LCTech EluVac Vacuum Manifold

Significance of the Topic

Mycotoxin contamination poses a serious threat to food safety and public health. Reliable and high-throughput sample preparation methods are essential to support routine screening, quality assurance and regulatory compliance in food and feed analysis.

Objective and Overview

This application note introduces the EluVac SPE vacuum manifold, specifically designed to streamline solid phase extraction and immunoaffinity clean-up for mycotoxin analysis. The focus is on enhancing sample throughput and reproducibility by processing up to 20 samples simultaneously under controlled vacuum conditions.

Methodology

Solid phase extraction (SPE) and immunoaffinity clean-up (IAC) techniques rely on selective retention of target analytes on sorbent or antibody-coated media. Samples are loaded onto columns, interferences are washed away, and mycotoxins are eluted into collection vials. The EluVac manifold applies a uniform vacuum to drive these steps, ensuring consistent flow rates and minimized manual intervention.

Used Instrumentation

• EluVac Vacuum Manifold basic system with glass base, valves, blind plugs, vacuum control unit, integrated beaker and central drain tube
• Racks for up to 20 positions: 4 mL vial inserts or rotary evaporator flask adapters (up to 100 mL)
• Special reservoirs for processing larger sample volumes
• Compatibility with standard 1 mL and 3 mL SPE or immunoaffinity columns (e.g., AflaCLEAN 3 mL)
• Chemically inert diaphragm vacuum pump (230 V, 50–60 Hz)
• Elution vials: 4 mL GC vials, 100 pcs per pack

Main Results and Discussion

Integration of the EluVac manifold within a mycotoxin workflow delivers a marked increase in sample throughput without compromising analyte recovery or precision. The controlled vacuum ensures uniform elution profiles across all channels, reducing variability. The modular rack system facilitates rapid changeover between different sample formats and column sizes.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Simultaneous handling of 20 samples to accelerate laboratory workflows
• Reproducible flow rates and elution conditions for consistent results
• Flexible configuration for diverse matrices and column formats
• Compact and robust design suitable for routine QA/QC and research labs

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Advances in laboratory automation will drive further integration of vacuum manifold systems with robotic liquid handlers and online detection. Expansion of rack capacity and development of disposable, sustainable consumables will meet emerging demands for higher throughput and greener workflows. Coupling with hyphenated techniques such as LC-MS/MS promises streamlined end-to-end mycotoxin analysis.

Conclusion

The EluVac SPE vacuum manifold offers a robust, flexible and high-throughput solution for mycotoxin sample preparation. Its controlled vacuum operation and modular design enhance reproducibility, efficiency and ease of use, making it an invaluable tool for modern analytical laboratories.

Reference

No literature references provided in the original document.