New CHNS/O–Autoanalyzer Set up in the CFA Laboratories

A new automatic analyzer for carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen was set up in the laboratory of the Aridland Agriculture Department on the 25^th of June 2013. This instrument can be fed with various plant, soil and food samples, and requires only around ten minutes to yield highly precise results for concentrations of all above mentioned elements. The machine will largely replace the labor intensive Kjeldahl digestion and titration previously used to determine nitrogen concentrations in plant and soil material. As it allows for high-throughput analyses of elements that were previously very difficult to determine, it is expected that the autoanalyzer will open up new horizons in agricultural research and food analysis within CFA. Analytical services will also be available to other UAEU Colleges and external organizations against a fee.  Students and researchers will now have the opportunity to experience a good additional quantum of cutting edge analytical technology. The company that supplied the autoanalyzer provided an intensive one-day training session on the operation and maintenance of the machine to Laboratory Specialists from the Aridland Agriculture Department.