Tekmar Atomx XYZ Automated Solid/Liquid Purge and Trap Concentrator

Overview

The Tekmar Atomx XYZ is an integrated, fully automated purge and trap concentrator engineered for high-throughput, method-compliant volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis in both aqueous and solid environmental matrices. Operating on the fundamental principle of dynamic headspace extraction—where inert gas purges VOCs from a heated or solvent-assisted sample matrix, followed by cryogenic trapping and thermal desorption—the Atomx XYZ delivers precise, reproducible preconcentration prior to GC or GC-MS injection. Its seamless fusion of XYZ robotic autosampling and purge-and-trap functionality eliminates manual transfer steps, significantly reducing contamination risk and operator variability. Designed specifically to meet U.S. EPA Method 5035 and China’s HJ 605–2011 for soil and sediment analysis, the system incorporates methanol-assisted solid-phase extraction as a standardized, automatable step—enabling quantitative recovery of semi-volatile and polar VOCs otherwise inaccessible via conventional aqueous purge-only protocols.

Key Features

• Integrated XYZ robotic autosampler constructed from corrosion-resistant carbon fiber and precision-ground lead screws—ensuring sub-millimeter positioning accuracy, low acoustic noise (<55 dB), and long-term mechanical stability across 84-sample batches.
• Programmable mass flow controller (MFC) for real-time, closed-loop regulation of purge gas flow (He or N₂) and pressure, ensuring consistent mass transfer kinetics and inter-run repeatability (RSD < 3% for target VOCs).
• Dual-stage cleaning protocol: post-analysis methanol rinse followed by high-temperature water vapor purge (up to 250 °C), minimizing carryover to < 0.1% for chlorinated benzenes and BTEX compounds.
• 25 mL syringe-based liquid handling with programmable aspiration volume (1–25 mL), supporting both dilute aqueous standards and concentrated soil extracts without hardware reconfiguration.
• Modular optional modules: foam detection/suppression (for surfactant-rich wastewater), heated purge tube (up to 100 °C), chilled sample tray (4 °C), and triple internal standard introduction for retention time locking and quantitative correction.
• Triple-bed, fused-silica-lined trap capable of thermal desorption from −30 °C to 350 °C at ramp rates up to 1200 °C/min, optimized for rapid, complete elution of C₂–C₁₂ VOCs with minimal peak broadening.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The Atomx XYZ is validated for direct analysis of drinking water, groundwater, wastewater, soil, sediment, and sludge per multiple regulatory frameworks. It supports all major Chinese Environmental Monitoring Standards (HJ series), including HJ 639–2012, HJ 686–2014, HJ 788–2016, HJ 806–2016, HJ 893–2017, HJ 896–2017, HJ 713–2014, HJ 735–2015, and HJ 1020–2019, as well as GB/T 5750.8–2023 for potable water testing. Its methanol-assisted solid extraction workflow aligns with U.S. EPA Method 5035 requirements for soil VOC analysis, enabling full compliance in cross-border environmental laboratories operating under GLP or ISO/IEC 17025 quality systems. All temperature zones, flow paths, and valve actuations are logged with timestamped audit trails, satisfying FDA 21 CFR Part 11 data integrity requirements when paired with compliant LIMS or instrument control software.

Software & Data Management

Controlled via TekLink™ 4.0 software, the Atomx XYZ provides intuitive method building with nested sequence logic, real-time status monitoring, and automated calibration verification. The software enforces electronic signatures, user-level access controls, and immutable run logs—including trap temperature profiles, MFC setpoints vs. actuals, and internal standard response ratios. Raw data export is compatible with ASTM E1947-compliant formats (e.g., .csv, .txt) and native integration with Thermo Chromeleon, Agilent OpenLab, and Waters Empower platforms. Audit trail reports include operator ID, method version, timestamped events, and deviation flags—fully traceable for regulatory inspections.

Applications

The Atomx XYZ serves as a core front-end solution for environmental laboratories performing routine VOC monitoring in regulatory compliance programs. Key applications include: quantification of BTEX, chlorinated solvents (e.g., PCE, TCE), petroleum hydrocarbons (C₆–C₉), acrylonitrile, allyl chloride, and volatile sulfur compounds in municipal drinking water supplies; screening of landfill leachate and industrial effluents for EPA priority pollutants; and multi-residue analysis of soil and sediment cores from Superfund sites or brownfield assessments. Its dual-mode capability also supports method development for emerging contaminants such as methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) degradation products and fluorinated VOCs requiring enhanced sensitivity and low-background performance.

FAQ

Does the Atomx XYZ support unattended overnight operation for large sample batches?
Yes—its 84-position autosampler, combined with automated trap regeneration and self-diagnostic routines, enables fully unattended runs of up to 72 hours with scheduled maintenance alerts.
Can the system be validated for ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation?
Absolutely—the instrument includes IQ/OQ documentation templates, built-in performance verification tests (e.g., trap efficiency, carryover, linearity), and full electronic record retention meeting ILAC-G8:2022 requirements.
Is third-party GC or GC-MS connectivity supported?
Yes—standardized TTL and RS-232 interfaces enable bidirectional communication with all major GC vendors, including Shimadzu, PerkinElmer, and Bruker, without proprietary middleware.
What is the maximum allowable moisture load during solid sample analysis?
The integrated water management system tolerates up to 2.5 g H₂O per sample when using methanol-assisted extraction, with active dry gas purge and chilled focusing preventing ice formation in the trap.
How is trap lifetime monitored and maintained?
Software tracks cumulative desorption cycles, peak shape metrics (asymmetry, resolution), and background ion counts; proactive replacement alerts trigger at 2,000 cycles or upon detection of >15% signal drift in surrogate recoveries.