vario MAX cube Reach a new level in throughput

Significance of the topic

Elemental analysis by high-temperature combustion remains a cornerstone technique across agriculture, environmental science, food and feed quality control, fertilizers and chemical industries. Instruments that combine high throughput, robust automation and flexible sample handling reduce laboratory bottlenecks, lower operational costs and increase data reliability for routine and research applications. The vario MAX cube represents a next-generation solution aimed at laboratories with large sample volumes, heterogeneous matrices and high ash content where unattended operation and long-term stability are critical.

Objectives and overview of the product

The text presents the vario MAX cube elemental analyzer and its capabilities. The primary aims are to describe: simplified sample preparation for solids and liquids, automation features (including automatic ash removal), high sample throughput for 24/7 operation, flexible carrier gas use (He or Ar), advanced chromatographic purge-and-trap detection (APT), and long-term robustness (10-year warranty on furnace and TCD cell). The analyzer supports configurable modes (N, CN, CNS) and optional semi-automatic total inorganic carbon (TIC) determination for solids.

Methodology and used instrumentation

The vario MAX cube uses proven high-temperature combustion with efficient oxygen dosing and a post-combustion stage to ensure complete conversion of sample-bound elements to measuring gases. Key instrumentation and functional elements described:

• Upright open crucible furnace optimized for both solid and liquid samples, allowing sample weights up to 5 g / 5 ml.
• Automated sample introduction and automatic ash removal via a maintenance-free robotic arm enabling unattended overnight sequences.
• Elementar’s APT (Advanced Purge and Trap) chromatographic technique for separation of combustion gases without gas splitting/dilution, enabling high dynamic range and peak separation.
• Thermal conductivity detector (TCD) for universal detection; furnace and TCD cell carry a 10-year warranty.
• Compatibility with either helium or argon carrier gas without hardware changes, enabling operational flexibility and cost optimization.
• Optional conversion kits and semi-automatic TIC module for specific applications.

Main results and discussion

The document reports instrument performance characteristics and example analytical data demonstrating precision and applicability to diverse matrices. Highlights include:

• Wide sample weight range (up to 5 g/5 ml) reduces or eliminates the need for extensive milling/grinding for inhomogeneous materials, saving preparation time and enabling higher throughput.
• APT-based separation achieves very large dynamic range (reported C/N ratios up to ~7000:1) and allows analysis of samples with absolute carbon content up to approximately 500 mg.
• Purge-and-trap columns are described as more robust and longer-lived than typical GC columns, capable of loading up to 250 times more material which improves flexibility for high-carbon samples such as soils, sediments and plant-derived materials.
• Automated ash removal increases uptime when analyzing high-ash matrices (soils, sediments), removing a common cause of downtime and maintenance burden.
• Example analytical results (summarized): soils, clays, sand, plant materials, seeds and industrial materials analyzed for C, N and S showed low analytical uncertainties consistent with high precision combustion analysis. Reported values illustrate broad applicability (e.g., wheat flour ~40.7% C, 1.88% N; grass ~30.5% C, 2.81% N, 2.55% S; various soils ~1.14% C, 0.103% N, 0.023% S).

Benefits and practical applications

Practical benefits emphasized in the material:

• High throughput: Designed for continuous, unattended 24/7 operation with automated handling to maximize sample throughput and laboratory efficiency.
• Simplified sample prep: Upright crucible and large sample capacity allow direct analysis of heterogeneous solids and straightforward liquid handling (pouring into crucibles), reducing time and labor.
• Flexibility and future-proofing: Operation with helium or argon without hardware changes mitigates supply and cost risks associated with helium scarcity.
• Analytical quality: High-temperature combustion with post-combustion and APT ensures matrix-independent results, excellent precision and long-term calibration stability.
• Reduced total cost of ownership: Durable purge-and-trap columns, high loading capacity and long warranty/support horizons lower lifecycle costs.
• Target users: Chemical contract labs, soil and plant research groups, fertilizer producers, agricultural laboratories and other industrial QA/QC environments.

Future trends and possibilities for use

Based on the technology described, foreseeable trends and opportunities include:

• Increasing automation: Integration with laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and greater robotic workflows to support 24/7 high-throughput analytics and traceability.
• Carrier gas flexibility as standard: Wider adoption of argon-capable systems to reduce dependence on helium, alongside optimization of detection settings for different gases.
• Expanded method portfolios: Coupling combustion analyzers with isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) or other detectors for advanced research applications (e.g., stable isotope studies) while retaining routine throughput.
• Enhanced sample handling modules: Further improvements for very high-ash matrices, automated dilution schemes, and inline TIC/TOC workflows for broader carbon speciation capabilities.
• Data-driven QA: Advanced software for predictive maintenance using instrument telemetry, and improved correction algorithms for complex matrices.

Conclusion

The vario MAX cube combines proven high-temperature combustion chemistry with robust automation and advanced APT separation to meet the needs of high-throughput laboratories handling heterogeneous and high-ash samples. Key advantages are simplified sample preparation for solids and liquids, unattended operation, carrier gas flexibility, extended dynamic range for C/N analysis, and design choices that reduce lifetime costs. These attributes position the analyzer as an attractive, future-proof investment for environmental, agricultural and industrial elemental analysis workflows.

Reference

Elementar product information brochure: vario MAX cube technical description and specifications (Elementar Analysensysteme GmbH, Langenselbold, Germany; brochure Art.-No. 29.00-5209, 09/2016).