Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) analysis of solid samples

This metal screening analysis includes the semi-quantitative determination of 70 elements. The method can be used, for example, to determine the background concentrations of metals in environmental samples or to study the elemental distribution of unknown samples. Screening is also often performed to assess which metals should be analyzed by a quantitative method. The measurement is performed using a high-resolution ICP-MS technique (ICP-SFMS), which can identify very low elemental concentrations. A semi-quantitative determination of the following elements is included: Ag, Al, As, Au, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Br, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Dy, Er, Eu, Fe, Ga, Gd, Ge, Hf, Hg, Ho, I, Ir, K, La, Lu, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Nd, Ni, Os, P, Pb, Pd, Pr, Pt, Rb, Re, Rh, Ru, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Si, Sm, Sn, Sr, Ta, Tb, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, Tm, U, V, W, Y, Yb, Zn and Zr. However, please note that some elements may not be determinable due to matrix interference. During this semi-quantitative analysis, the instrument is calibrated for about 30 elements and the rest of the analytes are quantified using sensitivity factors for calibrated elements with similar mass and first ionization potential considering isotope abundances. Quantitative analysis is also available at an additional price. During this analysis, all elements are calibrated (excluding halogens and Os). Please ask for an offer for this service.

Determination of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen content of an organic sample. CHNS analysis (”LECO analysis”) is performed using a flash combustion method, where the sample is combusted under 25 kPa of O2 at an elevated temperature (1000 °C), followed by gas chromatography separation and detection using a thermal conductivity detector. Oxygen is analyzed by reduction on granulated carbon at 1480 °C, utilizing high-temperature thermal decomposition and conversion of oxygen into carbon monoxide before gas chromatography separation and detection with a thermal conductivity detector. The sample can be either solid or liquid, but water in the sample affects the results. In the case of aqueous samples, it is possible to dry the sample before analysis. The price includes two parallel measurements. The results are reported as wt-% of the initial sample. The ash, drying and dry loss measurements will increase the minimum required sample material need to 300 mg. The analysis gives the total carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen content of the material, but it does not identify any chemical structures. The measurement can be combined with other methods, such as GC-MS, 1H, and 13C NMR, to perform substance structure identification. Possible element packages: O, CHNS, and CHNOS.

Determination of total fluorine (F) content in plastic according to the EN 15408 mod. method. The fluorine content of the sample is obtained using oxygen bomb combustion treatment followed by ion chromatography (IC). Possible sample preparation, such as grinding into smaller particles, is available at an extra cost. This method can also be used to determine the total content of S, Cl, and Br. The results will be reported in mg/kg.

Lignin sample ash content measurement at 525°C. The result is expressed as a mass percentage of the ash from the initial sample on a dry matter basis.

Phthalates are a group of chemicals widely used as plasticizers, which make plastics more flexible and durable. They have also been used as additives in products such as cosmetics and personal care items. Several phthalates have been identified as endocrine-disrupting agents or as chemicals toxic to reproduction. Exposure to phthalates can occur through: Oral exposure Food: Exposure occurs via migration from food packaging., Children's toys: Children often put toys in their mouths.., Inhalation: Breathing in dust from vinyl flooring or fragrances (like perfumes) can cause exposure to phthalates via inhalation., Skin contact: Phthalates present in cosmetics, lotions, and soaps can be absorbed through the skin.. For other listed matrices apart from cosmetics, the analysis package covers the following substances included in the REACH Authorization List: Substance Abbreviation CAS number Diisobutyl phthalate DIBP 84-69-5 Dibutyl phthalate DBP 84-74-2 Benzyl butyl phthalate BBP 85-68-7 Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate DEHP 117-81-7 Di(n-octyl) phthalate DNOP 117-84-0 Diisononyl phthalate DINP 68515-48-0 Diisodecyl phthalate DIDP 26761-40-0 Products that contain restricted phthalates in concentrations higher than 0.1% may be removed from the market. The analysis package for cosmetic products contains the following phthalates: Substance Abbreviation CAS number Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate DEHP 117-81-7 Benzyl butyl phthalate BBP 85-68-7 Dibutyl phthalate DBP 84-74-2 Diisononyl phthalate DINP 68515-48-0 Di(n-octyl) phthalate DNOP 117-84-0 Diisodecyl phthalate DIDP 26761-40-0 All the above-mentioned substances are prohibited in cosmetic products (Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009).

XPS is a semi-quantitative technique used to measure the elemental composition of material surfaces. In addition, it can also determine the binding state of the atoms. XPS is a surface-sensitive technique. Typical probing depth is 3-9 nm, and detection limits range roughly between 0.1 and 1 atomic %. XPS can measure elements from Li to U. The elemental composition is reported in at.% and measured on 1 area of a few 100 µm. Upon request, we can measure smaller areas or depth profiles, and a binding state determination can also be provided. Measurements are typically performed using one of the following instruments: PHI Genesis, Thermo Fisher ESCALAB 250Xi, PHI Quantum 2000. Synchrotron XPS is also available. Contact us for more information and a quote for your project.

Pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (py-GC-MS) analysis to determine the identity of an unknown polymer sample. During the measurement, the sample is instantaneously heated in an inert atmosphere or vacuum. This causes the sample to decompose into smaller molecular fragments which are then analyzed with GC-MS. Different types of polymers can be identified by their unique decomposition products. This includes, but is not limited to: PE, PP, PS, ABS, PMMA, PET, PC, PVC, polyamides, natural & synthetic rubbers, and more. The price includes the basic preparation and analysis of the sample. More extensive sample preparation is subject to additional costs.

Determination of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in water using the GC-MS technique. The analysis determines the concentrations of 67 volatile compounds including BTEX, DIPE, ETBE, MTBE, TAEE, TAME, and TBA. The results of the analysis are reported in µg/l.

This analysis provides quantitative information about the crystalline and amorphous phases within your sample using high-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD). A standard analysis includes: Quantification of crystalline phases as weight percentages, Quantification of the total amorphous content, High-resolution powder diffraction data and the resulting diffractogram, A comprehensive test report detailing the findings. For more advanced needs, we also offer total scattering/pair distribution function (PDF) analysis to reveal the local atomic structure in amorphous or nano-structured materials.

Phase identification and quantification (Rietveld analysis) of a crystalline powder material using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The analysis can also provide unit cell dimensions. The analysis is only suitable for materials with at least one crystalline phase. The quantification accuracy is roughly 0.1 %, depending on the sample matrix and the phase in question. The available temperature range for XRD measurements is 25-1100 °C and the crystallinity can be studied as a function of temperatures. The measurements can be done under a normal atmosphere, inert gas, or vacuum. Please contact our experts to discuss the available temperature and atmosphere combinations. Please mention which crystalline phases your material contains and which ones are you interested in quantifying when requesting testing. However, the method can be applied to unknown phases as well. Either a tabletop or a synchrotron XRD can be used to perform the measurements.