duoPUR acid purification system enhances analytical reliability while reducing lab’s expenses

The AEMITEQ Associação para a Inovação Tecnológica e Qualidade – is a non profit institution of public utility, founded in 1991. Based in Coimbra, Portugal, AEMITEQ serves as a technological interface center, supporting industry and the community in the fields of chemistry, environment, quality, energy, and innovation. The organization specializes in quality chemical control, offering services such as analytical testing, UV/Visible spectrophotometer calibration, pharmaceutical analysis, and technical consultancy. AEMITEQ is accredited for providing services in chemical quality control, adhering to national and international standards or proprietary methodologies. The laboratory is structured into three main units: chromatography, atomic absorption/emission, and classical chemical analysis. A dedicated UV-Vis calibration lab complements these units. AEMITEQ handles a diverse range of analytical tasks, including ICP-MS, ICP-OES and chromatography (liquid and gas).

AEMITEQ faced significant challenges in maintaining the quality of their analytical results, especially when dealing with trace metals analysis using ICP-MS. Despite purchasing high-purity acids, the laboratory experienced inconsistent results due to variations between acid batches, leading to difficulties in obtaining reliable blanks and compliant results for critical analyses. Moreover, the high cost of purchasing ultra-pure acids significantly impacted the laboratory’s operational expenses, with some acid batches costing between €200 and €500 per 500 ml. This financial burden, combined with the risk of unreliable results, made it clear that a more efficient and consistent solution was needed.

In 2021, AEMITEQ adopted Milestone’s duoPUR acid purification system, integrating it into their ICP and ICPMS laboratory, following a need and demand for a clean chemistry strategy, not only in trace metals, but also the difficult analysis of low levels of Calcium and Magnesium in very challenging matrixes like brines. The system was immediately recognized for its ease of use and seamless integration, operating on a “plug-and-play” basis without requiring extensive training for the laboratory staff. According to João Gonçalo Lourenço, Coordinator at AEMITEQ, the duoPUR system quickly became an essential part of their daily workflow, running continuously for 4-5 hours daily to produce ultra-pure nitric acid for trace element analysis. The laboratory now consistently achieves highquality, contaminant-free acids at a fraction of the previous cost, leading to significant financial savings and enhanced analytical reliability. The system significantly improved trace element analysis and reduced costs by €20,000 annually. A testament to the system’s efficacy occurred when another laboratory struggled with low-level metal detection using a different distillation system, utilized acid produced by AEMITEQ’s duoPUR. The results were immediately consistent, highlighting the superior quality of acid produced by the duoPUR system.

The adoption of Milestone’s duoPUR acid purification system has transformed AEMITEQ’s workflow, providing them with a consistent and reliable source of ultra-pure acid while significantly reducing operational costs. AEMITEQ’s team emphasized the system’s robustness and user-friendly design, which allowed the laboratory to maintain high-quality results without the need for expensive commercial acids.