Autodilutor system—An automated in-line dilutor and standards preparation system for flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS).
Solution-based spectrometric elemental analysis techniques require the preparation of standard solutions to calibrate the spectrometer for each analysis. In FAAS, at least three calibration standards are needed to accurately track the calibration graph curvature. Preparation of these calibration standards is one of the more time-consuming processes of most analytical laboratories. Standards preparation frequently involves multiple dilution steps, increasing the risk of contamination and operator errors. A consequence of FAAS calibration curvature is that the dynamic concentration range of the instrument is relatively short, so real sample concentrations may lie above the top standard and linear region of a calibration. The user then has to pause the analysis and dilute the samples that are over the limit until they lie within the calibrated range.
Autodilutor systems are designed to take over these labor-intensive tasks by automatically preparing working calibration standards from a single master standard. In this way, no manual dilution steps are required. Autodilutor systems also simplify the task of handling samples found over the limit by diluting them into the calibration range.