Lecture
Carbon, Nitrogen and Protein Analysis in 150 Seconds: Combining Speed, Digital Workflows and Easy Maintenance
- at -
- B1.131
- Type: Lecture
Lecture description
Carbon, Nitrogen and Protein Analysis in 150 Seconds: Combining Speed, Digital Workflows and Easy Maintenance Laboratories in the food, feed, fertilizer and soil sectors all rely on one critical analytical task: a fast and reliable determination of carbon, nitrogen or protein. As regulatory requirements tighten and sample numbers rise, routine laboratories face increasing pressure to deliver high-quality results in minimal time, with minimal effort. In this talk, we show the results from our research and development that have enabled a substantial reduction in the measurement time for elemental analysis in a routine laboratory application. Within the framework of the Dumas combustion method, the instrument completes a full analysis of carbon and nitrogen in only 150 seconds per sample, enabling a significant increase in daily sample capacity while maintaining analytical robustness and accuracy. The use of pure oxygen combustion and non aggressive chemicals improves laboratory safety, reduces chemical consumption and supports more sustainable operations. Integrated auto sampling minimizes manual handling, ensures clear sample identification and supports high throughput workflows, all in compliance with ISO, DIN, EN, ASTM and AOAC standards. Samples analyzed for carbon and nitrogen differ widely in composition and concentration. To address this variability, we implemented multiple configurable software settings, giving users flexibility to optimize analytical parameters and tailor the application method to their specific sample types and analytical requirements. A key focus in development was ease of operation and low maintenance: all consumables can be exchanged in about 15 min, minimizing down-time. To streamline laboratory workflows the CN-analyzer operates with an integrated PC, touchscreen and web based software enabling flexible monitoring, secure data handling and efficient result reporting from anywhere in the same network. This presentation illustrates how modern combustion based CN and protein analysis aligns with the analytica 2026 themes of sustainability, laboratory automation and digitalization, offering a practical and future ready solution for routine analytical laboratories.
