Thermo Gallery Aqua Master Discrete Analyzer
The newly installed (January 2025) Thermo Gallery Aqua Master discrete analyzer is an automated spectrophotometer. We currently have reagents and configured methods for the analysis of nitrate (NO3-), nitrite (NO2-), ammonium (NH4+), phosphate (PO42-), and hexavalent chromium (Cr(IV)) in various aqueous solutions (water, seawater, and 2M KCl soil extracts). Methods for additional analytes can be developed on request. Please contact Taylor Broek (tbroek@stanford.edu) for more information.
Theory of Discrete Analysis
Based on the chemistries used in continuous flow analysis, discrete analysis is fully automated and "flowless". An automated arm collects samples and reagents and dispenses them in a cuvette. The cuvette resides in a heated carousel wheel where the chemical reaction is allowed to proceed to the development of a colored product. The optical density of the reaction product is then measured at a specified wavelength.