The XcelVap Automated Evaporation System is a modern compact benchtop laboratory product that provides rapid, gentle evaporation of up to 54 sample extracts ranging in size up to 200-mL each. Liquid/Liquid, continuous, micro or solid phase extractions of environmental, food, clinical or other matrices still need evaporation of solvent to rapidly reduce sample volumes appropriate for the best analytical instrument sensitivity. Evaporation is accomplished by combining consistent heat, controlled sparge gas, and active venting of the solvent vapors. With the XcelVap System, less time and attention are required to prepare reproducible extracts for chromatography analysis (GC/MS, LC/MSn, GC, LC), improving laboratory productivity.
- Automated pressure profiling for optimum speed with the most reproducible recoveries
- Nozzles can be individually changed by the user, simplifying maintenance and reducing operating costs • Water bath is sensored and easy to change for decreased chance of cross contamination
- Up to 54 samples can be processed simultaneously for unprecedented productivity
- Accommodates many popular sample tubes providing flexibility for multiple applications
- Reliable unattended operation, freeing operator for other tasks
- Portrait orientation and exhaust venting keep costs down by avoiding placement in a fume hood or if necessary, economical use of hood space
How does the XcelVap Evaporation/Concentration System accomplish all this?
Pressure profiling allows the gas pressure to be programmed to gradually increase automatically, rather than remain constant throughout. The low flow rate early in the process promotes gradual evaporation under the vortex gas flow. As the solution evaporates and more space is available in the vessel, the gas flow is increased to further speed evaporation. Evaporation proceeds optimally, avoiding splashing and eliminating the possibility of cross contamination.
In many evaporators, sparge nozzles can clog or bend if not aligned properly, causing erratic or inconsistent evaporation rates. The XcelVap System has been designed with user replaceable nozzle tips. The procedure takes seconds to complete and requires no tools or special alignment. Laboratories have in the past, resisted changing the heating bath water because older products were bulky and had to be carried to a sink to empty out the bath water. The XcelVap Evaporation System is fitted with a removable drain plug making this process easy and painless, therefore promoting essential cleanliness of the system. A low-water level sensor is provided as an integral part of the unit.
An adjustable-volume alarm indicates the finish of the run, signaling that samples are ready to be transferred to the analytical instrument or autosampler. The XcelVap is a true ‘Walk-Away’ System.
Application Example: Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water
The SmartPrep® Extractor (Horizon Technology) was used with mixed-bed cartridges to extract emerging contaminants from drinking water, such as artificial sweeteners and several pharmaceuticals. Approximately four milliliters of extract was collected from an initial sample of 1 liter of water. The extract was collected in a 10-mL Kuderna Danish tube and placed directly into the XcelVap evaporation system for concentration to 1 mL. The water bath was set to 50oC and the gas flowed at maximum pressure throughout the entire evaporation step. The pressure profile was not needed in this case because the solvent volume was less than half the maximum volume the vessel could hold and therefore splashing was not a concern. The 1 mL sample was measured using LC/MS. Spike recoveries using the XcelVap Evaporator were excellent for most compounds and took half the time of a conventional evaporation system, run in parallel. (Automated Solid Phase Extraction and Concentration for Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water, William R. Jones, Brian LaBrecque, Alicia Cannon, Horizon Technology Inc., Pittcon 2013)