An open source 3D printed autosampler for capillary electrophoresis

ITTERHEIMOVÁ, Petra and Petr KUBAN. An open source 3D printed autosampler for capillary electrophoresis. Analytica Chimica Acta. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science publishers, 2023, vol. 1279, oct, p. 1-8. ISSN 0003-2670. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2023.341832.

Basic information

Original name

An open source 3D printed autosampler for capillary electrophoresis

Authors

ITTERHEIMOVÁ, Petra (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Petr KUBAN (guarantor)

Edition

Analytica Chimica Acta, Amsterdam, Elsevier Science publishers, 2023, 0003-2670

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Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10406 Analytical chemistry

Country of publisher

Netherlands

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 6.200 in 2022

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14740/23:00133474

Organization unit

Central European Institute of Technology

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2023.341832

UT WoS

001084087000001

Keywords in English

Capillary electrophoresis; Autosampler; Open source hardware and software; Arduino

Tags

rivok

Tags

International impact, Reviewed

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Abstract

V originále

Background: In-house built capillary electrophoresis (CE) systems represent a significant share of laboratory instrumentation. In most of these instruments, sample injection is effected manually with low to moderate precision and requires skilled operators. Although few automated samplers have been previously developed, typically only one sample at a time can be injected. If a series of samples is to be analyzed, manual intervention is required. In the present work, we developed and constructed a fully automated, open source, CE autosampler, able to handle up to 14 different samples that can be used as a modular component of any in-house built CE instrument. Results: An inexpensive, 3D printed, open source, autosampler for CE was developed. The autosampler consists of two parts: an injection unit with carousel containing sample and electrolyte vials and a flushing unit, containing a miniature pressure/vacuum pump. The autosampler is operated by an Arduino Mega microcontroller and an Arduino code written in the laboratory. The injection sequence is entered through a keypad and LCD display by the user. The instrument can operate autonomously for extended periods of time. It was used for fully automated analysis and/or calibration of up to 14 samples with excellent injection repeatability reaching less than 2.7% RSD for peak areas. The sampler performance was tested with two independently built CE instruments, a CE system with contactless conductivity detection (C4D) and a CE system with laser induced fluorescence (LIF) detector.Significance and novelty: A novel, 3D printed, Arduino-based autosampler for CE was developed. The autosampler allows autonomous hydrodynamic injection of up to 14 different samples with fully programmable injection sequence, including capillary flushing and high voltage and data acquisition control. It provides the missing instrumental sampling setup for laboratory made CE instruments. It can be simply constructed based on the open -source blueprints in any laboratory and be a useful and time-saving add-on to any modular CE instrument.