Heffic E-Series Multi-Channel Accelerated Solvent Extractor

Overview

The Heffic E-Series Multi-Channel Accelerated Solvent Extractor is an engineered solid-liquid extraction platform designed for high-throughput, reproducible recovery of analytes from solid or semi-solid matrices under elevated temperature and pressure conditions. It operates on the principle of accelerated solvent extraction (ASE®), leveraging controlled thermal energy and hydraulic pressure to enhance solvation kinetics while minimizing solvent consumption and degradation of thermally labile compounds. Unlike conventional Soxhlet or ultrasonic extraction methods, ASE achieves complete extraction in minutes rather than hours—enabling laboratories to process up to six samples simultaneously without cross-contamination or manual intervention. The system is optimized for routine compliance-driven workflows in environmental analysis (e.g., EPA Methods 3545A, 3546), food safety testing (AOAC 2007.01), pharmaceutical residual solvent screening (USP & ICH Q3C), and polymer additive profiling.

Key Features

• Six-Channel Parallel Processing: Independent control of all six extraction cells ensures true parallelism—each channel maintains precise, synchronized temperature and pressure profiles, eliminating batch variability and maximizing daily throughput.
• Gas-Free Motorized Sealing: A proprietary electro-hydraulic sealing mechanism eliminates reliance on compressed gas cylinders, reducing infrastructure requirements and operational hazards while delivering consistent seal integrity across all cell volumes (10–120 mL).
• Automated Seal Integrity Verification: Integrated pressure decay testing verifies seal performance prior to each extraction cycle, logging pass/fail status with timestamped audit trails compliant with GLP and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements.
• Comprehensive Sensor Network: Real-time monitoring includes safety door interlock, collection rack presence detection, and extraction cell repositioning verification—preventing operation unless all mechanical prerequisites are met.
• Modular Integration Architecture: Standardized fluidic and electrical interfaces support seamless coupling with downstream purification modules—including gel permeation chromatography (GPC), solid-phase extraction (SPE), and evaporation (EVA) systems—enabling end-to-end automated sample preparation workflows.
• 48-Position Autosampler Compatibility: Designed to interface directly with industry-standard robotic autosamplers, enabling unattended overnight operation and full traceability from sample loading to extract collection.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The Heffic E-Series accommodates a broad spectrum of sample types, including soils, sediments, sludges, plant tissues, animal feed, polymers, and pharmaceutical tablets. Its wide cell volume range (10–120 mL) supports both micro-scale method development and macro-scale regulatory compliance testing. All wetted components are constructed from inert, corrosion-resistant materials (e.g., Hastelloy C-276, PEEK, and fused silica) suitable for aggressive solvents such as dichloromethane, acetone, hexane, and acidic or basic modifier blends. The system meets mechanical and electrical safety standards per IEC 61010-1 and is configured to support audit-ready documentation for ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories. Optional software modules provide electronic signatures, user access levels, and instrument calibration history tracking aligned with GMP and GLP frameworks.

Software & Data Management

Control and data acquisition are managed via UXS’s proprietary ExtractionSuite™ software—a Windows-based application supporting method creation, real-time parameter visualization, event logging, and export to CSV, PDF, or LIMS-compatible XML formats. The software implements role-based access control (RBAC), automatic backup of method files and run logs, and configurable electronic signature workflows compliant with 21 CFR Part 11 Annex 11 requirements. All extraction events—including temperature ramp profiles, pressure hold durations, seal test results, and error codes—are time-stamped and stored locally with optional network backup. Audit trail functionality records every user action, parameter change, and system state transition, ensuring full traceability during regulatory inspections.

Applications

• Environmental monitoring: PAHs, PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, and petroleum hydrocarbons in soil and sediment per EPA SW-846 Methods 3545A and 3546.
• Food and agricultural testing: Mycotoxins, pesticide residues, fat-soluble vitamins, and antioxidant additives in cereals, dairy, and meat products (AOAC 2007.01, EN 15662).
• Pharmaceutical quality control: Residual solvents in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients per USP <467> and ICH Q3C(R8).
• Materials science: Plasticizer migration studies, flame retardant leaching from polymeric composites, and additive extraction from rubber and elastomers.
• Forensic toxicology: Solid-phase cleanup integration for drug metabolite recovery from biological matrices prior to LC-MS/MS analysis.

FAQ

What safety certifications does the Heffic E-Series hold?
The instrument complies with IEC 61010-1 for laboratory equipment safety and incorporates redundant hardware interlocks and pressure relief mechanisms certified to PED 2014/68/EU standards.
Can the system be validated for regulated environments?
Yes—full IQ/OQ/PQ documentation packages are available, including factory-installed calibration certificates traceable to NIST standards and software validation reports aligned with GAMP 5 guidelines.
Is method transfer possible from legacy ASE platforms?
Method parameters (temperature, pressure, static time, flush volume) are directly translatable; UXS provides method conversion support and cross-platform validation assistance.
What maintenance intervals are recommended?
Seal rings require replacement every 500 cycles; pump oil and filter elements are serviced annually or after 2,000 operating hours—maintenance logs are automatically generated and archived within ExtractionSuite™.
Does the system support remote monitoring?
Via optional Ethernet/Wi-Fi connectivity and secure HTTPS API, users can monitor real-time status, receive email/SMS alerts on cycle completion or fault conditions, and initiate diagnostics remotely.