FAQ Category
FAQ Group
- (-) Remove Assays and Methods filter Assays and Methods
- (-) Remove Instrument filter Instrument
- Faults (13) Apply Faults filter
- Maintenance and Service (10) Apply Maintenance and Service filter
- Enzyme delivery (4) Apply Enzyme delivery filter
- Results (4) Apply Results filter
- General fluid delivery (3) Apply General fluid delivery filter
- Consumables (2) Apply Consumables filter
- Instrument set-up (2) Apply Instrument set-up filter
- Filtration (1) Apply Filtration filter
- Mixing (1) Apply Mixing filter
What is the bag weighing procedure?
What is the bag weighing procedure?
What are the procedures for inserting sample and Diatomaceous Earth into the filter bags?
What are the procedures for inserting sample and Diatomaceous Earth into the filter bags?
How do I perform a pH adjustment during the IDF phase?
How do I perform a pH adjustment during the IDF phase?
Follow the steps in this instructional video to perform a pH adjustment: TDF Manually Measuring pH in the IDF Digestion
Note: Measure within the appropriate pH range for your specific testing method.
What is a MoistureStop Desiccant Pouch, how is it used, and why should I use it?
What is a MoistureStop Desiccant Pouch, how is it used, and why should I use it?
The MoistureStop Desiccant Pouch is a small, airtight zipper bag, utilized for desiccating all of the Filter Bags that are used with ANKOM instrumentation. A single pouch can hold a full run of F57, F58 or XT4 bags at one time. When folded, 6 IDF or SDF bags can also be placed into a MoistureStop Desiccant Pouch. Each time a bag has been removed from the desiccant pouch, the air can and should be pushed out. The "zipper" does not have to be used with every bag removal but some action should be taken to keep the air from entering the pouch while the just removed Filter Bag is being weighed. For example, air can be pushed out of the bag by laying it on a firm surface while compressing or flattening the air out of the pouch with your hand.
Many instruments in the marketplace have the capacity to run 6 samples at a time. After being dried, the beakers, flasks or crucibles are placed into a counter top or cabinet desiccator. Once cooled, they are then removed one at a time and weighed. Each time the desiccator is opened to remove sample, moist ambient air is introduced inside the desiccator. However, because the lid or door of the desiccator is opened just 6 times, the samples that remain in the desiccator after each item is removed are affected very little by ambient moisture that may be introduced.
However, with Filter Bag Technology, generally larger numbers of Filter Bags are extracted at a time. As with the beakers, flasks and crucibles mentioned above, if the bags are placed in a desiccator after drying, each time the lid or door is opened to remove a bag, moist, ambient air is introduced. Because the desiccator is opened up to 24 times, the moisture can more readily affect the remaining bags. If a collapsible, ANKOM desiccant pouch is utilized, the air can be pushed out of the pouch each time a Filter Bag is removed. This will eliminate a build up of moisture on the remaining Filter Bags and allow for a more accurate and precise result. Every month it is possible to place the small desiccant packets into the oven at 100° - 105°C for a few hours to insure that the desiccant is renewed. In addition, to ensure the integrity of the zip lock bag, regular replacement should be considered.
How do I prepare bags for Kjeldahl & Ashing procedures?
How do I prepare bags for Kjeldahl & Ashing procedures?
In order to properly prepare the IDF & SDF bags for Kjeldahl and Ashing procedures, view the documents below or watch the following video: Kjeldahl & Ashing Bag Preparation.
What times and temperatures should I set on my Kjeldahl to determine the protein in the IDF/SDF filter bags?
What times and temperatures should I set on my Kjeldahl to determine the protein in the IDF/SDF filter bags?
How do I handle samples that are difficult to filter?
How do I handle samples that are difficult to filter?
Add filter time before the assay begins
At the beginning of a run a series of user prompts appear on screen, one of which states, “Filter Minutes OK? (for an IDF/SDF run) or “SDF Filter minutes OK?” for a TDF run. From this screen, you can add filter time if you are working with samples that require more filter time. Familiarity with a particular sample may dictate 10 minutes of IDF filter time, for example. Be aware that any time changes will be stored to memory and will be there for the next run. You will, however, be able to change this back to the default or another setting at the beginning of each run.
Add more filter time during the filtering process
During IDF or SDF filtration and during the water or alcohol rinses (when filtering is occurring) one can press the “Filter Time +” button to add one additional minute at a time, up to 50 additional minutes. The user will need to be present at the time of filtering to take advantage of this option.
Use a smaller sample size
Reduce the sample size to 0.1 g to minimize the filter clogging effect of gelatinous sample types. NOTE: Remember, the TDF values will be greatly influenced by variability in protein and ash values - of a small sample size.
Use Diatomaceous Earth (DE) in the IDF bags
Use of this technique helps increase filtering capacity. Pre-weigh 0.5-1 g of DE for each IDF bag. About 2 min before the end of AMG digestion, open Clamp Bar A by pressing "Clamp Bar A", add the DE quantitatively, and then close Clamp Bar A by pressing "Clamp Bar A" again. The DE will be mixed in during the end of the AMG digestion. Adding DE at this point, rather than at the beginning of the run, minimizes the risk of bag wear from abrasive DE in a hot/agitated bag. Be sure that the DE in the IDF bags is factored into your blank values. We recommend running a blank position when implementing this technique to account for DE loss from the IDF bag, if there are any.
What are the filtration specifications for the ANKOM TDF filtration process?
What are the filtration specifications for the ANKOM TDF filtration process?
How do I analyze liquid samples in the TDF Analyzer?
How do I analyze liquid samples in the TDF Analyzer?
- Weigh the pipette and tare the weight.
- Fill the pipette with a liquid sample.
- Place the pipette on the balance and record the weight.
- Pipette out the liquid into the IDF Bag.
- Weigh the pipette and subtract that weight from the weight with a sample. This supplies us with the actual sample weight that went into the bag.
My enzymes are draining out of the reservoirs when the instrument is idle, what should I do?
My enzymes are draining out of the reservoirs when the instrument is idle, what should I do?
For instruments with version 3.78 or newer software perform the following diagnostics routine:
1.
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Run Line Charge routine two times with “All” selected with the flush tube assembly installed using deionized water. This will prime the lines in the instrument.
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2.
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Set up Motor test with the Flush Tubes still connected.
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a. Set all Supply Valves to Closed
b. Set Speed to 240 RPM
c. Leave Amount set to 10 ml
d. Press Start
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3.
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At the start of the routine, in the upper right corner of the screen you should see a number approximately 14. Part way through the routine you should see it say “Plugged”. This is normal for this stage of the test.
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4.
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Below the word “Plugged” you will see a set of numbers that will climb throughout the routine and should end in the range of 11 or higher. Any number below 11 indicate a leaky valve. In most cases, the valve causing the issue will be the buffer valve.
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5.
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Refer to Service Procedure TS-017 for maintenance instructions for the valve. If the valve body is pitted, especially around the hole in the center, it will be necessary to replace the valve body using the TDF25.5 kit. Follow Service Procedure TS046 for installation instructions.
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How do I determine the protein (nitrogen) correction for dietary fiber analysis?
How do I determine the protein (nitrogen) correction for dietary fiber analysis?
AOAC methods 2009.01, 2011.25, 2017.16, and 2022.01 describe using either Kjeldahl or combustion methods for determining protein content of the residue. The selection is made by customer preference.
To prepare the ANKOM Filter Bags for analysis via Kjeldahl, refer to the TDF Operator’s Manual.
To prepare the ANKOM Filter Bags for analysis via combustion methods, cut open the Filter Bag and lightly scrape or brush the particles of sample residue and DE into a small mortar. Grind the mixture with the pestle until homogenous. Take several aliquots of the mixture and run them through your dumas. Use the average protein value of the aliquots for the TDF calculation.
Various manufacturer options are available for the nitrogen determination using combustion method. Contact your combustion/dumas manufacturer for further information regarding specific settings and recommendations regarding N2 determinations that involve DE.