Savillex Technical Note

Return on Investment:
DST-1000 & DST-4000 Acid Purification Systems

Summary
While trace metal grade (1ppb) acids are suitable for digesting
or diluting samples prior to analysis with ICP-OES, the lower
detection limits of ICP-MS necessitate the use of high purity
grade (10 ppt) acid. Over the past few years however, the price
of commercial bottled high purity acid has risen significantly, and
acid costs have become a significant component of any ICP-MS
lab budget. Instead of buying high purity acid, many labs are
making significant cost savings by producing it in house using
Savillex DST acid purification systems. The DST systems convert
less expensive, lower grade acids into high purity acid – safely
and efficiently – by sub-boiling distillation. The resulting cost
savings can be dramatic: depending on acid type and lab usage, a
single DST can save upwards of $300,000 over three years. Return
Savillex DST-4000 and DST-1000
on investment (ROI) calculations, based on DST purchase price, Acid Purification Systems
acid usage, and acid costs, are illustrated in this technical note.

ROI Calculations
The DST systems produce 10ppt grade acid for virtually the same cost as the 1ppb grade feedstock acid. Acid prices
used are typical discounted prices paid in the US. The monthly cost savings are then applied to the purchase price of
the DST (DST-1000 and DST-400 are calculated separately) to give a payback time and subsequent savings. High purity
acid costs vary significantly depending on the acid type, with hydrofluoric acid (HF) being the most expensive. Four ROI
scenarios are given for both the DST-1000 and DST-4000, as follows:

Scenario Acid Type Lab Setup

1 Nitric Average sized lab using 4 x 500 mL bottles of high purity acid per month
2 Nitric Large lab using 12 x 500 mL bottles of high purity acid per month
3 Hydrofluoric Average sized lab using 2x 500 mL bottles of high purity acid per month
4 Hydrofluoric Large lab using 6 x 500 mL bottles of high purity acid per month

DST-1000 ROI
The cost savings, for an average lab using a DST-1000 to produce high purity nitric acid, will cover the purchase price
of the DST-1000 in approximately 3.5 months. This falls to 1.2 months for a large lab. In the case of HF, due to its higher
cost, the DST-1000 will pay for itself in only 2.4 months and less than one month in a larger lab. Even more impressive
are the cost savings in the first 3 years of use - ranging from $69K to $331K (even taking into account the purchase price
of the DST).

Calculate
your lab’s
ROI here:
DST-1000 DST-4000
 Savillex Technical Note
Return on Investment:
DST-1000 & DST-4000 Acid Purification Systems

Scenario 1: Average lab, Nitric Scenario 2: Large lab, Nitric Scenario 3: Average lab, HF Scenario 4: Large lab, HF
Price of commercial Price of commercial Price of commercial Price of commercial
high purity (10ppt) $650 high purity (10ppt) $650 high purity (10ppt) $1,700 high purity (10ppt) $1,700
grade acid (500 mL) grade acid (500 mL) grade acid (500 mL) grade acid (500 mL)
500 mL bottles of 500 mL bottles of 500 mL bottles of 500 mL bottles of
high purity acid used 4 high purity acid used 12 high purity acid used 2 high purity acid used 6
per month per month per month per month
Price of trace metal Price of trace metal Price of trace metal Price of trace metal
(1ppb) grade acid $120 (1ppb) grade acid $120 (1ppb) grade acid $130 (1ppb) grade acid $130
(500 mL) (500 mL) (500 mL) (500 mL)
Monthly acid savings $2,120 Monthly acid savings $6,360 Monthly acid savings $3,140 Monthly acid savings $9,420
US purchase price of US purchase price of US purchase price of US purchase price of
$7,449 $7,449 $7,449 $7,449
DST-1000 DST-1000 DST-1000 DST-1000
Months for DST-1000 Months for DST-1000 Months for DST-1000 Months for DST-1000
3.5 1.2 2.4 0.8
to pay for itself to pay for itself to pay for itself to pay for itself
Net savings over first Net savings over first Net savings over first Net savings over first
3 years (DST-1000 $68,871 3 years (DST-1000 $221,511 3 years (DST-1000 $105,591 3 years (DST-1000 $331,671
cost included) cost included) cost included) cost included)

DST-4000 ROI
Payback time for the DST-4000 is slightly longer due to its higher purchase price: 5.7 months for an average lab using
nitric acid and 1.9 months for a large lab. With HF, payback time is 3.8 months and 1.3 month in a large lab. The overall
savings, however, are similar, ranging from $64K to $327K. The benefits of the DST-4000 over the DST-1000 are: 2x
higher production rate (see below), 4x higher acid production per distillation, and auto shutdown at run competion.

Scenario 1: Average lab, Nitric Scenario 2: Large lab, Nitric Scenario 3: Average lab, HF Scenario 4: Large lab, HF
Price of commercial Price of commercial Price of commercial Price of commercial
high purity (10ppt) $650 high purity (10ppt) $650 high purity (10ppt) $1,700 high purity (10ppt) $1,700
grade acid (500 mL) grade acid (500 mL) grade acid (500 mL) grade acid (500 mL)
500 mL bottles of 500 mL bottles of 500 mL bottles of 500 mL bottles of
high purity acid used 4 high purity acid used 12 high purity acid used 2 high purity acid used 6
per month per month per month per month
Price of trace metal Price of trace metal Price of trace metal Price of trace metal
(1ppb) grade acid $120 (1ppb) grade acid $120 (1ppb) grade acid $130 (1ppb) grade acid $130
(500 mL) (500 mL) (500 mL) (500 mL)
Monthly acid savings $2,120 Monthly acid savings $6,360 Monthly acid savings $3,140 Monthly acid savings $9,420
US purchase price of US purchase price of US purchase price of US purchase price of
$12,006 $12,006 $12,006 $12,006
DST-4000 DST-4000 DST-4000 DST-4000
Months for DST-4000 Months for DST-4000 Months for DST-4000 Months for DST-4000
5.7 1.9 3.8 1.3
to pay for itself to pay for itself to pay for itself to pay for itself
Net savings over first Net savings over first Net savings over first Net savings over first
3 years (DST-4000 $64,314 3 years (DST-4000 $216,954 3 years (DST-4000 $101,034 3 years (DST-4000 $327,114
cost included) cost included) cost included) cost included)

DST Production Rate

Even for larger labs, acid usage is typically far below the production rate of the DSTs. The DST-1000 can produce 500
mL of high purity acid in around 12 hours, compared to 6 hours for the DST-4000. For labs that use large amounts of
high purity acid for trace metal sample prep, in addition to ICP-MS standard prep and sample dilution, the savings are
even more dramatic.

Savillex
10321 West 70th St. | Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3446 USA | Phone: 952.935.4100
Email: [email protected] | www.savillex.com TN009 050523