Application Finder

In this poster a convenient direct injection suppressed ion chromatographic method for determining chloride and sulfate in denatured ethanol samples according to ASTM D7319 is presented.

Quality and process control of biofuels require straightforward, fast and accurate analysis methods. Ion chromatography (IC) is at the leading edge of this effort. Traces of anions in a gasoline/ethanol blend can accurately be determined in the sub-ppb range after Metrohm Inline Matrix Elimination using anion chromatography with conductivity detection after sequential suppression. While the analyte anions are retained on the preconcentration column, the interfering organic gasoline/bioethanol matrix is washed away.Detrimental alkali metals and water-extractable alkaline earth metals in biodiesel are determined in the sub-ppm range using cation chromatography with direct conductivity detection applying automated extraction with nitric acid and subsequent Metrohm Inline Dialysis. Unlike high-molecular substances, ions in the high-ionic strength matrix diffuse through a membrane into the low-ionic water acceptor solution. In biogas reactor samples, low-molecular-weight organic acids stem from the biodegradation of organic matter. Their profile allows important conclusions concerning conversion in the anaerobic digestion reaction. Volatile fatty acids and lactate can be accurately determined by using ion-exclusion chromatography with suppressed conductivity detection after inline dialysis or filtration.

Several testing methods such as the determination of the acid and the iodine numbers in biodiesel as well as the quantification of sulfate and chloride in bioethanol are described.

Commercially available fuels are complex mixtures of hundreds of different hydrocarbons. For the calibration of the test engines or advanced experimental and computational research they are modeled by means of multicomponent surrogate mixtures that adequately represent the desired physical and chemical characteristics. By definition, every octane and cetane number corresponds to a specific mixing ratio of primary reference fuels (PRFs). Based on this information, the tiamoTM controlled automatic dosing device prepares the surrogate mixtures. The setup drastically minimizes time-consuming and error-prone manual preparation steps and the contact with hazardous solvents. Additionally, precise and accurate results are displayed on customizable reports that fully comply with all current GLP and GMP requirements.

The presence of copper in fuel ethanol blends has gained considerable attention, since Cu2+ catalyzes oxidative reactions in gasoline leading to a deterioration of olefins and the formation of gum. Anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV), one of the most sensitive and accurate techniques for trace-metal analysis, has been demonstrated for the determination of Cu(II) in ethanol/gasoline blends without any sample pretreatment. Copper ions are first electrodeposited onto the surface of a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) before the amalgamated copper is quantitatively stripped (anodically dissolved), a current-voltage curve being recorded.Experimental conditions such as deposition time and potential as well as the suitable electrolyte and reference electrode were determined in preliminary experiments. For synthetic samples spiked with Cu2+ (5…100 µg/L), recovery rates between 96 and 112% were obtained. The copper-spiked E85 sample provided a recovery of 100%. The relative standard deviations for Cu2+ concentrations of 5 µg/L and above were 8.0 and 5.5% respectively. Using a preconcentration time of 60 s at -0.7 V versus Ag/AgCl, a linear range of 0…500 µg/L with a detection limit of 2 µg/L was obtained.

This poster provides an overview of ion chromatographic methods combined with inline sample preparation for the determination of anions and water-extractable cations in biofuels. In addition, the determination of the oxidation stability is described.

This poster describes the water determination in different biodiesel samples via direct coulometric titration, the Karl Fischer oven method and an automated KF pipetting system.

The determination of the lead content in engine fuels has gained considerable importance since the introduction of the catalytic converter technique. Even small contents of lead interfere with the effectiveness of the catalysts or may destroy them. On the other hand, there are still many vehicles on the roads which run on leaded fuel (addition of tetraalkyl lead). Here also the knowledge of the lead content is of interest.With reference to DIN 51769 and ASTM 0-1269 a simplified procedure for the determination of lead in petrochemical products is described. The products are digested with HCl and the lead compounds are converted to lead(II) chloride. After extraction with water, the inverse voltammetric Pb determination is carried out.

This Application Bulletin gives an overview of the volumetric water content determination according to Karl Fischer. Amongst others, it describes the handling of electrodes, samples, and water standards. The described procedures and parameters comply with the ASTM E203.

This Bulletin describes the potentiometric determination of hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, and mercaptans in gaseous and liquid products of the oil industry (natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, used absorption solutions, distillate fuels, aviation gasoline, gasoline, kerosene, etc.). The samples are titrated with alcoholic silver nitrate solution using the Ag Titrode.

As the determination of the exact content of individual glycerides in fats and oils is difficult and time-consuming, several fat sum parameters or fat indices are used for the characterization and quality control of fats and oils. Fats and oils are not only essential for cooking, they are also an important ingredient in pharmaceuticals and personal care products, such as ointments and creams. Consequently, several norms and standards describe the determination of the most important quality control parameters. This Application Bulletin describes eight important analytical methods for the following fat parameters in edible oils and fats:Determination of water content in accordance with the Karl Fischer method; Oxidation stability in accordance with the Rancimat method; Iodine value; Peroxide value; Saponification value; Acid value, free fatty acids (FFA); Hydroxyl number; Traces of nickel using polarography; Special care is taken to avoid chlorinated solvents in these methods. Also, as many of the mentioned methods as possible are automated.

The bromine number and bromine index are important quality control parameters for the determination of aliphatic C=Cdouble bonds in petroleum products. Both indices provide information on the content of substances that react withbromine. The difference between the two indices is that the bromine number indicates the consumption of bromine in gfor 100 g sample and the bromine index in mg for 100 g sample.This Application Bulletin describes the determination of the bromine number according to ASTM D1159, ISO 3839, BS2000-130, IP 130, GB/T 11135 and DIN-51774-1. The bromine index determination for aliphatic hydrocarbons is described according to ASTM D2710, IP 299, GB/T 11136 and DIN 51774-2. For aromatic hydrocarbons the determination of the bromine index is described according to ASTM D5776 and SH/T 1767. UOP 304 is not recommended for the determination of the bromine number or bromine index because its titration solvent contains mercuric chloride.

Only coulometric Karl Fischer titration can determine low water contents with sufficient accuracy.This Application Bulletin describes the direct determination according to ASTM D6304, ASTM E1064, ASTM D1533, ASTM D3401, ASTM D4928, EN IEC 60814, EN ISO 12937, ISO 10337, DIN 51777, and GB/T 11146. The oven technique is described according to ASTM D6304, EN IEC 60814, and DIN 51777.

This bulletin describes a procedure to determine the bromine index (BI) using coulometric titration. The bromine index is the fraction of reactive unsaturated compounds (mostly C=C double bonds) in hydrocarbons encountered in the petrochemical industry. The double bonds are split with the attachment addition of bromine.

The determination of the acid number plays a significant role in the analysis of petroleum products. This is manifested in the numerous standard procedures in use over the world (internal specifications of multinational companies, national and international specifications of ASTM, DIN, IP, ISO, etc.). These procedures differ mainly in the composition of the used solvents and titrants.This bulletin describes the determination of the acid number in petroleum products by applying different types of titration.The potentiometric determination is described according to ASTM D664, the photometric according to ASTM D974 and the thermometric titration according to ASTM D8045.

MATi 4 (Metrohm Automated Titration) is a configured system for automated water content determination in liquid samples using coulometric Karl Fischer titration. The maximum sample volume is 5 mL. Up to 160 samples are filled in glass vials and sealed with lids. This ensures that the water content in the samples remains constant. The samples are aspirated and transferred into the coulometric cell through a needle. The tiamo™ software controls the system.

Determination of traces of lithium, sodium, ammonium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in ethanol using cation chromatography with direct conductivity detection after Metrohm Inline Matrix Elimination.

Determination of potassium, magnesium, and calcium in biodiesel using cation chromatography with direct conductivity detection applying automated extraction and subsequent Metrohm Inline Dialysis.

Palm oil is a vegetable oil that is used not only in the food industry but also for the manufacture of soaps and body care products. It is furthermore an important raw material for the generation of biodiesel. Depending on the degree of refinement, palm oil can be red, reddish or even colorless in appearance. The carotenes responsible for the color are removed during refinement and the oil becomes increasingly clear. In this Note, the chlorine and sulfur content of various palm oils are determined using Combustion IC.Keyword: pyrohydrolysis

The content of organic chloride in crude oil is determined according to ASTM D8150 in the naphtha fraction after distillation. The naphtha fraction is washed with caustic and water, respectively, to remove hydrogen sulfide and inorganic halides. Here, the determination of organic chloride after inline combustion is presented. Although the sulfur content was of no interest in this application, the same setup allows sulfur quantification.

Determination of Total Acid Number (TAN) values in biodiesel to <0.05 mg KOH/g sample.

The water content of diesel fuel and petrol (gasoline) is determined according to Karl Fischer. Because of the low water content, the determinations are carried out by coulometric titration.

The bromine index indicates the degree of unsaturation and relies on the simple addition of bromine to the double bond of alkenes. One mole of bromine is consumed for each mol of carbon-carbon double bond. The bromine index indicates the olefin content in aromatic hydrocarbons. This Application Note describes the determination by coulometric titration according to ASTM D1492.

Moisture in petroleum products causes several issues: corrosion and wear in pipelines and storage tanks, an increase in debris load resulting in diminished lubrication, blocked filters, or even harmful bacterial growth. As a result, increased water content can lead to infrastructure damage, higher maintenance costs, or even unwanted downtimes.Coulometric Karl Fischer titration is the method of choice for low water content in petroleum products. Using a Karl Fischer oven to vaporize the water present in the sample prior to titration not only greatly reduces matrix interferences, it can also be fully automated. This allows a reliable and cost-efficient analysis of the water content according to ASTM D6304 (Procedure B) in products such as diesel, hydraulic oil, lubricant, additive, turbine oil, and base oil.

To determine water in crude oil, ASTM D4928 recommends coulometric Karl Fischer titration with the oven method, allowing full automation for high reproducibility.

In recent years, there has been a significant push to reduce the environmental impacts of fuels through improvements to fuel quality. The determination of key quality parameters of gasoline, namely research octane number (RON, ASTM D2699-19), motor octane number (MON, ASTM D2700-19), anti knock index (AKI), aromatic content (ASTM D5769-15), and density, conventionally requires several different analytical methods, which are laborious and need trained personnel. This application note demonstrates that the XDS RapidLiquid Analyzer, operating in the visible and near-infrared spectral region (Vis-NIR), provides a cost-efficient and fast solution for the multiparameter analysis of gasoline.

Pyrolysis gasoline (Pygas) is a by-product of ethylene production, which contains unwanted conjugated diolefins making it unsuitable as a motor fuel. To overcome this limitation, the olefin content needs to be reduced below 2 mg/g pygas in a selective hydrogenation unit (SHU). The diene value, or maleic anhydride value (MAV), is usually determined by the lengthy Diels-Alder wet chemical method (UOP326-17), requiring highly trained analysts. In contrast to the primary method, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a cost-efficient and fast analytic solution for the determination of diene value in pyrolysis gasoline.

This Application Note describes the determination of various indices (mainly with ASTM and ISO conformance) for the characterization of kerosene as aviation turbine fuel using near-infrared spectroscopy. The following parameters were determined with the aid of an NIRS XDS Process Analyzer: degree of density in accordance with the American Petroleum Institute (API), aromatics content, Cetane Index, distillation characteristics pursuant to ASTM D86, flash point, freezing point, viscosity and hydrogen content. All of these parameters are determined quickly and easily with just a single measurement.

This Application Note shows that visible near-infrared spectroscopy (Vis-NIRS) can determine water content in ethanol-hydrocarbon blends. Vis-NIRS is a fast alternative to conventional lab methods: it accelerates raw material inspection, process monitoring, and final product control.

The cetane index (ASTM D613), flash point (ASTM D56), cold filter plug point (CFPP) (ASTM D6371), D95 (ISO 3405), and viscosity at 40°C (ISO 3104) are key parameters to determine for diesel quality. The primary test methods are labor intensive and challenging due to the need to use different analytical methods. This application note demonstrates that the NIRS XDS RapidLiquid Analyzer provides a cost-efficient and fast solution (under 1 minute) for the simultaneous determination of these key parameters in diesel.

The production of biofuels from renewable feedstock has grown immensely in the past several years. Bioethanol is one of the most interesting alternatives for fossil fuels, since it can be produced from raw materials rich in sugars and starch. Ethanol fermentation is one of the oldest and most important fermentation processes used in the biotechnology industry. Although the process is well-known, there is a great potential for its improvement and a proportional reduction in production costs. Due to the seasonal variation of feedstock quality, ethanol producers to need to monitor the fermentation process to ensure the same quality product is achieved. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) offers rapid and reliable prediction of ethanol content, sugars, Brix, lactic acid, pH, and total solids at any stage of the fermentation process.

This application note presents near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as an alternative for bromine number determination in pyrolysis gasoline.

This Application Note highlights near-infrared spectroscopy as a faster, cost-effective alternative to KF titration for predicting water content in diesel fuel.

The standard method to determine RON in isomerate is with expensive and maintenance-intensive engines. In contrast to this, the research octane number can also be analyzed by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). NIRS provides accurate results within one minute without the need for any sample preparation or chemicals.

The determination of key quality parameters of reformate—namely research octane number (RON, ASTM D2699-19), aromatic content (ASTM D5769-15), benzene content, olefin content, and density—requires time-consuming and laborious conventional methods. In contrast, the Metrohm DS2500 Liquid Analyzer can measure all of these parameters, providing results within one minute without any sample preparation.

Determination of the biodiesel content in diesel with NIR spectroscopy is fast and requires no sample preparation nor chemicals, reducing workload and costs.

Determination of formate, acetate, propionate, isobutyrate, butyrate, isovaleriate, valeriate, and capronate using ion-exclusion chromatography with suppressed conductivity detection after inline dialysis.

Biodiesel or green diesel is manufactured from fats and vegetable oils through ester interchange of the triglycerides they contain, during which glycerin accumulates as byproducts in both free and bonded forms. These accelerate fuel ageing and lead to deposits and clogged filters, which is why maximum permissible highest concentrations have been established (in the US in ASTM D6751 and in the EU in EN 14214).The two specifications prescribe the ion chromatography determination of free and bonded glycerin. This Note describes the determination with the aid of the Metrosep Carb 2 - 150/4.0 column in accordance with ASTM D7591.

Reliable monitoring of TBC in styrene according to ASTM D4590 requires an explosion-proof solution like the 2060 TI Ex Proof Analyzer.

A safer way to monitor moisture content in crude distillation unit overhead fractions is with inline near-infrared spectroscopy using the 2060 The NIR-Ex Analyzer.

In refineries, high octane products are desired since they are used to produce premium gasoline. Catalytic reforming converts heavy naphtha into a high octane liquid product called reformate (a mixture of aromatics and iso-paraffins C7 to C10). The reformate must be constantly monitored to ensure high throughput along the refining process. Traditionally, the octane numbers can be measured by two different methodologies: Inferred Octane Models (IOM) and laboratory octane engine analysis. However, these do not provide «real-time» results and require constant maintenance and human intervention to adapt to current operation conditions. «Real-time» analysis of the octane number in fuels can be performed online via near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology, which fits well within the international standards (ASTM). Utilization of a Metrohm Process Analytics NIRS XDS Process Analyzer (ATEX version) in conjunction with a sample preconditioning system makes analysis of the octane number simple, fast, and reliable, allowing quick adjustments to the process for a better quality product and higher profitability.

Many fermentation quality parameters can be monitored simultaneously directly in the tank with inline near-infrared spectroscopy, such as the 2060 The NIR Analyzer.

In this Application Note, the 893 Professional Biodiesel Rancimat measures the oxidation stability of biodiesel (or fatty acid methyl esters, FAME), an eco-friendly fuel.

Sustainable biodiesel can be blended with petroleum diesel. The 893 Professional Biodiesel Rancimat measures the oxidation stability of biodiesel and its blends.

Mercaptans in fuels are corrosive and regulated at trace levels. SERS enhances Raman signals to enable their accurate detection and quantification below standard LODs.

Determination of fluoride, acetate, formate, and chloride in gasoline using anion chromatography with conductivity detection after chemical suppression.

Determination of sulfate in an ethanol sample used as an additive for gasoline using anion chromatography with conductivity detection after chemical suppression.

Determination of chloride and sulfate in ethanol using anion chromatography with conductivity detection after chemical suppression.

Determination of fluoride, acetate, formate, nitrate, and sulfate in a gasoline/bioethanol mixture (85% gasoline, 15% ethanol) using anion chromatography with conductivity detection after sequential suppression and Metrohm Inline Matrix Elimination.

Determination of fluoride, acetate, formate, chloride, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate and sulfate in an E85 mixture (85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) by means of anion chromatography with conductivity detection and sequential suppression. The Inline Matrix Elimination serves as sample preparation.

Food waste is an important raw material for biogas production. However, during the fermentation process, phenylacetate can be produced from phenylalanine. As phenylacetate inhibits bacterial growth and their metabolism, it is an important parameter to monitor in order to guarantee a successful fermentation process. Aside from phenylacetate, chloride, nitrate, sulfite, sulfate, phosphate, and thiosulfate are also determined in the fermentation broth sample.

Anions in diesel, especially biodiesel, may cause harmful deposits in the engine. Determination with ion chromatography requires the transfer of the diesel anions into an aqueous solution, injectable to the IC. A typical method to transfer the anions into water is via Inline Extraction with subsequent Inline Dialysis prior to the injection (see AN-C-101 for a respective analysis of cations). In the actual Matrix Elimination method, diesel diluted with isopropanol is injected into an isopropanol stream and passed through a preconcentration column. Isopropanol washes off the diesel, and a subsequent rinsing step with ultrapure water removes excess isopropanol.

Simultaneous determination of hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans in petroleum products by potentiometric titration with silver nitrate using the Ag-Titrode.

Determination of alkyllead compounds in petrol (gasoline) after reaction with iodine monochloride by potentiometric titration with EDTA using the Cu-ISE.

Determination of the bromine index in low-level standards by bivoltametric titration with bromide/bromate using a double Pt electrode.

This Application Note presents a modified time-saving method to determine iodine value (IV) in edible oils based on several standards (EN ISO 3961, ASTM D5554, etc.).

The pHe is a measure of acid strength in alcohol fuels and in ethanol. It can be used as predictor of the corrosion potential of an ethanol-based fuel. The determination of the pHe is preferred over the total acidity, because total acidity overestimates the contribution of weak acids (e.g., carbonic acid) and underestimates the contribution of strong acids (e.g., sulfuric acid). Furthermore, the acid strength is an important parameter to determine in order to reduce the risk of failing motors.This Application Note describes the determination of the pHe value using the 913 pH Meter and the EtOH Trode according to ASTM D6423, which covers denatured fuel ethanol and ethanol fuel blends.

Fully automated determination of the total acid number and total base number in engine oils according to ASTM D664 and ASTM D2896 is possible with the OMNIS Titrator.

The bromine number is an important parameter for the determination of aliphatic C=C double bonds in petroleum products. The bromine number is usually determined using electrochemical titration at 5 °C, where the bromine is generated in situ from a bromide/bromate solution. For the titration, a solvent mixture of glacial acetic acid, methanol, and chloroform is used. In this Application Note, the toxic chloroform was replaced with diethyl carbonate.

The pHe value is an indicator for the acid strength and shows the presence of strong acids or bases in ethanol. In Europe, ethanol is used as a blending component in gasoline and needs to have a pHe value between 6.5 and 9.0.This Application Note describes a fast and accurate determination of the pHe value using the EtOH-Trode.

The bromine number indicates the degree of unsaturation and relies on the simple addition of bromine to the double bonds of alkenes. One mole of bromine is consumed for each mole of carbon-carbon double (C=C) bond present in a substance. In petroleum products, the bromine number corresponds to the olefin content.Normally, chlorinated solvents are used for the determination of the bromine number. In this Application Note they have been replaced by toluene. This makes the determination more ecological. The titration is performed automatically on an OMNIS system in combination with a double Pt-wire electrode. With this setup, a fast and accurate determination by potentiometric titration can be realized.

Denatured fuel ethanol may contain additives such as corrosion inhibitors and detergents as well as contaminants from manufacturing that can affect the acidity of produced ethanol fuel. An increased acid content in solvents could lead to a variety of problems like a shorter storage stability or chemical corrosion. Using the Optrode with phenolphthalein as indicator, the acidity is determined as acetic acid by titration with sodium hydroxide as titrant.

Denatured fuel ethanol may contain additives such as corrosion inhibitors and detergents as well as contaminants from manufacturing that can affect the acidity of produced ethanol fuel. An increased acid content in solvents could lead to a variety of problems like a shorter storage stability or chemical corrosion.Using the dSolvotrode for indication, the acidity is determined as acetic acid by titration with sodium hydroxide as titrant.

The bromine index is an important parameter for the determination of aliphatic C=C double bonds in petroleum hydrocarbons. For the titration, a solvent mixture of glacial acetic acid, methanol, and dichloromethane is usually used.In this Application Note, the chlorinated solvent in the solvent mixture was replaced with toluene, resulting in a more environmentally beneficial method in comparison to ASTM D2710 and IP 299.

The bromine index is an important quality control parameter for the determination of aliphatic C=C double bonds in aromatic hydrocarbons and is thus a measure for the presence of aliphatic unsaturation in these materials. In situ generated bromine reacts with the aliphatic double bonds. When the titration is finished an excess of free bromine causes a sudden change in the measured potential thus indicating the equivalence point.

Ethanol, bio-ethanol and biofuel (E85) are increasingly used as substitutes for petroleum-based fuels. During storage, they often come into contact with metallic substrates or surfaces, e.g., in barrels, tanks, or other containers. Excessive concentrations of ions in the stored fuel promotes corrosion. Monitoring the total concentration of the ions present in the fuel matrix should be the first step of an effective anti-corrosion strategy.An easy, fast, and cost-effective method to determine the total amount of ions is by measuring the electrical conductivity according to DIN 15938.

The FOS/TAC value, sometimes referred to as VFA/TA, is a meaningful parameter for assessing both the current condition and the development of anaerobic digestion processes in a digester of a biogas plant. Knowledge of this value can help decrease the risk of acidification problems, which can result in a costly crash of the entire digestion process. Therefore, an accurate and reliable determination of the FOS/TAC value is important for both efficient and cost-effective production operations. This value is determined by an acid-base titration. Using the Eco Titrator from Metrohm equipped with an Ecotrode plus electrode, a reproducible and accurate determination of the FOS/TAC value is possible.

This application presents the fully automated determination of acidity in jet fuel as per ASTM D3242 via photometric titration with an automatic titrator and the Optrode.

The acid value of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) like biodiesel can be determined according to EN 14104 using photometric titration with OMNIS and the Optrode.

The concentration of elemental sulfur in gasoline is determined by polarography in acetate containing toluene/methanol electrolyte. The determination is linear up to 2 mg/L with respect to the concentration of elemental sulfur in the measuring vessel. Organic sulfur compounds are not detected with this method. The method is not suitable for diesel fuel, because diesel is not completely soluble in the electrolyte used. The gas wash bottle (6.2405.030) for inert gas supply has to be filled with supporting electrolyte.

Zn and Pb are determined by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) in acetate buffer at pH 4.6.

Iron can be determined in ethanol by adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV) at the HMDE. PIPES buffer is used as supporting electrolyte and catechol as complexing agent at a pH value of 7.0.

The presence of copper in fuel ethanol blends has gained considerable attention since Cu2+ catalyzes oxidative reactions in gasoline leading to olefin decomposition and gum formation. Cu2+ in ethanol can easily be determined using anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) in ethanol/gasoline blends without any sample pretreatment.

Improve petrochemical quality control with NIRS. Fast, cost-effective, and no sample prep needed. Learn more in our eBook.

Enhance quality control in material and chemical production with NIRS. Fast, cost-effective, and no sample prep needed. Learn more in our eBook.

The automated combination of pyrolysis and subsequent ion chromatography (Combustion IC) permits the parallel detection of halogens and sulfur in all flammable solid and liquid matrices. The method is captivating, not only because of its outstanding precision and trueness, but also because of the high sample throughput.

Near-Infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a widely used analytical technique for quantitative analysis of various products in research and industrial applications. This white paper summarizes the workflow of the development of quantitative methods according to ASTM E1655.

The acid number (AN) is a measure for the quality of oils and their potential to enhance corrosion. When analyzing fresh, unused oils, the AN is used to ensure the specified quality from the manufacturer, whereas for used oils the AN is determined to observe its increase until a critical level is reached. Although it is generally assumed that the AN correlates to the corrosive potential of the oil, this is not exactly correct, as it is the change of the AN value which indicates this issue. Therefore it is necessary to determine the AN on a regular basis.Several standards already exist to determine AN via titration methods, however it is also possible to measure this parameter via spectroscopic (NIRS) methodology. No matter which technique you choose, Metrohm has you covered with high-performance instruments suitable for these published norms.

Underestimation of quality control (QC) processes is one of the major factors leading to internal and external product failure, which have been reported to cause a loss of turnover between 10–30%. As a result, many different norms are put in place to support manufacturers with their QC process. However, time to result and the associated costs for chemicals can be quite excessive, leading many companies to implement near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in their QC process. This paper illustrates the potential of NIRS and displays cost saving potentials up to 90%.

The FOS/TAC value is an important characteristic to assess the status of the fermenter before costly problems arise. The new Eco Titrator from Metrohm allows the determination of this quotient in a fast, cost-efficient, and precise way.

Knowledge of the water content in lubricating oils, additives, and similar products is important in the manufacturing, purchase, sale, or transfer of petroleum products to help estimate their quality and performance characteristics. Monitoring the water content in such products can prevent damage to infrastructure and ensure safe operation by avoiding corrosion processes and subsequent engine wear. This White Paper explains the easy determination of moisture in petroleum samples by coulometric Karl Fischer titration according to the three procedures outlined in ASTM Method D6304. A comparison is given between the procedures to determine which is most suitable for different sample types.

The fermentation of corn starch to produce ethanol is a complex biochemical process that requires monitoring of many different parameters (e.g., solids, pH, sugar profile, glycerol, lactic and acetic acid, and water and ethanol content). Traditional laboratory analysis using primary methods (e.g. Karl Fischer titration) takes about an hour to complete and is a limiting step for increasing plant capacity and efficiency. As a fast and non-destructive analytical technique, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can replace routine laboratory analysis, decreasing operating costs and increasing plant efficiency and capacity. This White Paper describes the capabilities of the modern analytical method near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for monitoring and improving the fermentation process of corn to ethanol.

This White Paper discusses the concept and benefits of NIR spectroscopy and outlines several real-life laboratory application examples with the use of OMNIS NIRS, the cutting-edge NIR spectrometer from Metrohm.

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