MAN MULTITEK-1 OPERATION

MULTITEK

ANALYZER

SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION Introduction The Antek MultiTek® system is

the most advanced, modular, analytical system available for the
detection of nitrogen, sulfur and halides in solid, liquid, or gaseous
materials. Five configurations are available: MultiTek® N for nitrogen
analysis, MultiTek® S for sulfur analysis, MultiTek® N-S for
simultaneous nitrogen/sulfur analysis, MultiTek® IC for halide analysis
via Ion Chromatography, and MultiTek® N-S-IC for either simultaneous
nitrogen/sulfur analysis or halide analysis in a single instrument. Halide
analysis requires the addition of an Ion Chromatography (IC) system.
The MultiTek® horizontal system may be configured for any
combination of nitrogen, sulfur and halide analysis, and is easily
upgradeable. System features include: single, dual (N-S) detector
operation that can alternate with halide analysis, Windows XP, Vista
and Windows 7 compatible (32-bit & 64-bit) Antek MultiTek® Software,
PC control of instrumentation and data processing, support for 21 CFR
part 11 requirements, method and data storage capability; monitored
operating parameters that assure instrument performance, instrument
control/operation from a remote location, and more. MultiTek®
software (v2.0.0.0 and later) is available in both standard and 21 CFR
part 11 editions. Antek MultiTek® Software 21 CFR part 11 Edition
supports requirements for user who must be compliant with Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) regulations for electronic record keeping.
Refer to the Antek MultiTek® Software 21 CFR part 11 Addendum for
details. This manual covers the standard features in both editions used
to operate the MultiTek® instrument. The principle of operation for
nitrogen and sulfur analysis begins with the complete, high
temperature oxidation of the entire sample matrix illustrated in
Equation (1). The sample is combusted with oxygen at a temperature
of 1050ºC. Oxidation products include CO2, H2O, NO, SO2, and various
other oxides (designated MOX below). The combustion gases are
routed through a membrane drying system to remove all water and
then to the sulfur and/or nitrogen detector module(s) for quantization.
(1) R-N + R-S + O2 → CO2 + H2O + NO + SO2 + MOX In Equation (2),
the NO is reacted with O3 (ozone), produced by an onboard ozone
generator, to form NO2* (excited nitrogen dioxide). As the metastable
species decays, a photon of light is emitted at specific wavelengths
and detected by a photomultiplier tube (PMT). This chemiluminescent
emission is specific for nitrogen and is proportional to the amount of
nitrogen in the original sample. Only chemically bound nitrogen is
detected — atmospheric, diatomic nitrogen (N2) is not. (2) NO + O3 →
NO2* + O2 → NO2 + hv + O2 SO2 in the combustion gases is exposed
to ultraviolet radiation of a specific wavelength as shown in Equation
(3). This radiation is re-released in the form of sulfur fluorescence. This
fluorescence is detected by a photomultiplier tube (PMT) and is
proportional to the amount of sulfur in the original sample. (3) SO2 +
hv’ → SO2* → SO2 + hv”

ANALYZER

Nitrogen/sulfur calibration standards are analyzed to produce

calibration curves. When samples of unknown nitrogen/sulfur content
are analyzed, the MultiTek® Software compares the raw sample data
to the calibration curve to generate and report nitrogen/sulfur
concentrations. MultiTek® IC is a combustion based analyzer using
high temperature oxidation and steam to prepare samples containing
halides (fluorine [F], chlorine [Cl], bromine [Br]) and/or sulfur, for ion
chromatographic analysis. Under oxidative conditions at 1050ºC, in the
presence of steam, compounds containing chemically bound halides
are converted into carbon dioxide, water, and the respective hydrogen
halides. If present, chemically bound sulfur is converted to sulfur
trioxide and/or sulfuric acid. The combustion products exit the furnace
zone and are trapped in a condensed scrubber assembly using an
absorbing solution. The hydrogen halides become free anions and the
sulfur trioxide and/or sulfuric acid are converted to sulfate ions
Equation (4). The resulting solution is then transferred to an Ion
Chromatograph (IC) where the solution components are separated and
detected. The MultiTek® IC may also be used to prepare and analyze
samples that contain any of the five target ions already present as
anions. (4) R-X + R-S + O2 + H2O → CO2 + H2O + HX + SO3 → X- +
SO42-+ 3 H+ After calibration of the system using standards with
known quantities of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and/or sulfur, the
system may then be used to analyze unknown samples that may
contain all to none of the target elements.
system Components Basic System • Model MultiTek® N, Model
MultiTek® S, Model MultiTek® N-S, Model MultiTek® IC, Model
MultiTek® N-S-IC, Model N-IC or Model S-IC • PC with Windows XP, Vista
or Windows 7 • 4 or 8 Port Router (User Supplied) • Antek MultiTek®
Software • IC Sampler Control Software (Only used with Model
MultiTek® IC or Model MultiTek® N-S-IC, Model N-IC, Model S-IC) •
Accessories for liquid sample analysis Front panel indicators and
control • State LED Ready, Sleep, Idle – Green, steady Running – Green,
blinking Other state (Warm-up, Pre-run, Post-run, Diags) – Yellow
Instrument Power Off – Off • Ethernet LED

Online – Blue, steady Instrument ID – Blue, blinking Offline – Amber •

Furnace LED

Ready (at processing temperature) – Green, steady Warm-up / Cool-

down – Yellow, blinking Cooled down – Yellow, steady • Alarm LED

Alarm – Red Warning – Yellow No Alarm/Warning – Off • Start Button

The Start Button is active when a manual sequence is set up and

ready. The operator verifies sample is loaded and ready and then
pushes the ‘Start’ button to initiate the sample run.