LECO CHN828 Carbon-Hydrogen-Nitrogen-Sulfur-Protein Elemental Analyzer

Overview

The LECO CHN828 is a high-throughput, microprocessor-controlled organic elemental analyzer engineered for precise and reproducible quantification of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), and protein content in solid and liquid organic samples. It operates on the principle of high-temperature combustion followed by gas-phase separation and thermal conductivity detection (TCD). Samples are flash-combusted at up to 1050 °C in an oxygen-rich quartz furnace environment, converting all target elements into stable gaseous oxides (CO₂, H₂O, NOₓ, SO₂), which are then separated via selective absorption and chromatographic columns before quantitative detection. The instrument’s dual-furnace architecture—featuring a primary combustion furnace and secondary oxidation furnace—eliminates the need for consumable furnace reagents, significantly reducing operational downtime and long-term cost of ownership. Designed for compliance with ISO 14852, ASTM D5291, ASTM E1019, and USP , the CHN828 delivers trace-level sensitivity and robust inter-laboratory reproducibility across diverse matrices including polymers, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, soils, and biofuels.

Key Features

• Ultra-fast analysis cycle: nominal 2.8 minutes per sample—including weighing, combustion, separation, and detection—enabling up to 250+ analyses per 24-hour period
• Reagent-free combustion system: proprietary quartz secondary furnace and catalyst-free oxidation eliminate routine furnace packing and associated calibration drift
• Thermoelectrically cooled water trap: replaces traditional desiccant-based moisture removal, eliminating maintenance intervals and reagent replacement
• Gas-flexible TCD detection: seamless switching between helium and argon carrier gases without hardware modification or recalibration
• 30-position autosampler (optional 120-position configuration): supports unattended overnight operation with full sample weight integration and positional tracking
• Dual-split gas flow path (available on FP828P and CN configurations): enables low-consumption mode for high-element-content samples, extending reagent life beyond 4,000 analyses
• Integrated digital signal processor (DSP): stores up to 50 recent analysis results onboard with real-time sample weight display (8 cm × 10 cm LCD)

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The CHN828 accommodates sample masses up to 250 mg in high-porosity quartz crucibles, ensuring complete combustion even for heterogeneous or high-carbon-content materials (e.g., coal, activated carbon, rubber compounds). Its optimized oxygen delivery profile and staged combustion protocol meet ASTM D3176 and ISO 29541 requirements for total organic carbon and nitrogen determination in environmental and industrial feedstocks. The system complies fully with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 for electronic records and signatures, supporting audit trails, user role-based access control (via Cornerstone software), and secure data archiving. All hardware and firmware revisions are documented under LECO’s GLP/GMP-aligned quality management system (ISO 9001 certified).

Software & Data Management

Controlled exclusively via LECO’s Cornerstone™ software platform, the CHN828 provides multi-language UI support (including English, German, French, Chinese, and Japanese), customizable report templates (PDF/CSV/XLSX), and native LIMS connectivity through ASTM E1461-compliant middleware. Cornerstone implements full 21 CFR Part 11 functionality—including electronic signatures, session lockout, and immutable audit logs—with optional remote monitoring via Cornerstone Mobile (iOS/Android/Web). Data filtering, batch processing, statistical trending (RSD, % recovery, drift correction), and method validation workflows are embedded directly into the acquisition interface. Raw detector signals, calibration curves, and combustion thermograms are retained with timestamped metadata for full traceability.

Applications

The CHN828 serves as a reference-grade solution in QC/QA laboratories across regulated industries: determination of Kjeldahl-equivalent protein content in dairy and cereal products (AOAC 984.13); C/H/N/S profiling of polymer additives and flame retardants; elemental verification of API intermediates per ICH Q5C; total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) in wastewater sludge (EPA Method 440.1); and compositional certification of catalysts, graphite anodes, and battery electrode materials. Its extended run-time stability (>72 h continuous operation) and minimal intervention design make it suitable for central analytical facilities serving multiple R&D departments.

FAQ

What carrier gases are compatible with the CHN828?
Helium (99.99% purity, 40 ± 4 psi) and argon (99.99% purity, 40 ± 4 psi) are supported interchangeably without hardware changes.
Is sulfur analysis available as a factory-installed option or field upgrade?
Sulfur detection is integrated at time of manufacture; no post-purchase hardware retrofit is required for S-mode operation.
Does the instrument require daily calibration verification?
Calibration is performed using certified reference materials (e.g., benzoic acid, acetanilide, sulfanilamide); daily verification is recommended but not mandatory when operating within validated method ranges.
Can the CHN828 be integrated into a networked laboratory environment?
Yes—Cornerstone supports TCP/IP communication, LDAP authentication, and HL7/ASTM middleware for enterprise-wide LIMS and ELN integration.
What is the expected lifetime of the thermal conductivity detector?
The TCD features gold-plated filaments and sealed-cell construction, rated for >10 years of continuous use under standard operating conditions.