Beifen Sanpu ASH-20A Plus 20-Position Fully Automated Static Headspace Sampler
| Brand | Beifen Sanpu |
|---|---|
| Origin | Beijing, China |
| Manufacturer Type | Manufacturer |
| Instrument Type | Static Headspace Sampler |
| Automation Level | Fully Automated |
| Sample Vial Heating Range | Ambient to 200 °C (1 °C increment) |
| Valve Temperature Control Range | 40–220 °C (±1 °C accuracy) |
| Sample Loop Volume | 1 mL |
| Vial Capacity | 20 positions |
| Compatible Vial Sizes | 10 mL or 20 mL |
Overview
The Beifen Sanpu ASH-20A Plus is a fully automated static headspace sampler engineered for precise, reproducible, and unattended extraction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from liquid or solid matrices prior to gas chromatographic analysis. It operates on the principle of phase equilibrium partitioning: samples are sealed in heated vials, allowing VOCs to equilibrate between the condensed phase and the headspace gas phase; a precisely metered volume of this equilibrium headspace gas is then transferred—via pressurized, temperature-controlled pathways—to the GC inlet. Designed for routine QC laboratories, environmental testing facilities, and pharmaceutical R&D labs, the ASH-20A Plus delivers robust performance in applications governed by ASTM D6866, USP , ISO 11843, and EPA Methods 502.2, 524.2, and 8260.
Key Features
- Fully automated 20-position sample carousel with intelligent vial detection—automatically skips empty or misaligned positions to prevent mechanical collision and ensure operational continuity.
- Independent, PID-controlled heating zones for sample vials (ambient to 200 °C), sampling valve (40–220 °C), and transfer lines (40–220 °C), all with ±1 °C thermal stability and 0.5% absolute temperature accuracy.
- High-inertness fluidic path: all internal surfaces—including the 1 mL quantitative loop, six-port switching valve, and heated transfer lines—are constructed from de-activated fused-silica or silonized stainless steel to eliminate adsorption, carryover, and cross-contamination.
- Positive-pressure headspace sampling architecture ensures compatibility with both liquid and solid samples without baseline drift; no carrier gas consumption during sampling, enabling true atmospheric-pressure injection into the GC.
- Motor-driven actuation system—no external pneumatic supply required—enhances safety, simplifies installation, and eliminates pressure regulation dependencies.
- Integrated real-time diagnostics: automatic power-on self-test, positional encoder feedback for carousel alignment, thermal fault monitoring, and electrical continuity verification across all critical I/O circuits.
- Flexible method programming: supports single-vial multi-injection, single-vial single-injection, and multi-vial single-injection modes—all configurable via front-panel interface or remote USB command set.
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The ASH-20A Plus accommodates standard 10 mL and 20 mL crimp-top or screw-cap headspace vials (custom configurations up to 100 mL available upon request). Its inert flow path and precise thermal management meet the stringent requirements of GLP and GMP environments. The instrument supports audit-trail-capable operation when interfaced with chromatography data systems compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11, including electronic signature validation and parameter-change logging. Method parameters—including equilibration time (0–30 min), pressurization duration (0–999 s), sampling time (0–999 s), and oven purge cycles—are fully traceable and exportable as CSV metadata. Reproducibility is validated at ≤1.0% RSD (n = 6) using 100 ppm ethanol in water—a benchmark aligned with ISO 5725-2 precision criteria.
Software & Data Management
Control is implemented via dual-mode operation: local configuration through a 7-inch resistive touchscreen with intuitive graphical workflow navigation, or remote orchestration via USB 2.0 using ASCII-based SCPI-like command protocol. All temperature setpoints, timing parameters, pressure values (0–0.25 MPa, continuously adjustable), and purge flow rates (0–100 mL/min) are programmable and stored in non-volatile memory. Synchronization signals enable hardware-triggered start of GC acquisition and CDS software—ensuring temporal alignment between headspace injection and chromatographic data capture. Exportable logs include timestamped event records (e.g., “vial #7 heated to 85 °C”, “valve switched at 12:44:22.301”), supporting full method traceability per ISO/IEC 17025 clause 7.7.
Applications
- Residual solvent analysis in pharmaceutical active ingredients and excipients (USP , ICH Q3C).
- VOC profiling in drinking water, wastewater, and soil extracts (EPA 524.2, 8260D).
- Flavor and fragrance compound quantification in food and beverage matrices (AOAC 992.25, ISO 11021).
- Monomer and catalyst residue detection in polymer manufacturing QA/QC.
- Forensic toxicology screening for volatile intoxicants (ethanol, acetone, isopropanol) in biological fluids.
FAQ
What vial formats does the ASH-20A Plus support?
Standard 10 mL and 20 mL headspace vials; custom adapters for 50 mL and 100 mL vials are available as factory-installed options.
Can the instrument be integrated with third-party GC systems?
Yes—it provides TTL-level trigger outputs and accepts external start pulses, ensuring seamless synchronization with Agilent, Thermo Fisher, Shimadzu, PerkinElmer, and other major GC platforms.
Is EPC (Electronic Pressure Control) included as standard?
EPC is an optional upgrade; base configuration uses mechanical pressure regulation with digital setpoint control and real-time monitoring.
How is carryover minimized between injections?
Through a combination of high-temperature valve and transfer line baking (up to 220 °C), programmable post-injection purge with adjustable flow (0–100 mL/min), and chemically de-activated internal surfaces.
Does the system comply with 21 CFR Part 11 requirements?
The hardware supports Part 11 compliance when operated with validated CDS software that implements electronic signatures, audit trails, and role-based access control—no proprietary software lock-in is imposed.
