What is the GO-EHT system and how does it work?

The GO-EHT system is a fully automated sample preparation and purification platform developed by Miura Institute of Environmental Science (MIES) in Japan. It is designed to clean up complex environmental samples before mass spectrometry analysis, removing co-extracted matrix interferences so that target compounds can be accurately detected and quantified. The sections below unpack how the system works, what it can analyze, and which laboratories stand to benefit most from adopting it.

How does the GO-EHT system purify samples?

The GO-EHT system purifies samples through a fully automated, multi-column cleanup process that passes sample extracts through a series of sorbent-packed columns. Each column targets specific matrix interferences — such as lipids, sulfur, or other co-extracted compounds — and retains them while allowing the target analytes to pass through for collection and subsequent analysis.

What makes the process particularly effective is its closed-system design. Samples are loaded into the instrument and never come into direct physical contact with the system’s internal surfaces during the purification sequence. The solvent flow is precisely controlled throughout, ensuring consistent and reproducible results from run to run. Once purification is complete, the cleaned extract is ready for injection into a mass spectrometer, typically a high-resolution instrument used for dioxin and PCB confirmation analysis.

The automation also means that once a method is programmed, the system executes each purification step in exactly the same way every time. This removes the variability that is inherent in manual column cleanup, where subtle differences in flow rate, solvent volume, or timing can affect recovery and reproducibility. The result is a more reliable analytical outcome with less need for analyst intervention during the cleanup phase.

What contaminants can the GO-EHT system analyze?

The GO-EHT system is designed for the purification of samples analyzed for persistent organic pollutants (POPs), specifically dioxins (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs). These are among the most regulated and analytically challenging environmental contaminants in food, feed, and environmental monitoring programs.

Dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs are subject to strict regulatory limits in food and feed across the European Union and many other jurisdictions. Accurate analysis requires thorough sample cleanup to remove lipid and matrix interferences that would otherwise suppress or distort the mass spectrometry signal. The GO-EHT system’s multi-column purification sequence is specifically optimized to meet the cleanup requirements for these compound classes.

PBDEs and PCNs, while less frequently regulated than dioxins and PCBs, are monitored in environmental surveillance programs and research studies. Their structural similarity to dioxins means that the same cleanup chemistry applies, making the GO-EHT equally suitable for these analytes without requiring significant method modification. Peer-reviewed research published by Fujita et al. (2016) validated the simultaneous analysis of dioxins, PCBs, and PBDEs using a fully automated sample preparation system of this type, confirming the platform’s multi-analyte capability.

Which sample matrices is the GO-EHT compatible with?

The GO-EHT system is compatible with a wide range of sample matrices, including food, feed, soil, sewage sludge, water, and air samples. This breadth of matrix compatibility makes it suitable for both regulatory food safety testing and environmental monitoring programs, covering the full contamination pathway from source to consumer.

Food and feed matrices are typically the most demanding because of their high fat content. Fatty matrices such as fish oil, meat, eggs, and dairy products contain large quantities of co-extracted lipids that must be removed before mass spectrometry measurement. The GO-EHT’s automated lipid removal steps are designed to handle these high-fat samples efficiently, a point specifically addressed in published research by Hayward and Traag (2020) on removing co-extracted lipids before MS measurement of POPs in foods.

Environmental matrices such as soil, sewage sludge, and water present different challenges, including high levels of sulfur compounds and suspended solids. The system’s configurable column sequence can be adapted to address these matrix-specific interferences. Air samples, often collected on polyurethane foam or glass fiber filters, can also be processed through the system after an initial extraction step. This versatility means a single instrument can serve the needs of laboratories that analyze both food safety and environmental compliance samples.

How does the GO-EHT differ from manual sample preparation?

The GO-EHT replaces a time-consuming, hands-on manual cleanup process with a fully automated sequence that runs without analyst intervention. In manual sample preparation for dioxin analysis, a technician must physically pack columns, add solvents in precise volumes, collect fractions by hand, and repeat the process for every sample. This is not only labor-intensive but also introduces analyst-to-analyst variability that can affect data quality.

With the GO-EHT, a batch of samples can be loaded into the system and processed overnight or during other productive work periods. The instrument executes each step consistently, applying the same solvent volumes, flow rates, and timing to every sample in the batch. This consistency directly improves data reproducibility, which is critical when results are used for regulatory compliance decisions.

There is also a meaningful difference in occupational safety. Manual cleanup for dioxin analysis has traditionally involved large volumes of organic solvents, including dichloromethane, which carries significant health and environmental risks. The GO-EHT eliminates the need for dichloromethane entirely and reduces total solvent consumption to less than 100 ml per sample. Analysts are no longer exposed to high solvent volumes during routine cleanup operations, which reduces both health risk and the cost and complexity of solvent disposal.

Why does the GO-EHT use so little organic solvent?

The GO-EHT uses less than 100 ml of organic solvent per sample because its automated column cleanup process is precisely optimized to use only the minimum solvent volume needed at each step. Unlike manual methods that often use excess solvent to ensure complete elution, the GO-EHT’s programmed flow control delivers exact volumes, eliminating waste without compromising analyte recovery.

This efficiency is a direct consequence of automation. When a human analyst performs column cleanup manually, there is a natural tendency to add slightly more solvent than strictly necessary as a safety margin. Over a batch of samples, this excess accumulates into substantial volumes of hazardous waste. The GO-EHT removes this uncertainty by executing a validated, fixed-volume protocol every time.

The elimination of dichloromethane is a particularly significant environmental and safety benefit. Dichloromethane is a chlorinated solvent with known health risks and strict regulatory requirements for handling and disposal. By designing the purification chemistry around alternative solvents used in minimal quantities, the GO-EHT aligns with the principles of green analytical chemistry — reducing hazardous waste generation at the source rather than managing it after the fact. For laboratories operating under environmental management systems or sustainability commitments, this reduction in solvent use has practical and reputational value.

What laboratories should consider using the GO-EHT system?

Laboratories that routinely analyze samples for dioxins, PCBs, PBDEs, or PCNs and currently rely on manual column cleanup are the primary candidates for the GO-EHT system. This includes food safety testing laboratories, environmental monitoring labs, and research institutes that process significant sample volumes and need consistent, defensible results for regulatory reporting.

The system is particularly well suited to laboratories working under ISO 17025 accreditation, where method validation, reproducibility, and traceability are formal requirements. Automating the cleanup step reduces sources of variability that can be difficult to control and document in manual procedures. Laboratories that have validated the GO-EHT against European regulatory criteria for PCDD/Fs and PCBs in food and feed — as demonstrated in published work by Marchand et al. (2013) — have confirmed that the system meets the analytical performance requirements set by EU monitoring programs.

High-throughput commercial testing laboratories also benefit significantly. Research by Traag et al. (2015) demonstrated that modern dioxin laboratories can achieve high sample throughput using automated systems, making the GO-EHT a practical choice for operations where turnaround time is a competitive factor. Even smaller laboratories with lower sample volumes gain from the reduction in analyst time spent on cleanup, freeing staff for other analytical tasks and reducing the skill dependency that comes with complex manual procedures.

How DSP-Systems helps with GO-EHT implementation

DSP-Systems is the official European and North American distributor for Miura Institute of Environmental Science and provides end-to-end support for laboratories adopting the GO-EHT system. Their offering includes:

System supply and configuration: GO-EHT systems are supplied and configured to match the laboratory’s specific analytical methods and regulatory requirements, including EPA and CEN standards.
Pre-installation programming and testing: SPE applications are tested and validated before installation, reducing the time from delivery to routine use.
Method development support: DSP-Systems works directly with laboratory teams to develop and validate methods for dioxins, PCBs, PBDEs, and related compound classes across the matrices relevant to the lab’s work.
Training and ongoing technical support: Analysts receive hands-on training, and DSP-Systems provides continued support to ensure the system performs consistently over time.
Complementary systems: For laboratories also analyzing PFAS, pesticides, or other contaminants, DSP-Systems offers automated sample preparation systems from LabTech and PromoChrom alongside the GO-EHT platform.

If your laboratory is evaluating the GO-EHT system or looking to automate your sample preparation workflow, get in touch with DSP-Systems to discuss your specific analytical needs and find the right configuration for your work.

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