Advanced Instruments to Introduce 3320 Micro-Osmometer to Ethanol Producers at 2007 Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo

NORWOOD, MASS. – June 26, 2007 – Advanced Instruments will officially introduce their Model 3320 Micro-Osmometer to ethanol producers in booth #2302 at the 2007 Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo, June 26 -29, at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Advanced® Model 3320 Micro-Osmometer allows ethanol production plant managers to streamline key control processes and dramatically cut the time to determine Dextrose Equivalence of liquefaction samples by eliminating their manual titrations with automated osmometry instrumentation.

“Ethanol plant managers and engineers are being increasingly challenged to continually improve plant productivity and efficiency. Introducing proven, state-of-the-art osmometry technology – such as the Advanced® Model 3320 Micro-Osmometer – to replace the standard time-consuming and inconsistent manual testing procedures is one good step forward,” said Don Wiggin, Customer Relations Manager for Advanced Instruments.

The Advanced® Model 3320 Micro-Osmometer is the industry’s most accurate and reliable instrument for osmolality measurement, surpassing previous standards of performance for freezing-point measurement. Its user selectable, optional calibration routine optimizes the linearity in the instrument’s upper range (up to 2,000 mOsm) and ensures testing accuracy and precision over the entire calibrated range.

The device also features easy access to the sample probe and solenoid assembly and a simple architecture that eliminates sample errors, simplifies testing, and promotes maintenance-free operation.

“The Advanced® Model 3320 Micro-Osmometer can, on the average, slash testing time six-fold by delivering results in three minutes, rather than 20 and, on a consistent basis, the readings will be more reliable and accurate than those taken by manual titration, with a visual endpoint,” said Wiggin.

DE results in three minutes

Most ethanol labs now monitor their production processes by determining dextrose equivalence (DE) to measure starch hydrolysis by manual Titration, including Lane-Eynon and Schoorl methods. This confronts managers with three major drawbacks: It is a lengthy test, requiring 20 minutes or more, limiting its usefulness for process control. The test is performed manually, and requires a visual endpoint, making accuracy and repeatability questionable. And the test produces the waste byproducts of copper sulphate and alkaline tartrate, which are regulated and costly to treat or dispose.

In contrast, corn refiners using Advanced Instruments’ osmometers, including single sample models (such as the Model 3320) or multi-sample instruments used in high volume testing (such as the Model 3900), receive accurate, and consistent instrument readouts of DE in three minutes. There are no waste byproducts.

“Ethanol plant managers would do well to follow the lead of their counterparts in the syrup industry and turn to the more advanced, proven technology standard of osmometry,” Wiggin said.

Technology immediately available

The Advanced® Model 3320 Micro-Osmometer is an automated, single-sample osmometer, designed to process a 20µL sample and ideally suited for applications when sample quantity is limited. The Model 3320 employs the industry-preferred freezing-point method, proven to be robust and dependable throughout fifty years of worldwide laboratory usage. Users of the Model 3320 benefit from a host features including its ergonomic design, rapid test results, maintenance-free operation, computer-driven calibration, self-diagnostics, and Hot-Line® Service.

The Advanced® Model 3320 Micro-Osmometer is immediately available from Advanced Instruments.

Advanced Instruments will host continuous demonstrations of the Model 3320 in booth #2302 at the 2007 Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo, June 26-29, at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Or, visit the Advanced Instruments website at http://www.aicompanies.com/AI_products/3320/3320.htm or call Advanced Instruments at: 800-225-4034.

About Advanced Instruments
Founded in 1955, Advanced Instruments, Inc. is a leading supplier of analytical instruments and test kits for the food, dairy, and industrial microbiology markets. Based in Norwood, Massachusetts, USA, the company also produces Fiske® Associates brand diagnostic instruments and operates Spiral Biotech, Inc., and Delta Instruments as wholly-owned subsidiaries. A worldwide network of direct sales people and independent distributors supports Advanced Instruments’ products. The company can be found online at http://www.aicompanies.com/ or contact customer service at 800-225-4034 or +1-781-320-9000.

Ethanol fuel production is growing fast in the U.S. Production doubled between 2001 and 2005, and is expected to double again and reach 15 billion gallons by 2008, according to published reports. Over 100 plants are operating in the U.S., some 80 are under construction, and 200 more are planned.

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