Automation of continuous flow analysis systems – a review

Development and Application of an Automated Raman Sensor for Bioprocess Monitoring: From the Laboratory to an Algae Production Platform

Microalgae provide valuable bio-components with economic and environmental benefits. The monitoring of microalgal production is mostly performed using different sensors and analytical methods that, although very powerful, are limited to qualified users. This study proposes an automated Raman spectroscopy-based sensor for the online monitoring of microalgal production. For this purpose, an in situ system with a sampling station was made of a light-tight optical chamber connected to a Raman probe. Microalgal cultures were routed to this chamber by pipes connected to pumps and valves controlled and programmed by a computer. The developed approach was evaluated on Parachlorella kessleri under different culture conditions at a laboratory and an industrial algal platform. As a result, more than 4000 Raman spectra were generated and analysed by statistical methods. These spectra reflected the physiological state of the cells and demonstrate the ability of the developed sensor to monitor the physiology of microalgal cells and their intracellular molecules of interest in a complex production environment.

Automated and semi-automated packed sorbent solid phase (micro) extraction methods for extraction of organic and inorganic pollutants

In this study, the packed sorbent solid phase (micro) extraction methods from manual to automated modes are reviewed. The automatic methods have several remarkable advantages such as high sample throughput, reproducibility, sensitivity, and extraction efficiency. These methods include solid-phase extraction, pipette tip micro-solid phase extraction, microextraction by packed sorbent, in-tip solid phase microextraction, in-tube solid phase microextraction, lab-on-a-chip, and lab-on-a-valve. The recent application of these methods for the extraction of organic and inorganic compounds are discussed. Also, the combination of novel technologies (3D printing and robotic platforms) with the (semi)automated methods are investigated as the future trend.

Towards Antibiotic Synthesis in Continuous-Flow Processes

Continuous-flow chemistry has become a mainstream process and a notable trend among emerging technologies for drug synthesis. It is routinely used in academic and industrial laboratories to generate a wide variety of molecules and building blocks. The advantages it provides, in terms of safety, speed, cost efficiency and small-equipment footprint compared to analog batch processes, have been known for some time. What has become even more important in recent years is its compliance with the quality objectives that are required by drug-development protocols that integrate inline analysis and purification tools. There can be no doubt that worldwide government agencies have strongly encouraged the study and implementation of this innovative, sustainable and environmentally friendly technology. In this brief review, we list and evaluate the development and applications of continuous-flow processes for antibiotic synthesis. This work spans the period of 2012-2022 and highlights the main cases in which either active ingredients or their intermediates were produced under continuous flow. We hope that this manuscript will provide an overview of the field and a starting point for a deeper understanding of the impact of flow chemistry on the broad panorama of antibiotic synthesis.

A review of anthropogenic radionuclide 236U: Environmental application and analytical advances

²³⁶U is an anthropogenic radionuclide that is produced from nuclear reactions of ²³⁵U(n, γ) and ²³⁸U(n, 3n). It has gained extensive attention in the field of environment, geology, nuclear emergency, and nuclear forensics. Due to the unique physical and chemical character and the distinct fingerprint character from different sources, ²³⁶U has been successfully applied in the environmental tracer, nuclear material source appointment, and environmental assessment. Until now, few reviews were published about the database, application, and the latest analytical technology development of ²³⁶U. In this review, the ²³⁶U concentration and ²³⁶U/²³⁸U isotope ratio were summarized, and the data were classified into four categories, including soil and seawater samples affected by global fallout and nuclear incidents. Furthermore, the development of environmental application and pretreatment methods were also summarized. The advanced pretreatment technology using alkali fusion and flow injection was especially discussed to introduce the development of a rapid analytical method. Finally, the research challenge and direction of ²³⁶U were proposed for further research, such as the tracer application combining ²³⁶U with other radionuclides in the terrestrial environment and the precise analysis of minor isotopes in ultra-trace uranium samples. We hope this review will help scholars to have a deep research on the analysis and application of ²³⁶U.

The Impact of Total Automaton on the Clinical Laboratory Workforce: A Case Study

Background

There has been a significant concern that total automation can decrease the need for laboratory personnel at all levels. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of total laboratory automation on the clinical laboratory workforce.

Methods

A one-year data including the demographical features of laboratory workforce and technical productivity of laboratory tests were provided by two medical laboratory departments of similar profile and different equipment setup; one adopting a total automation system and the other utilizing discrete analysis system. The technical productivities of the two laboratories were compared and statistically tested.

Results

A similar technical productivity per single laboratory worker was noted in the hematology section in each of the two sites with no significant difference (average odd radio = 0.9, p = 0.79). However, with total automation, the number of tests performed per single worker has increased to an average of 1.4 and 3.7 times with total automation in the clinical chemistry and serology sections, respectively (p ≤ 0.001).

Conclusion

Total laboratory automation improves the productivity of the laboratory, leading to a decreased laboratory workforce. The laboratory workload has increased steadily therefore, the existing laboratory workforce, in the absence of automation, could not have been able to maintain the current volume of service. Adoption of automation reduces repetitive manual labor, thereby allowing the redefinition of the job roles of the laboratory workforce. TLA is ideal for laboratories that suffer from workforce shortages or managing high volume testing with less staff.

Screen-Printed Technologies Combined with Flow Analysis Techniques: Moving from Benchtop to Everywhere

Screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) coupled with flow systems have been reported in recent decades for an ever-growing number of applications in modern electroanalysis, aiming for portable methodologies. The information acquired through this combination can be attractive for future users with basic knowledge, especially due to the increased measurement throughput, reduction in reagent consumption and minimal waste generation. The trends and possibilities of this set rely on the synergistic behavior that maximizes both SPE and flow analyses characteristics, allowing mass production and automation. This overview addresses an in-depth update about the scope of samples, target analytes, and analytical throughput (injections per hour, limits of detection, linear range, etc.) obtained by coupling injection techniques (FIA, SIA, and BIA) with SPE-based electrochemical detection.

Continuous Flow Synthesis of Anticancer Drugs

Continuous flow chemistry is by now an established and valued synthesis technology regularly exploited in academic and industrial laboratories to bring about the improved preparation of a variety of molecular structures. Benefits such as better heat and mass transfer, improved process control and safety, a small equipment footprint, as well as the ability to integrate in-line analysis and purification tools into telescoped sequences are often cited when comparing flow to analogous batch processes. In this short review, the latest developments regarding the exploitation of continuous flow protocols towards the synthesis of anticancer drugs are evaluated. Our efforts focus predominately on the period of 2016-2021 and highlight key case studies where either the final active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) or its building blocks were produced continuously. It is hoped that this manuscript will serve as a useful synopsis showcasing the impact of continuous flow chemistry towards the generation of important anticancer drugs.

Multicommutated Flow Analysis System for Determination of Horseradish Peroxidase and Its Inhibitors

A fully mechanized multicommutated flow analysis (MCFA) system dedicated to determining horseradish peroxidase (HRP) activity was developed. Detection was conducted using a flow-through optoelectronic detector-constructed of paired LEDs operating according to the paired emitter-detector diode (PEDD) principle. The PEDD-MCFA system is dedicated to monitoring the enzyme-catalyzed oxidation of p-phenylenediamine (pPD) by a hydrogen peroxide. Under optimized conditions, the presented bioanalytical system was characterized by a linear response range (33.47-200 U/L) with a detection limit at 10.54 U/L HRP activity and 1.66 mV·L/U sensitivity, relatively high throughput (12 signals recordings per hour), and acceptable precision (RSD below 6%). Additionally, the utility of the developed PEDD-MCFA system for the determination of HRP inhibitors allowing the detection of selected thiols at micromolar levels, is demonstrated. The practical utility of the flow system was illustrated by the analysis of some dietary supplements containing L-cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, and L-glutathione.

Bioanalytical insight into the life of microbial populations: A chemical monitoring of ureolytic bacteria growth

In this publication an alternative approach to investigations of bacterial growth is proposed. Contrary to the conventional physical methods it is based on enzyme activity detection. The procedure for real-time and on-line monitoring of microbial ureolytic activity (applied as a model experimental biosystem) in the flow analysis format is presented. The developed fully-mechanized bioanalytical flow system is composed of solenoid micropumps and microvalves actuated by Arduino microcontroller. The photometric detection based on Nessler reaction is performed using dedicated flow-through optoelectronic detector made of paired light emitting diodes. The developed bioanalytical system allows discrete assaying of microbial urease in the wide range of activity up to 5.4 U mL^-1 with detection limit below 0.44 U mL^-1, a high sensitivity in the linear range of response (up to 200 mV U^-1 mL and relatively high throughput (9 detection per hour). The proposed differential procedure of measurements (i.e. a difference between peaks register for sample with and without external addition of urea is treated as an analytical signal) allows elimination of interfering effects from substrate and products of biocatalysed reaction as well as other components of medium used for microbial growth. The developed bioanalytical system was successfully applied for the control of growth of urease-positive bacteria strains (Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Paracoccus yeei) including examination of effects from various microbial cultivation conditions like temperature, composition of culture medium and amount of substrate required for induction of bacterial enzymatic activity. The developed bioanalytical flow system can be applied for metabolic activity-based estimation of parameters of lag and log phases of microbial growth as well as for detection of decline phase.

Large-scale flow analysis: From repetitive assays to expert analyzers

Flow analysis is usually associated with repetitive assays, as all samples of a batch are generally handled in the same way. By exploiting computer-controlled devices (e.g. pumps, valves, injectors, commuters, and samplers), this scenario has been expanded, as a proper manifold dimensioning can be set for each sample. Initially, this dimensioning relied on previous information about each sample, added to the operating software prior to analysis of a given sample lot. Further, real-time decisions relying on feedback mechanisms started to be exploited for improving the analytical figures of merit, simplifying the laboratory management, and allowing real-time system optimization and fault detection. This is the essence of the expert flow analyzers, which involve manifold re-dimensioning by means of flow/manifold programming, often relying on multicommutation. The development of flow analysis from repetitive to real-time defined assays, the involved terminology, and trends on further development are highlighted in this review. Applications involve segmented and unsegmented flow analysis of agronomical, clinical, environmental, industrial, pharmaceutical, and geological samples.

Selective neutrophil activation via a programmable stopped-flow injection approach: Multiple evidences of priming state of salivary polymorphonuclear neutrophils compared to circulatory polymorphonuclear neutrophils

Activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils play an important role in host defense system against invading pathogens via releasing reactive oxygen species through respiratory bursts. Nowadays, neutrophil activation process has been found to be modeled as a two-stages continuum from dormant to primed, and to fully activated. Although the differences of salivary and circulatory neutrophils have been investigated in various experimental designs, priming state of salivary polymorphonuclear neutrophils with respiratory burst has not been comprehensively studied. Here, for the first time so far, a programmable flow injection analysis based on Stop in Flow Cell operation mode has been applied to batch analyzing comparative study of neutrophil activation. The high-sensitivity luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay has been employed with just 330 μL of cell suspension consumption per sample, and the process has been conducted rapidly and efficiently within 15 min to keep the neutrophils viability. ROS from either unstimulated or substimulated or stimulated salivary polymorphonuclear neutrophils, in comparison with those from autologous circulatory polymorphonuclear neutrophils, have been determined, together with further monitoring the impact of extracellular and intracellular calcium ion (Ca²⁺) on neutrophils ROS generation. Conclusively, the priming state of salivary polymorphonuclear neutrophils during activation has been testified from multiple aspects.

Oscillatory flow reactors for synthetic chemistry applications

Oscillatory flow reactors (OFRs) superimpose an oscillatory flow to the net movement through a flow reactor. OFRs have been engineered to enable improved mixing, excellent heat- and mass transfer and good plug flow character under a broad range of operating conditions. Such features render these reactors appealing, since they are suitable for reactions that require long residence times, improved mass transfer (such as in biphasic liquid-liquid systems) or to homogeneously suspend solid particles. Various OFR configurations, offering specific features, have been developed over the past two decades, with significant progress still being made. This review outlines the principles and recent advances in OFR technology and overviews the synthetic applications of OFRs for liquid-liquid and solid-liquid biphasic systems.

Economic, Environmental and Social Gains of the Implementation of Artificial Intelligence at Dam Operations toward Industry 4.0 Principles

Due to the increasing demand for water supply of urban areas, treatment and supply plants are becoming important to ensure availability and quality of this essential resource for human health. Enabling technologies of Industry 4.0 have the potential to improve performances of treatment plants. In this paper, after reviewing contributions in scientific literature on I4.0 technologies in dam operations, a study carried out on a Brazilian dam is presented and discussed. The main purpose of the study is to evaluate the economic, environmental, and social advantages achieved through the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in dam operations. Unlike automation that just respond to commands, AI uses a large amount of data training to make computers able to take the best decision. The current study involved a company that managed six reservoirs for treatment systems supplying water to almost ten million people at the metropolitan area of São Paulo City. Results of the study show that AI adoption could lead to economic gain in figures around US$ 51,000.00 per year, as well as less trips between sites and less overtime extra costs on the main operations. Increasing gates maneuvers agility result in significant environmental gains with savings of about 4.32 billion L of water per year, enough to supply 73,000 people. Also, decreasing operational vehicle utilization results in less emissions. Finally, the AI implementation improved the safety of dam operations, resulting in social benefits such as the flood risk mitigation in cities and the health and safety of operators.