Spectrophotometric workstation

• Grant number: 97/07352-5
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: January 01, 1998
• End date: September 30, 2000
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Lidio Kazuo Takayama
• Grantee: Lidio Kazuo Takayama
• Company: Femto Indústria e Comércio de Instrumentos Ltda

Abstract

The purpose of this piece of research is to develop and build a spectrophotometric workstation made up of a spectrophotometer coupled to a three-axis robot for accessing 24 reagents and another also of three axes for choosing one hundred samples, both of them randomly and easily programmable, managed by a standard IBM-compatible PC. Multi-element detection, each using on average three reagents and random access both for the samples and the reagents, are targets to be achieved. The purpose is also to train and qualify new technicians and engineering students to be taken on in the future by the company. The modern chemical industry seeks to automate laboratories, robotics, optimization, simplification, chemo-metric signal processing, easy management results and low cost. From the standpoint of automation, the FIA (Flow Injection Analysis) analysis systems are appropriate when it is wished to conduct an analysis, or several analyses, involving a large number of samples per batch. In industrial chemical laboratories in general, however, there is the need to examine various analyses involving a small number of samples. These samples must be examined immediately. They also require random access and versatility which is not available in current flow systems but which are already present in biochemical automation systems. (AU)