Cleket AS-2902-110 Multifunctional Rotating-Turret Liquid Autosampler for Gas Chromatography

Overview

The Cleket AS-2902-110 is a high-precision, rotating-turret liquid autosampler engineered specifically for integration with gas chromatography (GC) systems requiring unattended, high-throughput analysis of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds. Its core architecture implements closed-loop motion control via encoder-equipped stepper motors—each mechanical subsystem (sample tray rotation, syringe vertical actuation, needle horizontal positioning, and turret indexing) operates on an independent drive channel. This modular control architecture eliminates cross-axis interference and ensures repeatable spatial fidelity during sample aspiration, needle transport, and injection into the GC inlet. The system adheres to fundamental principles of volumetric liquid handling: precise piston displacement within calibrated glass or stainless-steel syringes, coupled with gravimetrically validated loop-based delivery where applicable. It is not a standalone analytical instrument but a regulated peripheral designed to extend the operational autonomy, reproducibility, and traceability of GC-based quantification workflows in environmental, petrochemical, pharmaceutical QC, and food safety laboratories.

Key Features

• Rotating-turret mechanical design enabling rapid, low-vibration sample access across all 110 positions without linear rail travel limitations
• Closed-loop positioning system with real-time encoder feedback on all four critical axes—ensures positional recovery and automatic fault detection upon step loss
• Programmable internal needle wash protocol with configurable rinse cycles using solvent(s) delivered via dedicated wash port
• Multi-range syringe compatibility (1–500 µL) supporting both micro-volume precision (e.g., 0.1 µL injections) and macro-volume calibration standards
• Dual GC inlet support with independent trigger signaling—enables sequential or parallel analysis across split/splitless or multi-column configurations
• Full method parameterization including aspiration speed, injection speed, dwell time, vial pierce depth, and post-injection purge—all stored in up to 20 user-defined methods
• Bilingual touchscreen interface (English/Chinese) with intuitive workflow navigation and real-time status monitoring of motor positions, wash cycles, and communication handshake status

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The AS-2902-110 accommodates standard 12 × 32 mm screw-thread or crimp-top GC vials (including 1.5 mL and 2 mL formats) without adapter modification. It maintains compatibility with common GC solvents (e.g., hexane, methanol, acetone, dichloromethane) and aqueous matrices containing ≤20% organic modifier. All wetted parts—including the stainless-steel needle, PTFE-sealed syringe barrel, and solvent-resistant wash lines—are chemically inert under routine operating conditions. From a regulatory standpoint, the device supports traceable operation when paired with chromatography data systems (CDS) compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements. Its deterministic motion control, non-volatile method storage, and hardware-level error logging (e.g., motor stall detection, communication timeout alerts) align with GLP and GMP documentation expectations for instrument qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ) and routine performance verification.

Software & Data Management

The AS-2902-110 communicates bidirectionally with host GC systems via industry-standard TTL-level digital I/O signals—two dedicated channels for injection initiation triggers and two for receiving remote start/stop commands from the GC controller or CDS. While the autosampler itself does not embed proprietary software, its command structure is fully documented and interoperable with major third-party platforms including OpenLab CDS (Agilent), GCsolution (Shimadzu), Clarity (DataApex), and N2000/N3000 (Chinese GC vendors). Raw positional logs and event timestamps (e.g., vial pickup, needle wash completion, injection confirmation) are accessible via RS-232 serial output for external logging or custom SCADA integration. Firmware updates are performed via USB interface, with version-controlled release notes provided for audit trail completeness.

Applications

This autosampler is routinely deployed in laboratories performing regulated analyses such as EPA Method 8260D (VOCs in water), ASTM D3606 (benzene/toluene in gasoline), USP (residual solvents), and ISO 11843-7 (detection limit validation). Its 0.1 µL minimum injection volume and sub-0.5% RSD precision make it suitable for trace-level calibration curve construction and internal standard quantitation. The 110-position capacity supports full-shift unattended operation—ideal for batch analysis of environmental water extracts, polymer leachates, flavor/aroma distillates, or stability-indicating assays. Its dual-inlet capability further enables method development studies comparing column selectivity or inlet liner performance under identical sampling conditions.

FAQ

Is the AS-2902-110 compatible with Agilent 7890B and 8890 GC systems?
Yes—the unit includes mechanically adjustable mounting brackets and TTL-compatible trigger wiring for seamless integration with Agilent GCs. Custom bracket kits are available upon request.
Can the autosampler be operated without a connected GC?
Yes—it supports standalone mode for syringe calibration, needle wash validation, and positional diagnostics via the front-panel interface.
Does it support partial loop injection or fixed-loop injection modes?
It supports both: users may configure either direct syringe injection or loop-fill-and-inject sequences using the 10 µL default loop or optional external loops.
What maintenance intervals are recommended for long-term precision?
Syringe seals should be inspected every 5,000 injections; needle tips require cleaning after every 200 injections when analyzing dirty matrices; encoder calibration is factory-set and does not require field adjustment.
Is firmware upgrade documentation available for quality assurance records?
Yes—versioned firmware release notes, checksum files, and installation protocols are supplied with each update package for inclusion in lab QA documentation.