Additive and trace analysis

Our trace analysis services focus on identifying and quantifying analytes at very low concentration levels (ppt – ppm range) in various samples (e.g. polymers, soil, air, waste water, urine, chemicals, etc). We are highly skilled in preparing samples, in particular, cleaning samples and selecting the correct concentrations (e.g. large volume injection, solid phase microextraction, etc), which are very important aspects when performing trace analysis. Traces can be analyzed using gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). For very complex sample matrices, we can perform comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GCxGC-TOFMS).

The characteristics of polymers are "controlled" using several types of additives. Depending on the application field of a polymer, a dedicated cocktail of stabilizers (antioxidants, UV-stabilizers & Heat stabilizers) and processing agents (antiblocking & slip agents) is added. More than 1,000 additives can be used to control the performance of a specific polymer for a specific application.

We have a dedicated analytical group which is specialized in identifying and quantifying additives in the full spectrum of polymers. They use a combination of several extraction techniques (Soxhlet, fluidized-bed extraction, accelerated solvent extraction, etc) to separate the additives from the polymer. The identification and quantification of additives is based mainly on chromatographic techniques (GC, FID, MS & HPLC, PDA, MS). The methods we have developed are suitable for analyzing both claim-related issues (we can identify and quantify the degraded forms of additives) and for revealing the additive composition of competitive materials.