TRACE 1200 Atomic Absorption Spectrometer

Thanks to its large number of customizable options, the TRACE 1200 Atomic Absorption Spectrometer is also the most versatile spectrometer on the market today.  What started out as a good idea has developed into a remarkable analytical instrument.

In an industry that is becoming increasingly specialized, it is easy to recognize the advantages of an analytical instrument that offers so many possibilities in such a small space. We invite you to take a look at what the TRACE 1200 AAS has to offer in providing an analytical solutions to your elemental analysis needs:

Switchable Single/Double Beam Optics
Automatic, single-click switching allows choice between Single Beam or True Double Beam optics to suit your elemental analysis application

Automatic Switch Between Flame, GF Atomizer
The manual or motorized platform positions the flame and graphite furnace atomizers, enabling a quick switch between the different atomizers

Transversely Heated GF Tube
Unique, compact design allows virtually isothermal atomization conditions both spatially & temporally for highly sensitive, yet dependable, reproducible results

High Heating Rate
Industry leading rapid heating rate ensures that minimal time is required to achieve ideal atomization conditions

Inert Teflon Nebulizer Chamber
Chemically inert, to provide protection against corrosive reagents and organic solvents

Universal XYZ Autosampler
One autosampler compatible with all types of atomizer: Flame, GF or VG

Auto-aligned coded 5 lamp turret
Motorized and computer controlled to make 5 pre-heated lamps available to the user with a single click of a mouse

On-Line Dilution
Offers the convenience of creating a calibration curve from a single standard solution and brings out-of-range solutions to within calibration range

Built-In Power Supplies
Independent power supplies for both high intensity hollow cathode lamps and the GF AAS are housed within the above

Small Footprint
Dimensions:  W 65 x D 55 x H 37 cm 

Flame

With supreme guaranteed performance, our Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (FAAS) promises to be one of the most premier AAS in its class. Our fully inert Teflon spray chamber, titanium burner head, and industry-leading 1 kHz modulation rate combines to create an extremely flexible system. 

The TRACE 1200 AAS can accommodate the widest possible range of analytical application requirements from the lowest detection limits to the most astringent operating environments.


Unmatched Performance
Typical performance for a 2 mg/L Cu sample is 0.4 Abs. The system also offers high elemental analysis precision: better than 0.5% RSD from ten 4 second integrations under optimized conditions.

Gas Control
The TRACE1200 AAS offers as a standard feature:
• Programmable gas control with automatic changeover for different flame systems
• Gas flow rates and flame conditions can be optimized via software and saved as a method for easy
     access.
• Automatic oxidant selection and oxidant changeover
• Computer controlled flow rates
• Automatic ignition and flame status

Electronic Modulation
The TRACE 1200 AAS uses an industry-leading 1 kHz electronic modulation rate to generate high quality, real-time data minimizing the interpolation errors associated with time-integrated measurements. 

Safety
When designing the TRACE 1200 we took into account not only performance and sensitivity but also the safety concerns of the end-user. Parameters that are found standard on the instrument include:
• Safety interlocks for the appropriate burner head
• Safety sensors for gas pressure, liquid gas seal, power failure and flame on/off status
• Pressure relief bung

Automatic On-line Sample Dilution
Aurora patented technology of on-line dilution for flame system allows the user to create an entire calibration curve with one single stock solution. The elimination of manual standards preparation greatly reduces time in the laboratory for sample element analysis.
 
Autosampler
When the TRACE 1200 AAS is equipped with an autosampler, flame analysis is as simple as loading samples, picking your favorite method, pressing start and walking away.

GF

The TRACE 1200 Atomic Absorption Spectrometer's graphite furnace virtually eliminates many of the problems that are normally associated with Graphite Furnace AA. These include; memory effects, poor atomization efficiency, slow analysis and high background.

How is this accomplished?

Transverse Heating
Spatially isothermal atomization is critical to achieving accurate analysis with GFAAS.  Non-isothermal conditions cause memory effects, increased background and poor atomization efficiency.

Therefore, Aurora’s TRACE 1200 AAS uses a transversely heated furnace to provide near isothermal atomization conditions in contrast to the longitudinally heated graphite furnace which creates temperature gradients within the graphite tube for poor results.
 


The graph shown above demonstrates the spatially isothermal temperature profile of the TRACE 1200's transversely heated graphite furnace.

High Heating Rate
Temporally isothermal atomization is the ideal condition for atomization in Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. In the TRACE 1200 AAS, this is achieved by using an industry-leading 3800 °Ks-1 heating rate, resulting in sample being atomized in the shortest possible time in a stable temperature furnace environment. In addition, our software provides GF programming flexibility:

     • Temperature programs of up to 30 individual steps
     • Ramp time can be varied in steps of 0.1s
     • Hold time is selectable from 0s up to 99s in steps of 0.1s

Superior Temperature Control
The most important stage affecting the reproducibility of graphite furnace atomization is the drying stage. Without accurate furnace temperature control, reproducible drying conditions may be impossible to achieve.

As result, we have focused our efforts on taking the 'worry' out of the drying stage; allowing the chemist to confidently eliminate this source of analytical variability from their elemental analysis measurements.
 
The TRACE 1200 uses a specially designed sensor for temperatures in the low range in addition to the standard high temperature sensors already found in our previous models. This low temperature sensor has an independent calibration program to provide temperature control accurate to within 1 degree Celsius. Unlike our competitors, this sensor yields real-time data rather than relying on simulation algorithms.

Electronic Modulation
The TRACE 1200 uses an industry-leading 1 kHz electronic modulation rate to generate high quality, real-time absorbance data, while minimizing the interpolation errors associated with time-integrated measurements.  Coupled with deuterium background correction for GF analysis, this high modulation rate system offers clear performance advantages over Zeeman systems across virtually all applications.

Flame GF

This configuration of the flame and graphite furnace atomizers allows for a quick changeover between the atomizers. The new automatic switch feature makes the changeover quick and easy, literally within seconds. These new designs allow fast changeover between atomizers via manual adjustment of the dual atomizer platform or with a single click of the programmable, motorized platform (Auto-switch).  Either way, no parts need replacing nor are any tools required in making this adjustment; thereby minimizing the downtime of this revolutionary analytical instrument.

We have applied this level of automation and flexibility with the user in mind. The design complexities inherent in any switchable atomizer instrument have been overcome to achieve a sophisticated, yet simple to operate analytical tool for your elemental analysis.  This F/GF Atomic Absorption Spectrometer features automatic functions that make any lab run smoother.  The TRACE1200 Flame/GF features:

     • Industry-leading 1 kHz electronic modulation
     • Motorized 5-lamp turret
     • Auto-aligning Hollow Cathode Lamp turret
     • Programmable wavelength
     • Programmable slit width/height
     • Programmable gas selection and gas flow

All these user-friendly advantages found within our compact design, contribute to making our TRACE 1200 F/GF Atomic Absorption Spectrometer worthy of a second look.

Best of Both Worlds
The TRACE 1200 Flame/Graphite Furnace AAS is literally two instruments in one. It embodies all of the key features and flexibility of the TRACE 1200 Flame AAS system, including:

     • Inert Teflon Spray Chamber
     • On-Line Dilution
     • Safety interlocks
     • Automatic burner head adjustment

The Flame/Graphite Furnace configuration also includes the enhanced sensitivity inherent in the GF configuration to reach detection limits at the extreme edge of AAS applications. This is accomplished by using all of the standard features of the TRACE 1200 GF:

     • Ultra-fast response (1 kHz) Deuterium Background Correction
     • Transversely Heated GF Tube
     • High Heating Rate
     • Built-in Power supply
     • Full Scale real-time temperature monitoring & feedback control

The TRACE 1200 Flame/GF is one of the most powerful AAS analytical instrument packages existing today. When combined with our Universal XYZ autosampler, it combines high throughput with unsurpassed flexibility in sampling from multiple racks of any combination of different volume containers. 

An asset to any laboratory; once you have tried our TRACE 1200 F/GF, you will wonder why you waited so long.

VG

The combination of a Vapor/Hydride Generation unit provides yet another choice of atomizer configuration for the TRACE 1200 AAS. The VG atomizer provides enhanced sensitivities, reduced interferences and extremely low detection levels for the determination of sub-trace levels of mercury and hydride-forming metals such as As, Bi, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn and Te. 

Flexibility
The three layer reaction/mixing manifold of the atomizer consists of three mixing sections to provide the operator with near limitless flexibility. This enables convenient on-line addition of any reagents required for pH adjustment, pre-reduction / oxidation, or masking of interferents according to your application.

Quality
High quality motor construction peristaltic pumps provide consistent pump speeds ensuring reproducible measurements sample after sample.

Revolutionary Gas/Liquid Separator Design
The gas liquid separator of the VG 411 provides optimum performance for both hydride and mercury determination. The revolutionary dead volume design allows the user to quickly optimize the instrument according to the requirements of the analysis.

For metal hydride determinations, the volume can be increased in order to eliminate pressure fluctuations, thus enhancing the sensitivity of the measurement.

For mercury determinations, concentrated sulphuric acid can be safely used as the drying agent. Use of H2SO4 efficiently removes water droplets and vapor with negligible loss of analyte, while at the same time reducing the dead volume. The net result is shortened analysis times combined with unmatched sensitivity.

Precision
The following graph shows the RSD for ten replicate runs of 15 ng/mL.

Software

User Friendly
The TRACE 1200 standard Windows Interface means a lower learning curve and reduced training costs. Our software has been designed around the philosophy that users should be able to rapidly develop methods that meet their unique requirements. This transcends to either experienced, or novice users will find our software simple and easy to use.

Our software layout is well organized with easily accessible tags and buttons. Our templates are an easy 3 step process: Open the method, load the sample, and click the mouse. It's just that simple.

Single/Batch Run
The TRACESPEC™ software consists of a Single and Batch Run feature allowing you to run a set of samples under automated or manual control, as desired. The single run feature provides operators with a quick, convenient process for optimizing a method. Whereas, a batch run feature can be programmed for fully automated or manual analysis.

Benefits
Quick adjustments can be made to the instrument during method development. So, whether your laboratory is a complex research lab, or a standard quality control institution, the "set and go" mentality will allow you to maximize your potential. You can customize the window to view only what you want to view, and do what you want it to do.



No Simulations
Aurora's software does not make use of simulations, interpolations or approximations.  It relies on Real Time data for Temperature, Total Absorbance, Corrected Absorbance, and Background Absorbance in relative units of Peak Height, Peak Area and Peak Width.  Any of these variables can be isolated for easier data interpretation. Reliable, real-time graphics give an accurate representation of what is going on at any given moment during the measurement.  We have also implemented new high and low temperature sensors on our GF in order to generate reproducible, dependable data and permit precise temperature control.

We offer real-time, real data.  No simulations, or assumptions are necessary.  What you see is what you get!

Power & Precision
The Wavelength scan feature allows the user to scan the entire emission spectrum of the HCL. The zoom feature allows you to maximize the resolution of the scan in the wavelength region of greatest interest.  As a result, system optimization and calibration are made easier and faster to help you in method development.

Fast Access to Methods
The TRACE1200's TRACESPEC™ Software features unique LIMS support, facilitating exchange of sample information in a variety of data formats. Users can add their own customized reference information prior to data export. This turns LIMS integration into a simple and flexible process.  A key feature of this support is the use of a bar code system to ensure that all data are in their proper place.  Our competitors claim to support your LIMS system, but their software will only import a fixed, pre-selected data set. Aurora realizes that you may need additional supplemental information, so that you can reintegrate your results back into your LIMS.

Background Correction

In General

For maximum cost effectiveness, it is important to utilize the optimum method of background correction for the analytical application. Many spectrometers on the market employ methods of background correction that have been established as convenient or 'standard' for the manufacturer but do not offer the best solution for the customer. In selecting the best overall method, the following criteria for high performance must be met:

     • High frequency modulation - to enable the high speed measurement of analyte signals
     • High speed data acquisition - to maximize the number of data   points per peak
     • High energy source and high efficiency optics - for a high signal to noise ratio
     • Spatial overlapping of HCL and D₂ beams to ensure representative measurements
           with both beams following the same optical path through the sample

Aurora's Background Correction Techniques
The TRACE 1200 Atomic Absorption Spectrometer incorporates two different background correction techniques to provide chemists with flexibility of choice in resolving the background interferences associated with the majority of AAS applications.  We employ the Smithe-Hieftje and Deuterium (D₂) background correction methods in our instruments.

Smith-Hieftje Correction Technique
This technique has been incorporated into the design of the TRACE 1200 as a standard feature to provide chemists with a simple, cost effective background correction technique. Some of the benefits of this method include:      

     • Correction over a wide wavelength range
     • The same light source provides the signal
     • Low cost

Deuterium Correction Technique
Aurora Instruments has selected a fast Deuterium method as the optimum blend of cost effectiveness and high performance.  We have developed a new generation of systems to meet existing and future customer needs. The result is enhanced level of performance making superior detection limits and high sensitivity the norm for Aurora Spectrometers.

With superior atomization temperature control and high speed data acquisition, analyte signals are readily separated from the background. Even extremely high background absorbances can be corrected for using our Time Resolved Background Correction Technique.


Benefits of Aurora's Time Resolved D₂ Background Correction Technique are:

     • High Modulation Frequency (1 kHz)
     • High Speed Data Acquisition
     • High Intensity D₂ Lamp
     • High Energy Optics