Bürkle Mini ViscoSampler sample collector, V4A stainless steel, 60 cm immersion depth, 30 ml, 5341-1060

If a laboratory only requires 30 to 75 ml of a viscous sample, the large ViscoSampler is often oversized. The Mini ViscoSampler operates on the same suction piston principle, but with a 12 mm tube diameter it is significantly slimmer in design and is made entirely from V4A stainless steel. Three lengths, offering immersion depths ranging from 60 to 150 cm, cater for containers of varying depths.

Compact design for small sample volumes

With an external diameter of 15 mm and a tube diameter of 12 mm, the Mini ViscoSampler is noticeably slimmer than the PP and PTFE/FEP versions of the ViscoSampler range, whose tubes measure 25 mm. The smaller 2 mm orifice specifically draws smaller quantities from the medium, which saves material when dealing with expensive or limited-availability samples.

Made from V4A stainless steel rather than plastic

Unlike the PP and PTFE/FEP versions, the Mini ViscoSampler is made from 1.4404 stainless steel (V4A, AISI 316L), supplemented by PTFE components. Due to its high corrosion resistance, V4A is a stainless steel widely used in laboratories and industry, which remains virtually unchanged even when cleaned frequently with more aggressive agents. For the parts in contact with the sample – made of stainless steel, aluminium and PTFE – a collective certificate in accordance with EU Regulation 1935/2004 is also available, confirming their suitability for food contact. This makes the Mini version particularly suitable for samples from food production, where plastic is not desirable.

Three lengths from 60 to 150 cm

The shortest version, with a 60 cm immersion depth, holds 30 ml; the medium version, with a 100 cm immersion depth, holds 50 ml; and the longest version, with a 150 cm immersion depth, holds 75 ml. Here too, the principle applies: anyone who regularly takes samples from containers of varying depths will have the right length to hand for every depth.

Relationship to the large ViscoSampler range

The Mini ViscoSampler is not a smaller version of the PP or PTFE/FEP models, but a standalone product made from a different material and with a different tube diameter. Whilst the large ViscoSamplers are designed for higher capacities and greater immersion depths, the Mini version focuses on small, precisely metered sample volumes made from stainless steel.

Distinction from the PP and PTFE/FEP versions

If the sample volume of the Mini version is insufficient, or if stainless steel is to be avoided, the larger ViscoSamplers made of PP or PTFE/FEP, with capacities ranging from 160 to 650 ml, are the more suitable choice. When dealing with frozen rather than viscous media, such as ice cream, the IceSampler is the more appropriate option.

Handling in everyday laboratory use

Because the tube of the Mini ViscoSampler is so slender, it can be inserted even into narrow vessel openings, such as sample bottles or smaller stirring vessels, into which the large ViscoSampler would not fit. The opening, measuring just 2 mm, draws in a small, precisely defined quantity, which helps to avoid unnecessary wastage when dealing with expensive active ingredients or limited sample material.

Cleaning between samples

Like the larger ViscoSamplers, the Mini ViscoSampler can also be dismantled for cleaning. Given the small internal diameters of the 2 mm orifice and the 12 mm tube, thorough cleaning between samples is particularly important, as residues are more likely to become lodged in such a narrow tube than in the larger PP and PTFE/FEP models.

Typical applications

• Pastes, creams and other cosmetic or pharmaceutical preparations
• Small quantities of slurries or sediments
• Oils in laboratory sample quantities
• Samples from food production where stainless steel is required

Technical details

Overview of variants

Contents

• Mini ViscoSampler sample collector for viscous samples, in the selected length

Service and procurement

For small sample volumes and applications involving food contact, the stainless steel version is usually the more suitable choice compared to the larger plastic versions in the ViscoSampler range. LT Laborhandel orders each of the three Mini ViscoSampler lengths individually and, if required, also provides advice on the entire ViscoSampler range – for example, if both small and larger sample volumes are handled within the same facility. If you have any queries regarding the appropriate length or the combination of several sample collectors, please contact LT Laborhandel for assistance.