Remotely operated pipetter

Two positive delivery pipetters (1 ml and 5 ml in capacity) have been devised for pipetting aliquots of highly radioactive liquid samples intended, various analytical determinations in the reprocessing analytical facility at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute. The pipetter assembly consists of pipet, electrical elevator, control unit, three valves and trap, as well as nitrogen gas and vacuum lines. The structural material of the parts of the pipet in contact with the sample are either stainless steel or teflon. A precision of 0.2% standard deviation of successive 100 μl deliveries of distilled water and concentrated nitric acid was obtained on the 1 ml pipetter. Design criteria for the pipetter, its principle of operation and method of decontamination are described. (author)