Instrumentation

Our Chemical Instrumentation experts use measurement tools for the observation, monitoring, and control of chemical processes. 

We use chemical instrumentation for organic and inorganic analysis and physical measurement. 

Organic Analysis

  • GC - Gas Chromatographs (with ECD, FID or MS detectors)

    Used for quantitative determinations of volatile and/or semi-volatile organic compounds.
    Applications: analyses of complex mixtures, process development, unknowns, EPA protocol, deformulation.

  • HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatographs - Waters Corp.)

    Used for quantitative or semi-quantitative determinations of organic compounds.
    Detectors: Photodiode Array (PDA), programmable UV-VIS, fluorescence, refractive index, Evaporative Light Scattering Detector (ELSD). Methods can be developed for specific applications.
    Applications: process development and monitoring, troubleshooting, deformulation, USP method validation, EPA and FDA protocol.

  • GPC - Gel Permeation Chromatography

    Determines the fingerprint distribution of polymers by size and defines the average molecular weight of polymers, using appropriate standards. The chromatograph is equipped with refractive index, ELSD and PDA detectors.
    Applications: analysis of polymers, surfactants, deformulation, troubleshooting.

  • HPTLC - High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography

    A semi-quantitative technique that allows quick scan to check the purity of compounds. It is especially useful for dyes and/or materials that have UV absorption.
    Applications: analysis of dispersed dyes, optical brighteners, UV absorbers, troubleshooting.

  • MS - Mass Spectrometer (MSD HP 5973N)

    The most important piece of information from the mass spectrum is the integral molecular weight of a compound. Together with the unique isotope ratio of each element, the fragmentation pattern and a library of over 60,000 compounds, the structure of unknown compounds can be deduced.
    Applications: structure determination, trace analysis, unknown identification, EPA protocol.

  • NMR - Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer (Bruker AC-300 MHz)

    Used for qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of organic compounds. It is equipped with two probes: a dual 1H/13C probe and a broadband tunable probe that can be used to analyze for a variety of NMR active nuclei (15N, 17O, 19F, 31P, 29Si, etc.). The most common nuclei analyzed are 1H, 13C and 31P.
    Applications: structure determinations, unknown identification, deformulation, troubleshooting.

  • IR - Infrared Spectrometer (Fourier Transform – FTIR – Nicolet, Magna 550)

    Offers qualitative and semi-quantitative information about chemical bonds (C-H, C=O, C-O, C-N, etc.) in the samples analyzed. An ATR accessory (with Ge/Si crystal) allows direct analyses of samples (paper, polymers, fibers,liquids, etc.) and their surfaces.
    Applications: unknown identification, polymers, deformulation, structure verification.

  • UV-VIS - UV-Visible Spectrophotometer (HP 8452A)

    Used for qualitative or quantitative analysis of organic and inorganic materials.
    Applications: UV absorbers, dyes, polymer films, process development.

  • ASE 200 Extractor (DIONEX)

    An automated extraction apparatus which utilizes hot solvents under pressure to perform fast and solvent efficient sample extractions. It can be used to extract analytes from fabrics, fibers, polymers, soils, foods, etc.

  • Freezer Mill (SPEX CertiPrep, 6770)

    An impact grinder cooled by liquid nitrogen, used for hard to grind samples (polymer pellets or films, fibers, etc.). Cryogenic grinding preserves the chemical and structural features that might be altered by heat during ordinary milling.

Inorganic Analysis

  • ICP - Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometer (Perkin Elmer Optima 2100)

    Scans sequentially for many elements in one analysis.
    Applications: quantitative determination of metals and some non-metals (P, S) at ppm levels. Identification of unknown samples.

  • AA – Zeeman Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (Graphite Furnace - Varian SpectrAA-400)

    Has lower detection limits than the ICP spectrometer.
    Applications: quantitative determinations of metals of environmental concern, where higher sensitivity is required (ppb – parts per billion).

  • IC - Ion Chromatograph (Dionex DX500 and DX600)

    For quantitative determination of anions and cations.
    Applications: inorganic anions and cations, organic acids and bases, thiocyanate and polyphosphates. Also, sugars, sulfide, cyanide and hydrazine, as well as transition metals e.g. Cr(VI) (by post-column derivatization).

  • Titrators (Mettler DL38, DL53, DL70)

    Two general purpose titrators (DL53 and DL70) for acid/base, redox, chelation and ion-pairing titrations in aqueous and non-aqueous media.
    Applications: Acid numbers, saponification numbers, purity checks, ammonia, etc.
    Titration methods are developed for the specific needs of our customers.
    The DL38 titrator is dedicated for determination of moisture content by Karl-Fischer titration.

Physical Measurement

  • Particle Size (Shimadzu)

    A light scattering based instrument capable of measuring the particle size distribution ranging from 0.1 to 350 µm.
    Applications: solids dispersed in water or aerosols.

  • DSC - Differential Scanning Calorimetry (Mettler DSC-20)

    Used to study thermal transition of inorganic and organic materials, especially polymers.
    Applications: heat capacity, glass transition, melting point, crystallinity, purity.

  • TGA – Thermogravimetric Analysis (Mettler TG-50)

    Used to determine the weight change in a material as temperature changes. It is complimentary to DSC to characterize material through their thermal properties.
    Applications: drying, decomposition, oxidation

  • Viscometer (Brookfield Model DV-I+)

    Used to measure fluid viscosity at a given shear rate.
    Applications: measure of fluids resistance to flow.

  • UN Sustained Combustibility (also Fire point) of a Liquid

    Standard method to test for sustained combustion (fire point) at two temperatures with two wait times and triplicate tests.

Standard Colors' lab is fully furnished with state-of-the-art equipment for instrumentation.

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