Abstract: An instrument that is particularly designed for the automatic release and isolation saccharides from glycoconjugates comprises a source of inert gas that can be passed along a line, to bring together all the required reagents with the sample, heat the sample in the presence of the reagents for the required time and at the required temperature, pass the resultant mixtures through chromatographic columns, and deliver the separated material to a collection point. The release and separation can be conducted on two samples of glycoconjugate simultaneously, even when the samples are of different glycoconjugates requiring different processing parameters. The material of one sample can be prevented from mixing with or otherwise contaminating the material of the other sample.