-
1
TrayCell
Fiber-optic ultra-micro cell
for UV/Vis analysis
Guideline
-
2
Content
1. Product description
2. Delivery content
3. Product features
4. Safety instructions
5. Operation
6. Measuring range
7. Applications
8. Maintenance
9. Transport and storage
10. Technical Data
11. FAQ
-
3
1. Product description
TrayCell consists of a measuring cell and a lid with integrated
mirror. The sample drop is pipetted onto
the measuring window, then the lid fitted. The distance between
the window and the mirror in the lid
ensures a defined light path. Via the internal prism and optical
fiber the light is guided upwards through
the sample to the mirror, where it is reflected. Again via the
optical fiber and prism, the light is guided out
of the TrayCell, towards the detector.
High-tech in a small device - the patented functional
concept:
Lid
Lid
Optical fiber
-
4
2. Delivery content 1 x TrayCell (Type: 105.800-UVS or
105.810-UVS)
1 x Lid with optical path length 0.2 mm (factor 50), Article-No.
665-704-0.2-40
1 x Lid with optical path length 1.0 mm (factor 10), Article-No.
665-702-1-40
1 x Adapter for center height 15 mm
1 x Adapter for center height 20 mm
1 x Screwdriver for center height adapters
1 x High quality storage case
Optional Accessories
1 x Lid with optical path length 0.1 mm (factor 100),
Article-No. 665-706-0.1-40
1 x Lid with optical path length 2.0 mm (factor 5), Article-No.
665-705-2-40
-
5
3. Product features
Examples for use:
Determination of purity and contents of DNA/RNA
Determination of labeling efficiency for microarray experiments
(FOI)
Protein analysis (A280, BCA, Bradford, Lowry etc.)
All UV/Vis analysis utilizing the wavelength range of 190 nm to
1100 nm
Different light paths standard 1 mm and 0.2 mm
Additional light paths available 2 mm and 0.1 mm
Very small measurement volumes 0.5 to 10 l
Large dynamic range of 6 - 8500 ng/l (dsDNA)*
No dilution of sample needed
No evaporation of the sample through the lid
Re-use of samples possible
Excellent reproducibility
Quick and easy cleaning
High flexibility
Suitable for all current spectrophotometers *Depending on the
spectrophotometer used
-
6
4. Safety instructions
TrayCell is exclusively intended to be used with
spectrophotometers for concentration determination of analytes in
liquids.
The radiation of spectrophotometer light source is diverted
within the TrayCell so the light source radiation can escape upward
if the lid with mirror is not fitted.
Make sure, that the lid with mirror is on the TrayCell before
starting a measurement.
The TrayCell is not to be stored at temperatures below 4C.
Corrosion due to aggressive cleaning agents and disinfectants. -
Do not use corrossive cleaning agents, aggressive solvents or
abrasive polishes.
The TrayCell is made of quartz glass and metal components,
therefore handle with care. After use, put the Traycell back into
the storage case and close it.
Dont set the TrayCell in the upright position on a desk, in case
of toppling the optical quartz glass head might crack.
Warning !
Warning !
Warning !
Warning !
-
7
5. Operation
The TrayCell is a fiber-optic ultra-micro cell designed for the
UV/Vis analysis of DNA/RNA and proteins. The dimensions of the
TrayCell are equivalent to a standard cuvette in order to work
in most spectrophotometers.
Check first the required center height for your
spectrophotometer and make sure, that the TrayCell is configured to
the correct center height.
The TrayCell is delivered with a center height of 8.5 mm. In
case that the center height needs to be corrected, please use
the
appropriate adapter supplied with the appropriate screws and
screw it from bottom in the provided screw holes.
Insert the TrayCell into the cell holder with the cell windows
facing the light beam. We recommend facing the Hellma logo to the
front. Insert the TrayCell always in the same
direction.
The best performance of the TrayCell can be achieved if the beam
passing the cell compartment is smaller than 4 mm diameter.
For best performance the TrayCell has to be properly locked into
the cuvette holder for measurement, after that, the TrayCell should
stay in the cuvette compartment for all sampling
and cleaning steps during the measurement session.
Please avoid position changes (removal and re-insertion) of the
TrayCell during one measurement session.
-
8
5. Operation
Please be aware, that the empty TrayCell itself has an
absorbance of around 1 Abs. To correct for this absorbance
characteristic place the TrayCell in the cell holder, put the lid
on top,
and carry out a background correction, after that you can start
the measurement.
Simple and efficient measuring:
Please notice, that the lid has to be fitted on the TrayCell in
the correct way:
Make sure that the lid is on the TrayCell before you start the
measurement !
lid
lid,
lid
-
9
6. Measuring range
By using different light paths (lids) the need for diluting the
sample is not necessary any more, thus the concentration range is
dramatically increased.
Application Example: Quantification of Nucleic Acids
To determine the nucleic acid concentration in solutions the
absorbance at wavelength 260 nm (A260) is used. The following
function, derived from Lambert-Beers Law, is applied: -
Concentration [ng/l] = Absorbance (260 nm) x Factor (with Factor =
Sample Specific Factor x Virtual Dilution Factor)
The Sample Specific Factor represents the specific absorbance
for example of a sample of 50 ng/l dsDNA that gives a reading of 1
Abs (A260), measured with an optical light path of 10 mm inside a
standard cuvette. Due to the optical light paths of the TrayCell of
0.2 mm or 1 mm,
additionally, a Virtual Dilution Factor of 50 or 10 must be
taken into account.
For the different types of nucleic acid solutions the average
dynamic range of the absorbance relating to the concentration
(ng/l) results as shown on the next page (depending on the light
path).
-
10
6. Measuring range
-
11
7. Applications
Please find on our website: www.hellma.analytics.com using
following link:
http://www.hellma-analytics.com/text/1008/en/applikationsberichte-mikrovolumen-
analyse.html
Application notes, which describe the benefits of using the
TrayCell with specific
spectrophotometers (e.g.)
-
12
8. Maintenance
Clean the TrayCell always with a Lint-free tissue or swab.
Please notice for cleaning the TrayCell: - Do not immerse in
water
- Do not clean in an ultrasonic bath
For cleaning use ethanol or pure water, depending on sample. If
required, the TrayCell may be wiped clean with the solvent which
was used to dissolve
the sample. Our cell cleaning concentrate Hellmanex III is also
suitable for efficient
cleaning of the TrayCell.
The TrayCell is made of quartz glass and metal components,
therefore handle with care. After use, put the Traycell back into
the supplied storage case and close it.
-
13
9. Transport and Storage
Only transport the TrayCell in the original storage case.
Do not store the TrayCell at temperatures below 4C.
-
14
10. Technical Data
*The selection of the correct height depends on the design of
the cell holder and the type of spectrophotometer. The TrayCell
should extend far
enough out of the holder, which also should not interfere with
the lid.
** The center height can be adjusted with the provided
adapters.
When ordering , please specify the necessary center height or
the make and model of the spectrophotometer.
Type 105.800-UVS 105.810-UVS
Article-No. 105800-A3-V1-46 105810-A3-V1-46
Window material Quartz SUPRASIL Quartz SUPRASIL
Width/depth 12.5 x 12.5 mm 12.5 x 12.5 mm
Height* 68.5 mm (center height 8.5 mm) 53 mm (center height 8.5
mm)
75 mm (center height 15 mm) 59.5 mm (center height 15 mm)
80 mm (center height 20 mm) 64.5 mm (center height 20 mm)
Volume 0.5 - 10 l 0.5 - 10 l
Light path 0.2 mm or 1 mm (+/- 0.02 mm)
0.1 mm or 2 mm (Optional)
0.2 mm or 1 mm (+/- 0.02 mm)
0.1 mm or 2 mm (Optional)
Max. temperature 50 C 50 C
Center height** 8.5 mm, 15 mm or 20 mm* 8.5 mm, 15 mm or 20
mm*
(other center heights available on
request)
(other center heights available on
request)
Fiber optic cable built in, not exchangeable built in, not
exchangeable
UV/Vis low solarisation UV/Vis low solarisation
190 nm 1.100 nm 190 nm 1.100 nm
(52.632 cm-1 9.100 cm-1) (52.632 cm-1 9.100 cm-1)
-
15
10. Technical Data of the lids
Standard Optional
Type 665.703 665.704 665.705 665.706
Article-No. 665-703-1-40 665-703-0.2-40 665-705-2-40
665-706-0.1-40
Description Lid with integrated mirror to adjust the light
path
Standard light path* 1 mm 0.2 mm 2 mm 0.1 mm
Mirror material Quartz SUPRASIL with aluminium mirror layer
-
16
11. FAQ
1. Which is the appropriate TrayCell for my instrument?
2. What care must be taken when inserting the TrayCell into the
instrument?
3. When do I use which lid?
4. What is the best way to clean the TrayCell?
5. Over which wavelength range is it possible to carry out
measurements?
6. How do I use the TrayCell in a double beam
spectrophotometer?
7. Which concentration range is covered?
8. Up to which absorption is it possible to measure?
9. Is it possible to measure proteins in very high
concentrations?
10. Is it possible to measure samples with low surface
tension?
11. The measured values are varying. What can be done?
-
17
TrayCell - FAQ 1. Which is the appropriate TrayCell for my
instrument?
Hellma offers the TrayCell in two different heights. The short
version, catalogue no. 105.810-UVS,
is suitable for instruments which have to be closed with a lid.
The longer version, catalogue no.
105.800-UVS, facilitates pipetting within instruments with a
deep sample chamber. Just give us
the name of your instrument if not sure which TrayCell to use.
Well give you a suggestion. In other respects, the features of both
versions are identical. You can adjust the center height of
both versions at your option by means of a spacer, so the
TrayCell can be very easily used in
different instruments with different center heights.
2. What care must be taken when inserting the TrayCell into the
instrument? As with the use of cells, you have to pay attention
that the TrayCell stands straight and stable in
the beam of your instrument. To enable a preferably high
reproducibility of the measured values,
we do not recommend taking it out of the cell holder between
measurements.
3. When do I use which lid? The smaller the light path, the
higher the absorption and therefore the concentrations which can
be
measured in line with the linearity of the instrument. Please
refer to the table shown in the TrayCell
brochure giving information on the recommended concentration
range for each lid.
Compared to the usually used cell with 10 mm light path, the 1
mm lid generates a virtual dilution factor of 10, the 0.2 mm lid
generates a virtual dilution factor of 50. This factor can be seen
as a measure for the dilution which would be necessary when using
conventional cells.
-
18
TrayCell - FAQ
4. What is the best way to clean the TrayCell? We recommend lint
free swabs or lint free wipes. It is possible to retrieve the
sample for further
processing. The rest of the sample can be wiped away with a swap
or a wipe. If required, the
TrayCell may be wiped clean with the solvent which was used to
dissolve the sample. Our cell
cleaning concentrate Hellmanex III is also suitable for
efficient cleaning of the TrayCell.
5. Over which wavelength range is it possible to carry out
measurements? The Hellma TrayCell features optical fibers which are
solarisation resistant. The measuring range
runs from 190 nm to 1100 nm.
6. How do I use the TrayCell in a double beam spectrophotometer?
It is not advisable to use a second TrayCell for reference
measurements in a double beam
spectrophotometer. This is because of the measurable differences
between the optical
characteristics from fiber to fiber. This property rules out a
background correction using two optical
matching TrayCells. But since a background correction is not
necessarily required for standard
measurements, a baseline correction is sufficient in most
cases
If in doubt which lid to use, than always start with the longer
path lid first (1 mm), if
out of absorption range, than it is possible to change to the
shorter light path lid (0.2
mm) without changing the sample.
-
19
TrayCell - FAQ
7. Which concentration range is covered? Depending on the sample
to be analyzed (double-strand or single-strand DNA or RNA,
Oligos,
etc) different concentration ranges are resulting, running from
6 ng/l to 8500 ng/l (see data sheet). These specifications refer to
a spectrophotometer with a linear measuring range up to
1.7A. Spectrophotometers which have a greater linear measuring
range allow correspondingly
higher maximum concentrations.
8. Up to which absorption is it possible to measure? Maximum
measurable absorption is defined by the range of linearity of the
spectrophotometer
used. Spectrophotometers with the greatest linear range found on
the market allow
measurements up to 10A. Information on higher absorptions, which
can occasionally be found in
literature concerning these applications, has to be viewed as
reference values. They just state the
equivalent theoretical values which would occur when measuring
an undiluted sample in a cell
with a light path of 10 mm. When using a spectrophotometer with
a linear measuring range of up
to 1.7A, it would equate to a theoretical absorption of 85A when
using a TrayCell with 0.2 mm
path length, compared to a cell with 10 mm light path.
If there is the need to improve the signal-to-noise ratio due to
the discrepancy of light intensity
from measurement to reference beam, it is recommended to weaken
the reference beam to about
20% of its normal intensity. That can be done very easily with a
simple pinhole, set in the reference
beam. As a result, the area of the hole should be about 20% of
the measuring beam area.
Furthermore, an extension of the integration time may have a
positive influence on the signal-to-
noise ratio.
-
20
TrayCell - FAQ
10. Is it possible to measure samples with low surface tension?
Yes. For the best results, we recommend to use the 0.2 mm lid (if
possible).
11. The measured values are varying. What can be done? Is there
a sufficient amount of sample pipetted onto the TrayCell? Please
check if the amount of
sample is within the recommended range for the used path length.
Some pipettes are not suitable
for very small sample volumes, because they are not precise
enough. When in doubt, just
increase the sample volume a little. Check if the spectrum shows
noise which makes the
measured values unsteady. If the concentration and/or absorption
are within the measuring
range, increase the integration time to improve the
measurement.
9. Is it possible to measure proteins in very high
concentrations? The measuring of very highly concentrated samples
is conditional upon the linear absorption range
of the spectrophotometer used. The higher the maximum
absorption, the higher concentration of
samples that can be measured with the TrayCell.
-
21
Hellma GmbH & Co. KG
Klosterrunsstrae 5
79395 Mllheim
Phone: +49 7631 182 1010
Fax: +49 7631 182 1011
e-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.hellma-analytics.com
Thank you for buying our TrayCell
Watch the application movie
www.traycell.com
