AA500 AutoAnalyzer

Modular continuous flow analyzer with lowest detection limits

Feature-Packed Automated Analysis

The AA500 is the next step in the evolution of the original world-class Technicon AutoAnalyzer, following the SEAL Analytical AA3 segmented flow analyzer. With compact, all-in-one housing, the system delivers up to six channels with total automation of startup and shutdown, as well as full digital control of digestion, distillation, and air injection. Focused on maintaining the AutoAnalyzer’s long standing reputation for high quality and reliability, the AA500 brings unequaled performance, flexibility and productivity enhancements to the laboratory.

The AA500 incorporates the same principles employed in a basic segmented flow analyzer (SFA) system: an autosampler, a peristaltic pump, a chemistry manifold,a detector and data acquisition software. Sample and reagents are pumped continuously through the chemistry manifold. Air bubbles are introduced at regular intervals forming unique reaction segments which are mixed using glass coils. Glass is ideal as it is inert, stays clean and enables easy visual checks.

In SFA, reactions run to completion and the ratio of sample to reagents in the detector reaches a constant maximum value. This results in ultra-low detection limits and exceptional reproducibility. Variations in reaction time, temperature and sample matrix do not affect the results as they do in other colorimetric techniques, such as flow injection analysis, where the reaction is not brought to completion.

The AA500 is the top-of-the line AutoAnalyzer incorporating the latest innovations to deliver your laboratory the freedom of total automation while achieving very high precision and the lowest detections levels. It is the AutoAnalyzer you’ve been waiting for.

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Why select the AA500?

Automation

Programmable steps for a fully automated startup and shutdown
ASX-series samplers designed by SEAL Analytical for improved segmented flow analysis sampling
Inline sample pretreatment including distillation, gas diffusion, dialysis, dilution, and UV digestion
6+ channels for simultaneous analyses

Compliance

Segmented reaction stream allows for a complete reaction between reagents and sample for maximum sensitivity
Over 1,000 methods available
LIMS-compatible software available in standard and GLP versions
Wide-range methods allow for more testing without dilution reruns

Efficiency

Modular, small footprint components for a flexible, space-saving flow analyzer
Dual-beam LED photometer provides ultra-low detection with a long life and low maintenance
Inert glass tubing for accurate results and easy maintenance
Multitest manifolds enable analysis of multiple parameters on a single channel, requiring only reagent and LED changes between tests

Support

Visual manuals and descriptive checklists
Immediate support available from SEAL chemists via email, phone, screenshare, or video call
In-depth training during installation
Guides and webinars available for continued learning

Highlights of the AA500

Overnight Analysis with Automated Shutdown

Inline sample preparation

In addition to analysis, the AA500 can perform all typical continuous flow sample prep and more, including distillation, digestion, dialysis, and dilution. Eliminate distillation entirely for analyses such as ammonia and cyanide with inline gas diffusion options for further streamlined analysis.

Low Reagent Usage

Utilizing segmented flow analysis, SEAL flow analyzers use less reagent than other variations of continuous flow analysis. Segmented flow also brings the reaction to reach complete color formation, allowing the signal to reach a steady state for precise measurement.

Ultra-low detection limits

Utilizing high resolution dual beam LED digital photometers and unique flowcell engineering, the AA500 provides incredibly low detection limits, well-suited for seawater research and other low-level applications.

Maximum method flexibility

SEAL’s multi-test manifolds allow for a single AA500 channel to be used for multiple parameters. The same glassware and pump tube configurations remain in place between methods - simply pump rinse solution through the channel and swap out the detector’s LED to the desired wavelength. A single manifold also allows for multiple ranges depending on the current need.

Overnight Analysis with Automated Shutdown

The AA500 offers a fully automated startup and shutdown, customizable by the user via programmable steps in the AACE software ensuring a safe and efficient shutdown on every run. Setup a run for overnight analysis and let the system dilute and rerun over-range samples, rinse out the channels with wash solution, and release the pump platen entirely unattended.

How the AA500 Works

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Startup and Baselines

Samples are loaded and scheduled

Sampling begins

Reaction underway

Detection takes place

Post-run dilutions and shutdown

Step 1

Startup and Baselines

Using programmable auto-startup options or manual steps, the system is powered on and wash solution is pumped through the system. After the baseline has stabilized, reagents are introduced through the pump tubing via automatic valves or manually. A stable baseline is achieved before analysis begins.

Step 2

Samples are loaded and scheduled

A sample list or sequence is entered into the software, either imported directly from LIMS or a spreadsheet, or entered manually. If using a syringe diluter, auto-dilution factors are assigned. Samples are loaded onto the sampler.

Step 3

Sampling begins

Once the run is started, the standards and samples are pulled sequentially through the sample probe by the peristaltic pump and flow-rated pump tubes. The sampler returns to the wash bath between samples for cleaning. The sample is split into multiple channels as it approaches the pump for simultaneous analysis of various analytes. As the sample enters the manifold, an air bubble is injected every 2 seconds to provide additional separation between samples.

Step 4

Reaction underway

As the samples pass through the manifold, precise volumes of reagents are injected at specific points, pulled through the peristaltic pump by their own flow-rated pump tubes. The reaction solution passes through a range of apparatuses such as mixing coils, heating baths, dialyzers, gas diffusion blocks, UV digestors, and more to facilitate the colorimetric reaction.

Step 5

Detection takes place

The reaction solution reaches peak color development before passing into the flowcell. Using a dual beam LED digital photometer, constant absorbance readings of the flow are measured and plotted on a chart in the AACE software in real time. As the colored reaction solution enters and leaves the detector, peaks are formed on the chart. Peak height is then measured and compared to the calibration to calculate a concentration value of the sample.

Step 6

Post-run dilutions and shutdown

After the run completes, over-range samples can be automatically diluted using a syringe diluter and reanalyzed if desired. At the end of analysis, a programmable auto-shutdown program can be used to automatically rinse out the channels, raise the peristaltic pump’s platen to prevent damage to the flow-rated pump tubes, turn off LED lamps, turn off heating baths, and other shutdown procedures.

Powerful AACE Software

The AACE software package for the AA500 allows for full digital control of all the analyzer’s functions. Designed in-house at SEAL Analytical, AACE is compatible with Windows 7 - 11 and offers regular updates keeping up with new operating systems. Offering LIMS import and export compatibility and GLP-compliance, AACE is compatible with all laboratories' data-handling needs.

AA500 AutoAnalyzer Methods

Explore a wide range of our most common multi-test methods for environmental, agricultural, industrial, and other markets. Multi-test manifolds allow for a single channel to be used for any parameter on the same multi-test list, without any pump tubing, glassware, or manifold changes. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Contact our team to discuss our full method options, including methods with gas diffusion, UV digestion, fluorometry, and more.

SEAL Analytical has more than 1,000 documented segmented flow analyzer methods, with new applications regularly being developed in our laboratories. USEPA, ASTM, ISO, AOAC, DIN, CORESTA and other international regulatory compliant methods are available.

MT507 Manifold for Water, Wastewater, Soil and Plant Extracts, Fertilizer, etc.

Analyte	SEAL Method #	Lowest Range	Highest Range
Alkalinity	A097	0 - 4.5 mg/L as S	0 - 18 mg/L as S
Aluminium	A137	0- 200 µg/L as Al	0 - 600 µg/L as Al
Aluminium	A141	0 - 1 mg/L as Al	0 - 4 mg/L as Al
Ammonia	A025	0 - 2.5 mg/L as N	0 - 25 mg/L as N
Ammonia	A041	0 - 3 mg/L as N	0 - 25 mg/L as N
Ammonia	A042	0 - 3 mg/L as N	0 - 30 mg/L as N
Ammonia	A048	0 - 3 mg/L as N	0 - 25 mg/L as N
Boron	A134	0 - 10 mg/L as B	0 - 90 mg/L as B
Calcium	A083	0 - 15 mg/L	0 - 100 mg/L
Chloride	A085	0 - 25 mg/L	0 - 700 mg/L
Chromium (VI)	A090	0 - 4 mg/L as Cr	0 - 40 mg/L as Cr
Hardness	A084	0 - 400 mg/L as CaCO3	0 - 400 mg/L as CaCO3
Hydrogen Sulfide	A096	0 - 4.5 mg/L as S	0 - 18 mg/L as S
Magnesium	A099	0 - 4.5 mg/L as S	0 - 18 mg/L as S
Nitrate	A026	0 - 1 mg/L as N	0 - 12 mg/L as N
Nitrate	A068	0 - 1 mg/L as N	0 - 10 mg/L as N
Nitrite	A047	0 - 2 mg/L as N	0 - 8 mg/L as N
Nitrogen, total Kjeldahl	A066	0 - 2.5 mg/L as N	0 - 25 mg/L as N
Phosphate	A029	0 - 10 mg/L as P	0 - 50 mg/L as P
Phosphorus, total Kjeldahl	A067	0 - 6 mg/L as P	0 - 50 mg/L as P
Silicate	A030	0 - 30 mg/L as SiO2	0 - 300 mg/L as SiO2

MT508 for Water, Wastewater, Soil and Plant Extracts, Fertilizer, etc.

Analyte	SEAL Method #	Lowest Range	Highest Range
Alkalinity	A097	0 - 0.75 mg/L as S	0 - 1.8 mg/L
Aluminium	A137	0- 200 µg/L as Al	0 - 600 µg/L as Al
Aluminium	A141	0 - 1 mg/L as Al	0 - 4 mg/L as Al
Ammonia	A025	0 - 0.5 mg/L as N	0 - 6 mg/L as N
Ammonia	A041	0 - 0.8 mg/L as N	0 - 6.4 mg/L
Ammonia	A042	0 - 1 mg/L as N	0 - 8 mg/L as N
Boron	A134	0 - 2 mg/L as B	0 - 15 mg/L as B
Chloride	A085	0 - 10 mg/L	0 - 300 mg/L
Chromium (VI)	A090	0 - 1 mg/L as Cr	0 - 9 mg/L as Cr
Chromium (VI)	A131	0 - 1 mg/L as Cr	0 - 9 mg/L as Cr
Hydrogen Sulfide	A096	0 - 0.75 mg/L as S	0 - 1.8 mg/L
Magnesium	A099	0 - 0.75 mg/L as S	0 - 1.8 mg/L
Nitrate	A026	0 - 240 µg/L as N	0 - 2.8 mg/L as N
Nitrite	A047	0 - 0.2 mg/L as N	0 - 0.8 mg/L as N
Nitrogen, total Kjeldahl	A066	0 - 0.8 mg/L as N	0 - 25 mg/L as N
Phosphate	A029	0 - 1 mg/L as P	0 - 8 mg/L as P
Phosphorus, total Kjeldahl	A067	0 - 1.7 mg/L as P	0 - 8 mg/L as P
Silicate	A030	0 - 6 mg/L as SiO2	0 - 60 mg/L as SiO2

MT516 for Water and Wastewater

Analyte	SEAL Method #	Lowest Range	Highest Range
Alkalinity	A088	0 - 100 mg/L as CaCO3	0 - 250 mg/L as CaCO3
Ammonia	A032	0 - 0.5 mg N/L	0 - 5 mg N/L
Nitrate+Nitrite	A033	0 - 200 µg N/L	0 - 2 mg N/L
Nitrite	A035	0 - 0.2 mg N/L	0 - 2 mg N/L
Phosphate	A036	0 - 1 mg P/L	0 - 5 mg P/L
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen	US310	0 - 0.5 mg N/L	4 mg N/L
Total Kjeldahl Phosphorus	A073	0 - 1.5 mg P/L	0 - 5 mg P/L

MT517 for Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus with Inline UV Digestion

Analyte	SEAL Method #	Lowest Range	Highest Range
Total Nitrogen	A077	0 - 0.75 mg N/L	0 - 5 mg N/L
Total Phosphorus	A078	0- 3 mg P/L	0 - 10 mg P/L

MT519 for Seawater and Low Level Water

Analyte	SEAL Method #	Lowest Range	Highest Range
Ammonia (Phenol Reagent)	A001	0 - 112 µg N/L	0 - 1400 µg N/L
Ammonia (Salicylate Reagent)	A043	0 - 112 µg N/L	0 - 1204 µg N/L
Chloride	A145	0 - 6 mg Cl/L	0 - 40 mg Cl/L
Color	A109	0 - 70 color units	0 - 250 color units
Iron	A155	0 - 2 µmol/L	0 - 80 µmol/L
Manganese	A123	0 - 300 µg/L	0 - 7.5 mg/L
Nitrite	A044	0 - 3.6 µmol/L	0 - 500 µmol/L
Nitrate+Nitrite	A044	0 - 3.6 µmol/L	0 - 500 µmol/L
Phosphate	A005	0 - 62 µmol/L	0 - 2000 µmol/L
Silicate	A006	0 - 8 µmol/L	0 - 100 µmol/L
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen	A124	0 - 160 µmol/L	0 - 1200 µmol/L
Total Nitrogen	A063	0 - 1 mg N/L	0 - 12 mg N/L
Total Phosphorus	USA002	0 - 1 mg P/L	0 - 1 mg P/L

MT529 for Water

Analyte	SEAL Method #	Lowest Range	Highest Range
Cyanide	A116	0 - 25 µg/L as CN	0 - 500 µg/L as CN
Cyanide, free	A144	0 - 50 µg/L as CN	0 - 500 µg/L as CN
Phenol	A117	0 - 200 µg/L	0 - 500 µg/L

MT533 for Low Range Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus with Inline UV Digestion

Analyte	SEAL Method #	Lowest Range	Highest Range
Nitrogen, total dissolved	A008	0 - 140 µg N/L	0 - 560 µg N/L
Phosphorus, total dissolved	A009	0 - 140 µg P/L	0 - 1600 µg N/L

MT534 for Total Iron and Total Copper with Inline Autoclave Digestion

Analyte	SEAL Method #	Lowest Range	Highest Range
Iron, total	A114	0 - 300 µg/L	0 - 3 mg/L
Copper, total	A115	0 - 100 µg/L	0 - 300 µg/L

Other models

AutoAnalyzer II (Legacy System)

Introduced in 1969, the Technicon AutoAnalyzer II was the 20th century's best known and most successful Continuous Flow Automated Analyzer, and the instrument that most EPA methods reference. Predecessor to the SEAL Analytical AA3 and AA500, it laid the groundwork for the widespread popularity of segmented flow analysis.

Learn more

AA3 HR AutoAnalyzer (Legacy System)

Succeeded by the AA500, the AA3 AutoAnalyzer brought segmented flow analysis into the Digital Age. Following the success of the AutoAnalyzer II from Technicon and Bran+Luebbe, the AA3 and AA3 HR became the standard automated analyzer for nutrient analysis in seawater and tobacco analysis, and a key system for water, wastewater, drinking water, fertilizer, soil, and plant analysis.

Learn more

AA100 AutoAnalyzer

The compact, dual-channel AA100 auto analyzer is the ideal chemistry analyzer for laboratories running only 1 or 2 dedicated chemistries. Like the bigger AA500 AutoAnalyzer, it is designed specifically to meet the needs of environmental and industrial testing laboratories.

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QuAAtro39 AutoAnalyzer

Incredibly powerful and compact, the QuAAtro39 AutoAnalyzer offers micro or macro flow hydraulics, heated manifolds, high resolution detectors and advanced software. This high performance microflow chemistry analyzer is ideal for the detection of ultra-low nutrients in water, wastewater, seawater, soil, plant extracts, tobacco and wine.

Learn more

Frequently Asked Questions

Below, we’ve listed a few frequently asked questions that will help you better understand our Continuous Flow Analyzers. If you don’t find the answer you're looking for, please don't hesitate to contact our support team for further assistance.

How does the AA500 achieve complete automated start up and shut down?

The AA500 comes integrated with a software-controlled pump platen, programmable reagent valves, and other automated components. Custom start-up and shut-down programs can be created in the software to fully customize your automated analysis. With the click of a button, the analyzer can engage its platen, begin pumping wash solution through the system, and turn on heating baths and lamps. It can then automatically begin pumping reagents in the proper reagent order, engage the cadmium reduction valve if needed, wait for and identify a stable reagent baseline, and then begin the run. At the end of the run, it can automatically dilute and reanalyzer over-range samples, then disengage the cadmium reduction valve if needed, switch over from reagents to wash solution in the proper order, switch the pump to a fast speed for expedited rinsing, shut off heating baths and LED lamps, release the platen, and raise the sample probe out of the wash bath.

What is the throughput of SEAL Analytical’s continuous flow analyzers?

Our continuous flow analyzers can analyze samples at up to 120 samples/hour per channel, for a total of up to 600 tests per hour.

What is the advantage of injecting air bubbles in segmented flow analysis?

Our continuous flow analyzers utilize segmented flow analysis, injecting controlled bubbles at a regular interval which provides several benefits. The bubbles reduce carryover by adding physical separation between sample and wash solution, they improve the mixing of sample and reagent in-between air bubbles, they scrub the inner surface of the glass coils as the move along, and they provide a visual of the flow through the system for easy fluidic checks.

How does segmented flow analysis compare to flow injection analysis?

Segmented flow analysis and flow injection analysis are both types of continuous flow analysis. In segmented flow analysis, a gas bubble is injected into the sample stream at regular intervals (see question above). In flow injection analysis, samples an reagents are pumped into a manifold under pressure without any air bubble injection. Each type of continuous flow analysis uses different methods for analyzing the peaks charted as samples pass through the detector. We discuss these differences in detail here.

What maintenance is involved on a segmented flow analyzer?

With minimal moving parts, segmented flow analysis has an advantage in requiring little routine maintenance. The maintenance involved includes rinsing out the channels after each run using the defined cleaning protocols for the chemistry ran on the instrument, releasing the platen so the pump tubes are not compressed when not in use, changing the flow-rated pump tubes at 200 hours of use, and keeping the pump clean and lubricated. Each SEAL analyzer comes with checklists and visual guides for these easy procedures, and our technical support team is always happy to assist with any questions.