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Modular Laboratory Automation

Technology Category: Process Automation

Description: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has developed an automated sample digestion instrument, the Hot Plate Digestion Standard Laboratory Module (SLM). The instrument is designed to process a soil or sludge sample through a complicated series of steps in preparation for heavy metal analysis, per the stringent requirements of EPA Method 3050. The SLM accepts up to eight (8) samples and moves them through a series of digestions and extractions. The instrument integrates a commercial laboratory robot system with the PNNL digestion components. At one step, a reactive solution is added to remove organic materials. Temperature is controlled to prevent a reaction run-away by applying an acoustic monitoring system to each beaker and 'listening' for the release of oxygen bubbles which are counted by the on board computer to determine the reaction rate. The technique is the subject of a patent application. Labor required for eight (8) samples is reduced by 75% by the instrument.

PNNL developed a multifaceted team of professionals that included mechanical, electrical, and software engineers and chemists to solve the complex problem. The instrument went through an initial testing phase at PNNL and then was shipped to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for testing with actual environmental samples.

Point of Contact: Michael G. Dodson (509) 375-2039