PFAS in solid and liquid chemicals

Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS) can be used to measure the composition of solid samples quantitatively at the surface as well as depth profiling. RBS is used for the analysis of heavy elements and can be combined with ToF-ERDA when lighter elements also need to be analyzed. Elements with similar mass can be difficult to differentiate.

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.

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.

Qualitative identification of chemical groups in solid samples by Attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Results will be delivered as an FTIR spectrum. In addition, a comparison to an FTIR library will be provided. The method is not quantitative, but it can be used to identify the main chemical components of the sample.

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.

Analysis of gaseous samples using Raman spectroscopy.

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 selected volatile organic compounds (VOC) in water using the GC-MS and GC-FID techniques. Analysis can be conducted according to the following standard methods: EPA 624, EPA 5021A, EPA 8260, EPA 8015, EN ISO 10301, ISO 11423-1, and EN ISO 15680 The results of the analysis are reported in µg/L. Analysis includes the following analytes: Analyte: Reporting limits: chloromethane 1 µg/l bromomethane 1 µg/l dichloromethane 0.1 µg/l dibromimetaani 1 µg/l bromochloromethane 2 µg/l trichloromethane (chloroform) 0.1 µg/l tribromomethane (bromoform) 0.2 µg/l bromodichloromethane 0.1 µg/l dibromochloromethane 0.1 µg/l sum 4 trihalometanit 0.5 µg/l tetrachloromethane 0.1 µg/l trichlorofluoromethane 1 µg/l dichlorodifluoromethane 1 µg/l monochloroethane 1 µg/l 1,1-dichloroethane 0.1 µg/l 1,2-dichloroethane 0.1 µg/l 1,2-dibromietaani 0.5 µg/l 1,1,1-trichloroethane 0.1 µg/l 1,1,2-trichloroethane 0.1 µg/l 1,1,1,2-tetrachloroethane 0.1 µg/l 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane 1 µg/l vinyl chloride 0.1 µg/l 1,1-dichloroethene 0.1 µg/l cis-1,2-dichloroethene 0.1 µg/l trans-1,2-dichloroethene 0.1 µg/l amount of 1,2-dichloroethene 0.2 µg/l trichloroethylene 0.1 µg/l sum of 11 chlorinated hydrocarbons 1.1 µg/l tetrachloroethene 0.1 µg/l Sum of trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene 0.2 µg/l sum 5 chlorinated ethylenes 0.5 µg/l 1,2-dichloropropane 1 µg/l 1,3-dichloropropane 1 µg/l 2,2-dichloropropane 1 µg/l 1,2,3-trichloropropane 1 µg/l 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane 1 µg/l 1,1-dichloro-1-propene 1 µg/l cis-1,3-dichloro-1-propene 1 µg/l trans-1,3-dichloropropene 1 µg/l hexachlorobutadiene 1 µg/l 2-chlorotoluene 1 µg/l 4-chlorotoluene 1 µg/l monochlorobenzene 0.1 µg/l bromobenzene 1 µg/l 1,2-dichlorobenzene 0.1 µg/l 1,3-dichlorobenzene 0.1 µg/l 1,4-dichlorobenzene 0.1 µg/l amount of 3 dichlorobenzene 0.3 µg/l 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene 0.1 µg/l 1,2,4- trichlorobenzene 0.1 µg/l 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene 0.1 µg/l amount of 3 trichlorobenzene 0.4 µg/l benzene 0.1 µg/l toluene 0.5 µg/l ethylbenzene 0.1 µg/l o-xylene 0.1 µg/l m/p-xylene 0.2 µg/l sum of xylenes 0.3 µg/l summa BTEX 1 µg/l board one 0.2 µg/l isopropylbenzene 1 µg/l n-propylbenzene 1 µg/l 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene 1 µg/l 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene 1 µg/l n-butylbenzene 1 µg/l sec-butylbenzene 1 µg/l tert-butylbenzene 1 µg/l p-isopropyltoluene 1 µg/l naphthalene 1 µg/l Diisopropyl ether (DIPE) 0.6 µg/l ETBE (ethyl tert-butyl ether) 0.2 µg/l MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether) 0.2 µg/l tert-amyl ethyl ether (TAEE) 0.2 µg/l TAME 0.2 µg/l tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) 5 µg/l ethanol 100 µg/l A customized offer can also be prepared if you are interested in analyzing only individual compounds from a sample. Suitable sample containers for analysis can be ordered through us. Sample containers picked up from Measurlabs are included in the price of the analysis, but sample containers can also be shipped to the customer for a separate fee.

Analysis for determining the content of respirable quartz and other forms of respirable crystalline silica in products and materials. The results can be used for labeling purposes and to facilitate the development of safer products. Crystalline silica/quartz is a common ingredient in building products and other materials containing or composed of stone, gravel, clay, or sand. Exposure to respirable silica for extended periods or high exposure for short periods causes silicosis and may lead to the development of lung cancer. This is why a binding limit value has been set for workplace exposure to respirable crystalline silica in EU countries. Ensuring that materials have a low quartz content is the most effective and cost-efficient way to prevent respirable quartz exposure. In EU countries, materials containing crystalline silica and other category 1 carcinogens are subject to a classification obligation, unless carcinogens are present in quantities below 0.1 % (w/w). Consequently, such products should include the warning “May cause lung cancer by inhalation” and “Causes damage to lungs”. The obligation applies to chemically modified mineral products that contain quartz. Additionally, industrial mineral producers (IMA) in the EU have decided that even non-modified mineral products should be classified based on their crystalline silica content (fine fraction), provided the content exceeds 1.0 wt.%. Please contact the expert team through the form below for more details on the analysis.

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.