High Purity Nitrogen Generator Improves Fatty Acid Analysis

Case Study

In the quest to understand nutrient dynamics across various habitats, researchers at Louisiana State University were in need of an efficient and reliable solution to prepare their test samples for analysis. This case study highlights how the Moyo Lab at LSU achieved transformative results using Organomation’s MICROVAP evaporator and NITRO-GEN+ gas generator in tandem to concentrate their fatty acid extractions prior to analysis.

Application

The research lab focuses on studying the movement of essential nutrients across habitats, and how they affect the organisms in those habitats. They do this by measuring fatty acids and other key nutrients extracted from plants, insects, fish, and animal feces. A critical step in their workflow involves evaporating off excess chloroform from their 2 mL and 15 mL extraction samples to achieve higher concentration levels for analysis.

Solution

The Moyo Lab contacted Organomation's experts to find a system that could quickly and safely evaporate off this excess chloroform, and ended up choosing the unheated 24 position MICROVAP which was a great fit for both their application and budget. Conversation then transitioned into their lab's nitrogen source and how they would be supplying gas to their evaporator. With the lab's poor experience with nitrogen cylinders previously, they were looking for a suitable nitrogen generator that would eliminate the common struggles of using cylinders. The lab ended up purchasing Organomation's NITRO-GEN+, an all-in-one nitrogen generator that could easily supply their MICROVAP with adequate gas flow, pressure, and purity.

Why the NITRO-GEN+?

When selecting a nitrogen source, the Moyo Lab specifically sought a solution that would address the issues they had encountered with nitrogen cylinders. They chose the NITRO-GEN+ for several key reasons:

1. Space Efficiency: With its compact design, the NITRO-GEN+ occupies minimal space and can be conveniently stored when not in use—a significant advantage for labs with limited room.

2. Reliability: The generator provides a continuous nitrogen supply, eliminating the frequent interruptions caused by running out of gas and reducing the need for repeated cylinder refills or replacements.

3. Ease of Use: The user-friendly interface allows even inexperienced lab members to operate the system confidently with minimal training, making it an ideal choice for academic settings.

4. Quiet Operation: The NITRO-GEN+ is one of the quietest generators on the market, ensuring a comfortable work environment for researchers.

In the lab manager's own words, he said:

"I love the NITRO-GEN+ for many reasons. First, a vital benefit of the NITRO-GEN+ is that I can move the generator around the department because it has wheels that allow me to move it around where it needs to be. When I used cylinders, I had difficulty moving them around the lab. Second, when the NITRO-GEN+ is not in use, I can safely store it in a corner in my lab because it only takes up a little space. Third, the NITRO-GEN+ is also very quiet and is one of the quietest generators we have used in the lab. Fourth, I love that there is less risk of running out of nitrogen as I always have a 24/7 supply of nitrogen when needed. Lastly, the NITRO-GEN+ is so easy to use that students in the Moyo lab can use it with little training.”

- Sydney Moyo, Assistant Professor at LSU

The team no longer has to deal with cumbersome nitrogen cylinders that were not only a hassle to maintain and replace, but posed as a hazard to the students handling them. With the NITRO-GEN+, the students can safely maneuver it around the lab and have instant high purity nitrogen whenever they need it. 

Impact on Research

The improved sample preparation process immediately streamlined the lab’s fatty acid analysis upon installing their new sample evaporator and gas generator. They noticed improvements in:

1. Faster sample preparation

2. Increased throughput with the MICROVAP's multi-sample capacity

3. Reduced downtime and enhanced focus on research goals 

4. Easier and safer gas generation procedure
 

Conclusion

The MICROVAP and NITRO-GEN+ have become invaluable assets to the researchers at LSU, transforming how samples are prepared for fatty acid analysis. This case study underscores the importance of investing in reliable and efficient tools to advance scientific discovery.

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Need a nitrogen generator to pair with the sample evaporator you already have in the lab? Check out our generator recommendation chart which lists suitable generator options for many popular evaporator models.