About EIMPyro®

EIMPyro® for Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry

The EIMPyro®, a fully automated peripheral optimized for isotope analysis. It meets increased demand for quality control and detection of adulteration of wine, honey, fruit juice and other consumables.

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The missing link in Isotope Analysis

We have developed, certified, and patented a new isotope method for analysis of wine, grape must, fruit juices, alcoholic beverages, and honey – Ethanol Isotope Measurement – Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (EIM-IRMS®).

EIM-IRMS® method is capable of providing unique molecular fingerprint that cannot be reproduced or counterfeited. It is used to determine production practices used in wine and honey production, and product authentication for the purpose of protecting producers and consumers.

EIM-IRMS® is significantly more precise, sample analysis is shorter, and the equipment used, Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) is much more readily available and cheaper than equipment for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method, which can only be used for wine with known geographical origin.

Instrument Description

The EIMPyro can be connected over the Open Split interface to any standard Isotope Ratio MS.

  • Helium: 99.9999% purity
  • 230V, 50/60 Hz
  • 770 x 470 x 460 (w x d x h)
  • 75 kg (net value)
specification view 3d model
  • Can be connected to AS3000, AI 1310 Liquid Autosampleror GC Pal Autosamplers for liquid samples with 2 injection ports
  • "EIM Calculator" software for calculation of final results
  • Base unit EIMPyro (two furnaces) with temperature control display
  • Software regulation of temperature and Helium flow
What is the principle of EIM?

The principle of the EIM-IRMS® method is based on the dehydration of ethanol using an EIM catalyst, specially developed by SG Isotech, followed by pyrolysis of gas and measurement of the relative ratio of Hydrogenstable isotopes in the Hydrogen gas created.

What kind of alcoholic beverages (or plant food) I can to measure on this equipment? What kind of matrix it has to be?

All products containing ethanol or fermentable sugars can be prepared for analysis by the EIM-IRMS method and equipment. As the abbreviation EIM itself suggests, it is an Ethanol Isotope Measurement concept, so the main analyte under test is ethanol. Fermentable sugars must first be converted to ethanol so that ethanol can be analyzed for illegal practices and the botanical origin of the starting material used in production.

If I measure the distillate of wine, what is alcoholic strength has to be?

The alcoholic strength of the wine distillate should be greater than 92% vol.

How many samples I can measure on EIM in one sequence?

From 30 to 40 samples can be analyzed within a single sequence.

What kind of standard I have to use? Where I can buy it or take it?

For the purposes of EIM-IRMS, it is necessary to use AAWES standard with known dDn value, which can be obtained from us at SG Isotech Company.

When and how often I have to change reactors?

EIMPyro Peripheral has two reactors. ED reactor needs to be changed after approx.180 injections and Pyro reactor has to be changed after 500 injections.

What kind of autosampler can be connected to EIMPyro Peripheral?

EIMPyro peripheral can be connected to AS3000, AI 1310 Liquid Autosampler or GC Pal Autosamplers for liquid samples.

How many injections do I have to do to achieve the end result for one sample?

When performing analysis, 3-5 injections should be done per one sample.

How can I calculate finish results? Could I calculate SD for the finish average value?

SG Isotech has developed specific software called “EIM Calculator” which is used for calculation of dDn results. EIM Calculator also has the possibility to calculate average dDn value and SD for each analyzed sample.

How can I check the system that it does not some leak? How often to do it?

After connecting the EIMPyro peripherals to the isotope ratio MS and after raising the temperature in the reactors, it is necessary to determine whether all the connections are tightened before starting the sequence. By switching the mass on the middle detector to 40 (Argon) it is necessary to monitor the background which should be below 40 mV. Leak checking must be performed each time before the analysis begins. If the leakage is higher, it is necessary to check all connections as a rule from the closest connection to the longest connection from IRMS.

What is the main difference between EIM equipment and NMR? Which results are more precise?

The NMR concept is based on the technique of counting deuterium atoms on a methyl and methylene group of ethanol, which oscillate at appropriate frequencies in a strong magnetic field, while the EIM technique is based on determining the dD values of non-exchangeable stable isotopes of Hydrogen in ethanol. The analytical values obtained by both techniques are very precise, but there is a difference in the natural ranges of these analytical parameters for ethanol with a different botanical origin, and accordingly a difference in the level of detection of illegal production practices in the production of wine, fruit juices, alcoholic beverages, and honey. For NMR this difference for ethanol with the different botanical origin is only 1 ppm, while for EIM it is about 50 ‰ on a relative scale.

What is reproducibility of EIM method?

The accuracy of measurement is expressed by the precision limits of the repeatability and reproducibility which can be calculated from the sample standard deviation of the test results. The repeatability precision limit (r) and the reproducibility precision limit (R) for EIM-IRMS are calculated as follows:

r = 2.8 × sr = 2.7‰ ;
R = 2.8 × sR = 2.13 ‰

Where:
- sR - Interlaboratory Reproducibility standard deviation as Standard deviation of all measurements of the same sample expressed in ‰
- sr − Interlaboratory Repeatability standard deviation as the average standard deviation for the same sample expressed in ‰

How long it takes to measure one sample?

The analysis of one sample takes 5-8 minutes.

Can I measure, for example, in one sequence ethanol of wine and ethanol from honey?

Yes, there is no problem to analyze ethanol samples from different sources.

What is happened with ethanol of wine in the reactors?

Ethanol is firstly quantitatively dehydrated without isotopic fractionation over specifically designed EIM Catalyst and then pyrolyzed and elemental Hydrogen gas is obtained.

If distillate has less alcoholic strength than 92 % vol.,would I get accurate results of ɗ2H?

If by any chance a distillate of less than 92% vol is obtained, the distillation process of the wine sample should be repeated and the alcoholic strength and recovery determined again

Can I use only a pyro furnace? In what case?

Yes, the Pyro reactor can be used separately when determining the d18O or dD values in water or solid samples.

How can I heat up/heat down the temperature of furnaces? I have to do it by myself or it will be automatically?

Yes, the EIMPyro peripheral has the ability to automatically heat up and cool down the reactors. There is no need to manually raise or lower the temperature, but this option also exists.

How long time it takes to heat up/heat down the temperature of furnaces?

3-4 hours.

Does this equipment works only in a room with special temperature conditions or it can stay in usual temperature conditions?

Like other IRMS equipment, the EIMPyro should also be positioned in an air-conditioned room.

EIMPyro for Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry

EIM-IRMS® (Ethanol Isotope Measurement – Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry) revolutionized measurement of relative ratio of non-exchangeable Hydrogen stable isotopes (D/H)n (δDn) in ethanol previously quantitatively extracted from wine, fruit juice, strong spirit or fermented honey samples).

This technology has become the integral part of EIMPyro® peripheral for Isotope Ratio MS.   EIMPyro®  provides rapid and quantitative intramolecular dehydration of ethanol sample over custom made EIM-catalyst prior to high precision isotope ratio measurement during a single analysis. Perypheral provides precise values and quicker analysis times and precisions are attained on sub-microliter amounts of ethanol with analytical time of 8-10 minutes.

How EIMPyro® works

  • Because of ethanol’s hydroxyl group, which includes exchangeable Hydrogen atom, ethanol δD value obtained only by Pyrolysis Conversion Elemental Analyzer or peripheral is not a reliable and repeatable analytical parameter.
  •  EIMPyro® Peripheral solves this problem and gives high precision, repeatable and reproducible results by obtaining isotope ratio of non-exchangeable (D/H)n in ethanol sample during a single analysis.
  • EIMPyro® Peripheral can be coupled to any standard and conventional Isotope Ratio MS which has the option of measuring Hydrogen stable isotopes.

Acknowledgements

EIM-IRMS®method has been validated through interlaboratory testing between three laboratories:

SG Isotech also thanks Prof. Jed P. Sparks, Kimberly L. Sparks and Cornell University Stable Isotope Laboratory (COIL), NY, United States, for cooperation and providing more online EIM–Module-IRMS®results

Why Choose EIMPyro® Module

EIMPyro peripheral which is developed and designed on SG Isotech's patented "know-how" is a universal instrument that replaces 5 other very expensive individual instruments used for stable isotope testing. To learn more go to the "Technology" page.

Control of wine, strong spirits and honey

Determination of botanical origin

Forensic science

Verification of authenticity

Geographical origin of wine and honey

This is a very promising method in the field of wine and alcoholic beverage production!

Dr. Alexander Kolesnov

Head of Research Laboratory of Food Quality & Technology (PNIL) - Scientific Research & Education Center Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN)