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Perhaps you read my last blog entry: «Why consider automation – even for simple titrations» and liked the idea of disengaging yourself from the tedious, repetitive, and exhausting manual routine lab work by automating analyses and increasing the accuracy and reproducibility of your results at the same time.
Titration is known to be a bargain analytical method, as a glass buret or even a simple stand-alone titrator are quite inexpensive in comparison with other techniques such as spectroscopy or chromatography. In combination with the short determination time and results based on a known stoichiometry, titration is well-accepted in laboratories worldwide as a primary method.
Nevertheless, the increasing sample throughput in the last decades shows more and more why it is worth it to automate lab analysis. On many occasions, I had discussions with lab managers or purchasing agents who had doubts about buying an automation system for the «cheap» titration technique. These concerns are understandable, especially when adding automation to the titrator can cost the same as the titration installation, or even more. However, consider not only the costs for such an upgrade but also the many benefits.
I will now explain how the usage of a fully automated titration system can result in various savings.
Save valuable time
Time savings is one of the biggest benefits when using walk-away automation in the lab.
After preparing the sample and entering the required sample data into the controlling device, the system can run unattended for several hours or even days. During this time, lab technicians can spend their valuable time on samples that cannot be automated, evaluating data, preparing new samples, and documentation or inventing new methods or substances.
Don’t waste money on repetitions
In comparison to only using a stand-alone titrator, the automated system can reduce costs for repetitions. Due to the fact that the procedures have been tested before they are run autonomously, handling errors can be reduced to a minimum during the determination. These are typical tasks such as ensuring the sensor and buret tips are sufficiently covered by the sample solution, using the optimum stirring speed for the sample, as well as applying standardized cleaning procedures in between the analyses.
At first glance, these steps might not seem so important, but these have an impact if each lab technician involved in the analysis performs it in a slightly different manner based on their preference and experience. In the worst case, samples have to be repeated more often to prove the validity of the result. With automation, you no longer have to worry about this issue.
Reduce running expenses
The improved handling procedures mentioned above will reduce the costs for consumables such as electrodes. Thanks to the previously defined cleaning, conditioning, and storage procedures, the sensor lasts much longer. The only thing you have to consider is filling the electrolyte reservoir on a regular basis, which can not yet be automated.
However, if you are only running routine pH measurements, a solution already exists for this: the Ecotrode Gel, which allows you to run continuous measurements without any refilling until the electrolyte is exhausted.
The transparency of the electrolyte gel will show when it is time to change the electrode. Cool, isn’t it?
Besides the electrodes, reagents and eventual waste disposal are topics that have to be taken into account when discussing the costs per analysis of an analytical device. Unfortunately, there are still several norms and standards using absurd amounts of organic solvents. All of these chemicals need a special treatment for proper disposal, i.e., the more waste solution produced, the higher the costs for its disposal—not to mention the impact on the environment.
In automated systems, the amount of these reagents can be reduced to a minimum as analyses can be carried out in beakers with a smaller diameter and perfectly positioned electrodes. Depending on the application, you can even reduce the cleaning procedure between the analyses to a simple dip in solvent rather than showering the electrode with an excess of solvent.
Fewer accidents thanks to walk-away automation
As an automated titration system runs independently for several hours or even overnight, the direct contact with harmful substances and reagents is already minimized. Modern titration systems do not only take over the analysis, but also guarantee the sample beakers are already pre-cleaned before you remove them from the system to put them in the dishwasher or dispose of them.
Even minimizing exposure to chemicals during the exchange of the reagents is possible if your system is equipped with 3S technology, which makes titrant change simpler than ever. The safer the system, the smaller the risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals while handling during sample analysis or disposal.
We all know that an accident is one thing, but the administration afterwards can also be a real nightmare. Therefore, it is better to avoid situations prone to causing accidents, as it keeps people healthy and the associated costs down.
Increase your profit
Increasing the sample throughput has a direct impact on your profit. Without automation, more analysts are needed to handle the increasing number of samples, but finding well-educated lab technicians becomes ever more challenging and costly. Furthermore, boring routine titration analysis is not the work that lab staff desires.
Check out this video from Villiers Copper Commodities Laboratory to see our OMNIS system being used (jump to 2:08).
Automation – not as expensive as you may have thought
Perhaps you started reading this blog post thinking that automation is too expensive for your lab, especially compared to the investment for a simple stand-alone titrator. However, as shown in this article, several kinds of savings can be achieved using an automated titration system.
Consider your regular expenses for consumables, reagents, and time spent for repeated analyses. How often were the results not available either fast or good enough for the production to continue? Think about discussions on safety in the lab when a colleague was injured. Also, how often was the efficiency and profitability of your lab questioned due to the running costs? Considering this, you will see the return on investment is unbelievably good with automation. The more samples you perform fully automated, the faster the initial investment pays off and creates better financial statements for you.
At Metrohm, we don’t just sell titrators. We provide titration solutions. We offer systems as sophisticated or as straightforward as you need them. Titrator, accessories, electrodes, sample changers, and software – all from a single source.
