrate using a “Blank” testing solution, and a “Standard” testing solution (more on those in a moment), and then read the results out directly from the meter or display. Otherwise, operators were required to manually plot a calibration curve for the Blank and several Standards, which were then interpolated from the graphing results.  So much work—and so many opportunities to introduce errors into the calculations! By automating the process as much as possible, telling the operator when to introduce the various liquids, the calibration curve is graphed automatically, using a Blank and a Standard preparation (or optionally more to enhance accuracy). Blanks & Standards So, what are these Blanks & Standards?  They are the very foundation for ensuring accuracy in Flame Photometer results! Standard Solutions Standards are solutions prepared with a single element being tested.  Standard solutions for Sodium might be 5ppm, 10, 25, 50, 70, 85, 100, 120, or any number you desire that covers the expected range of your sample or samples. Values, sometimes with ranges significantly higher or lower, are used for the other elements, including potassium, lithium, calcium, or barium.  In the latter case of barium, for example, you should not set a high value lower than 300 ppm because of sensitivity issues.  Lower values for barium standard solutions could decrease to as little as 50 for the sake of building the calibration curve, but higher is clearly better for accuracy. For example, with the barium thought… If you knew values would be in the low range, your test substance could be concentrated through evaporation.  Halving its volume would double the concentration, obviously.  You can therefore easily calculate that something reading 268ppm would really represent 134ppm, but be assured of a much higher accuracy rate in your final results. Blank Solutions Blank Solutions, on the other hand, contain all of the constituents of the standard solutions, with the exception of the element that is being tested.  Additionally, if a test sample also contains a quantity of hydrochloric acid, then the Blank Solution should contain the same quantity of HCL as the sample.  This avoids crosstalk, or ionic interference, and keeps the results accurate. Making Standards and Blanks Both of these solutions should be prepared or purchased as Stock Solutions in very high concentrations such as 10,000ppm.  They can be diluted to the necessary PPM when used, but low PPM solutions should not be stored since time causes ionic degradation rendering them inaccurate. World-wide “Never Flush Drugs” campaigns have had limited success.  It’s hard to impress the importance of returning unneeded drugs to the local chemist/pharmacist for proper disposal when people think “What’s the harm in flushing just three little Valium pills?”  Why is this important? All Standards and Blanks are prepared with diluents, typically deionized, distilled, or double-distilled (DD) water.  Conventional water supplies are rife with sodium, calcium, and potassium.  However, urban water supplies are often contaminated with barium and lithium from improper disposal of unused medications or industrial substances into the sanitary sewers.  It is vital to use the purest water available for preparing these solutions. Similarly, diluents should be stored in sealed (non-glass) containers so as not to be contaminated by airborne particles, or experience over-concentration due to the evaporative processes. Serial Dilutions Given a Stock Solution of 10,000ppm, a 1,000ppm solution is prepared by placing 10ml of stock in a 100ml volumetric flask, and filling with deionised water (distilled or DD water) to the 100ml mark. Decant this into a container marked 1,000ppm. Take 10ml of the new 1,000ppm solution, place it in a 100ml volumetric flask, and fill it with deionised water to the 100ml line.  Decant that into a new container marked 100ppm. Repeat the process again to make 10ppm and finally one more time to make 1ppm solution. It is a simple calculation to create a 50ppm solution, using 5ml of the 1,000ppm solution in the 100ml volumetric flask, or even 50 ml of the 100ppm solution, depending on need.  You are only limited by your ability to perform simple maths, and can get any needed PPM value. Scales It should be mentioned that industrial labs and medical labs use different measurements for their professions.  Most industrial processes use the PPM scale but medical facilities use the mol/L or mmol/L (moles or millimoles per litre) scale.  You can convert between these scales upon need. While it is possible to calculate the different values and switch between them using a constant called Avogadro’s Number which tells us one mol of any substance contains 6.02 x 1023 particles, it is time consuming.  As long as you know the atomic mass of the atom you are examining (e.g. sodium with a mass of 22.99 grams per mol) it is quicker to use an online converter or download one onto your own computer, just for the sheer speed and convenience. The Takeaway Using Standard Solutions provides reliable, consistent results.  BWB provides your new system with everything you need, right out of the box!  The only thing you need to provide is the fuel—propane, butane, or a commercial mixture combination called Liquid Petroleum Gas or LPG. Set up is quick and easy, and all the instructions are included.  If you are looking for the cutting edge in flame photometry, and a team that is always ready to support you, look no further than BWB. Give us a call today!  We would love to help you become the experts that customers rely on every day!

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Other Pages (73)

  • Applications

    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 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

  • The BWB Nuclear Flame Photometer

    The BWB Nuclear Flame Photometer Flame photometry for nuclear power plants Features Specs In The Box Apps FAQs Features 4 lithium detection channels focused for high accuracy lithium measurements 4-20mA SCADA™ two wire output set to client protocols In-built air compressor Solutions and labware included User selectable decimal places Data sharing via PC link with BWB’s FP-PC app IQ, OQ, PQ web-based certification available 10,000ppm calibration solution supplied, makes 15 litres of 100ppm solution 1ml and 10ml pipettes (10 each), 100x’s 20ml sample cups, 100ml flask An online, four channel detection system, designed for monitoring applications in nuclear power plants. The measurement of lithium at low concentrations within nuclear power stations has been identified as an application perfectly addressed by a new specialty flame photometer – The BWB Nuclear. ​ Designed in conjunction with our outstanding distributor in Germany, Mr. Wolfgang Glock, this unique flame photometer has 4 active channels for Lithium detection. Each channel is independently calibrated within the range of interest and this results in an increase of accuracy in keeping with industry demand. ​ Our simultaneous detection and display from each detection channel satisfies the requirement specifically and the tie of one of the channels to 2 wire 4-20mA output via supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA™) links, completes the unit for online use. ​ Data output via our FP-PC PC application enables data sharing over the internet or intranet for users sharing information. ​ Clients who utilize our unique “Collection Cup” feature realise online real time analysis. Optional for ‘online’, continuous measurements, the collection cup turns the BWB NUCLEAR FES into an ‘online’, real time, 24/7 analyser with 4-20mA output linked to a single channel. Via a 2 wire output the BWB FP can seamlessly integrate with any SCADA™ system. Totally unique and available on all models.” Download Datasheet Find Your Sales Rep

  • The BWB Soil Flame Photometer

    The BWB Soil Flame Photometer The first flame photometer optimised for the agricultural industry. Features Specs In The Box Apps FAQs Features Simultaneous detection and display of all 3 atoms of interest “IRS” (Internal Reference Standard) available Intuitive user interface for true ease of use Display prompts step by step operation Built-in air compressor Solutions and labware included Data sharing via pc link Operator independent determination of results 4 user selectable units of measure User selectable decimal places Integrated printer uses readily available paper IQ, OQ, PQ web-based certification available Can be used with either the BWB collection cup feature or our AFHS automated sample handling system Correction of Ca for the interference from high levels of Na Highly accurate and cost effective soil analysis designed to be used in the lab or 'on the road'. Potassium is essential to plant growth, fertilisers and soil substrates have been analysed using flame photometry for decades. Building upon 2017 research papers conducted by Professor Akiharu Sasaki for the specific use of flame photometer analysis in the agricultural industry over and above other methods of analysis the BWB SOIL Flame Photometer was born. This unique instrument has been designed and developed in conjunction with various field requests and operational requirements for the specific analysis of fertilisers and soil substrates. Building upon the footprint of the award winning BWB XP instrument the SOIL offers all the benefits of our base product optimised over and beyond the requirements for analysis in the agricultural industry. The SOIL instrument offers enhanced Ca detection alongside Sodium and Potassium with the option to utilise Lithium as an internal reference standard. The ease of portability of this instrument and ‘Just add Gas’ configuration allows the instrument to be set up in the back of a van and conduct field analysis on site at various geographical locations. With a thermal printer fitted as standard, traceability for sample analysis is maintained throughout. Download Datasheet Find Your Sales Rep

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