Vario EL Cube

Versatile CHNS elemental analysis

The Elementar vario EL cube is a CHNS elemental analyzer designed for the simultaneous determination of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulfur in organic and inorganic samples. It combines high-temperature combustion, gas-specific purge-and-trap chromatography and sensitive detection. This provides reliable elemental analysis across a broad range of sample matrices and concentrations.

The instrument supports applications in pharmaceutical analysis, food and feed testing, environmental research, soil characterization and fuel analysis. Optional configurations extend its analytical capabilities to oxygen, chlorine and total inorganic carbon (TIC).

High-temperature combustion for complete sample conversion

The vario EL cube uses high-temperature combustion to convert sample components into measurable gases. Its combustion furnace operates at temperatures up to 1,200 °C, while the use of tin foil can produce temperatures of approximately 1,800 °C at the point of combustion.

Oxygen is injected directly towards the sample to promote efficient combustion, including for matrices that are difficult to combust. A patented ball valve sample introduction system minimizes blank contributions during sample transfer, which is particularly beneficial for trace nitrogen determination.

Purge-and-trap chromatography for precise gas separation

Up to three adsorption columns selectively trap and concentrate CO₂, SO₂ and H₂O, while nitrogen passes directly to the detector. The trapped gases are released sequentially, only after the preceding gas peak has returned to baseline.

This approach provides well-defined measurement peaks, even at low elemental concentrations, and enables the instrument to handle extreme carbon-to-nitrogen and carbon-to-sulfur ratios of up to 12,000:1. The separation process also adapts the analysis time to the elemental composition of the sample.

Wide analytical range and sensitive detection

The vario EL cube accommodates sample quantities ranging from microanalysis to larger inorganic samples. Depending on sample composition, it can analyze up to 20 mg of organic material or 1.5 g of inorganic material, provided the absolute carbon content does not exceed 40 mg.

A thermal conductivity detector (TCD) is used for elemental detection. Actively heated gas pathways help prevent water condensation and support reliable hydrogen and sulfur measurements.

For applications requiring particularly low sulfur detection limits, an optional infrared (IR) detector enables sub-microgram sulfur determination alongside CHN analysis in a single measurement.

Automated operation and straightforward maintenance

The vario EL cube supports automated sample processing with an integrated autosampler and optional higher-capacity configurations. Its software provides instrument control, LIMS integration and automated sleep and wake-up functions for unattended operation.

Routine maintenance is simplified through automated leak checking, accessible clamp connections and a slide-out combustion furnace. Long-term calibration stability and an accessible ash collection system help reduce routine operator intervention.

Applications in research and quality control

The vario EL cube is suitable for elemental composition measurements in pharmaceutical substances, food and feed materials, soils, sediments, fuels, coal and other organic or inorganic samples. Its broad analytical range makes it useful for laboratories handling diverse sample types or measuring elements at substantially different concentration levels.