FLUORAT®-02, which was a pioneering instrument developed by LUMEX, has gained a wide use in many analytical laboratories. It is a basic model for a variety of analytical fluorometric, photometric, and chemoluminometric techniques. This versatility allows an analyst to choose the optimal method for determination of each component of interest.
The Fluorat analyzers employ the modular principle. The base unit, Fluorat-02, is a filter-based fluorometer, photometer, and chemoluminometer. All these modes of operation are implemented in the same optoelectronic scheme. In addition, the Fluorat-02-2M version is a time-resolving fluorometer, which can be used as a fluorometric detector in any HPLC system. The relevant measuring cells are interchangeable.
FLUORAT®-02 is an automated analyzer, supplied with a package of certified methods for monitoring the quality of drinking and waste water in compliance with sanitary regulations. It can be also used for determination of a number of air, soil, and food product constituents. The analytical methods implemented in this system are chosen to reliably detect at least half of the prescribed UTC and to provide the simplest sample preparation. For example, it takes 2 to 3, 5 to 7, and 2 to 3 minutes, respectively, to prepare a sample of petroleum hydrocarbons, phenols, and surfactants for the analysis.
Wide spectral range
FLUORAT®-02 analyzer is equipped with a high-pressure xenon arc lamp, which emits high-intensity light in a spectral range from 200 to 950 nm.
Versatility
The instrument is basically a fluorimeter, however, it can be also operated as a photometer, chemiluminometer, or phosphorimeter. The cell compartment accommodates 10x10 mm cells for fluorometry, or 10x20 and 10x40 mm cells for photometry (implemented in the FLUORAT®-02-2M model).
Use in the field
The analyzer is powered from AC mains or from a 12-V accumulator battery, which allows its use in mobile laboratories.
Automated operation procedures
The names of the methods, result processing technique, and calibration coefficients are displayed in the user's menu. The menu content and the loaded calibrations are stored in a non-volatile memory. The self-diagnostics procedure is automatically performed when the instrument is switched on and during measurement. When carrying out an analysis, an operator merely chooses the necessary method from the menu and, having installed a cell, starts measuring. The concentration of a component being measured is indicated on a built-in LC display or is transmitted via a serial port to a standalone computer for further processing.
The table lists the detection limits for some substances in the analysis of water using FLUORAT®-02 analyzers in compliance with the certified methods. It should be noted that these methods are optimized for reliable identification of UTCs, and the actual detection limits are lower than those given in the table.
Water. Detection limits (DL)
| PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS |
| Fluorescent methods | DL (mg/L) | sample volume, mL | | petroleum hydrocarbons | 0.005 | 100 | | phenols | 0.0005 | 250 | | anionic surfactants | 0.025 | 5 | | cationic surfactants | 0.01 | 5 | | formaldehyde | 0.002 | 25 | | nitrites | 0.005 | 5 | | nitrates | 0.1 | 5 | | sulfides | 0.005 | 10 | | fluorides | 0.01 | 10 | | copper | 0.005 | 2 | | zinc | 0.005 | 50 | | arsenic | 0.001 | 100 | | selenium | 0.0001 | 100 | | beryllium | 0.0005 | 1000 | | stannum | 0.01 | 10 | | boron | 0.05 | 5 | | aluminum | 0.01 | 10 | | iron | 0.05 | 10 | | nickel | 0.01 | 100 | | Chemiluminescent methods | | | | chromium (total) | 0.002 | 2 | | Phosphorescent methods | | | | uranium* | 0.0002 | 5 | | Cryoluminescent methods | | | | benzo[a]pyrene* | 0.000001 | | | lead* | 0.001 | |
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Notes: *) only for FLUORAT®-02-2M model
FLUORAT®-02-3M and FLUORAT®-02-2M analyzer versions
FLUORAT®-02-2M is used to measure the phosphorescence intensity, operating in the time-resolving fluorometer mode. This mode is used for the detection of uranium, with very high sensitivity and selectivity. The analyzer can also operate with a fiber optic cable, which allows measuring luminescence or reflected light from the surface of an outside sample, such as paper, cathodoliminophors, etc. FLUORAT®-02-2M can be combined with CRYO-1/2 attachment and can also be used as a fluorometric detector for HPLC systems.
FLUORAT®-02-02/3M advantages:- operation in a user-friendly menu mode to analyze common contaminants
- saving calibration tables and background value for 16 different components in the built-in memory
- printout of the results of analysis
- storing results in the built-in memory
- power supply from AC mains or from a 12-V accumulator battery
- self-diagnostics: the device automatically identifies failures in all units
