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As cars and boats move towards alternative energy sources, the need for regulation and testing of these new fuels becomes more and more important. Lab/Cor offers a range of testing options for biodiesel (both pure and blends) that can be suited to meet your needs.

For individuals brewing their own fuel, we offer basic testing to ensure that your fuel does not harm your engine. For companies looking to sell fuels to the public, we have the capability of testing the full ASTM D6751. Lab/Cor is one of the few laboratories in the Seattle area that can do the majority of the ASTM tests in house, so we are able to offer fast turnaround times without the need to ship if you are local.

For companies with consistent suppychains, we can use FTIR to each of your batches as a means of quality control while avoiding the high cost of running the full spectrum of ASTM D 6751 tests on every batch. These tests take mere minutes and require very small quantities (one drop) of oil to complete.

With the recent ratification of the Children's Safe Product Act, more concern is being placed on the products that we come in contact with as we go about our lives. Phthalates are a group of chemicals that are found in many soft plastic (PVC) items, most worryingly including children's toys. Lab/Cor has developed proprietary methods for the rapid screening of products using FTIR. Thus, we can tell you if your child's toys contain phthalates in a generally non-destructive manner.

Toy stores and manufacturers can also benefit from this rapid testing process as it is much more cost effective in rapidly testing large quantities of samples than traditional techniques based on Gas Chromatography.

For those who wish to know exactly how much and which type of phthalates are in a given sample, we do offer testing via Gas Chromatograph that is highly accurate. With this method, we are able to prove compliance with the Children's Safe Product act, which mandates that all new toys sold in Washington State must contain a total of less than 100 ppm of six specific phthalates.

When you need to identify an organic compound (such as polymers and oils) on a molecular scale, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) is one of the fastest and cost effective methods available.

This instrument is used to identify compounds by their characteristic absorption patterns in the infra-red wavelength range. The peaks seen in the FTIR pattern result from vibration of the specific types of bonds that are present. It is much like fingerprinting or DNA testing but not so precise. FTIR is mostly used for organic materials such as oils or plastics where C-H and C-C bonds predominate. However FTIR can also be used for minerals and other materials especially those which contain calcium or silicon and some other elements. It is very sensitive for quartz or calcite for example which are present in a wide range of building materials. Identification of the components in the sample is accomplished by computer matching with the spectra from known compounds in a very extensive data library. FTIR spectroscopy works extremely well for comparing an unknown with proprietary or similar materials where the actual composition is not available.

Some recent applications of FTIR have been the testing of toys for phthalates, as well as the testing of transformer oil and biodiesel.

Lab/Cor uses a Thermo Trace Ultra GC to perform a variety of analysis on materials at a molecular level. The Gas Chromatograph is able to separate out the constituents of complex formulations based on their chemical properties. A very sensitive machine, some typical applications include

• Diacetyl analysis in cooking oils
• PCB analysis in fluorescent light ballasts
• Biodiesel analysis
• Phthalate analysis for compliance with laws

Please contact us if you have any questions regarding possible applications of Gas Chromatography for your purposes.

The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is used to create high-resolution images of bulk materials.

This instrument uses an electron beam to produce a highly enlarged image of the specimen that looks a lot like a TV image. The sample emits x-rays under electron beam radiation which can be analyzed in a type of x-ray detector known as an Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) to determine the elemental composition of selected points in the sample. EDS identifies elements but the type of compound under the beam can often be inferred from the combination of elements detected e.g., NaCl. This instrument is particularly useful for identifying individual particles in a complex soil or dust

SEM images can aide in identification of materials, determination of material properties, materials failure analysis, and forensic analysis. SEM samples submitted to Lab/Cor may be analyzed by various methods depending on the specific needs of the client. A Lab/Cor representative is available to assist in determining what method is appropriate for you. Materials that can be examined under SEM include Papers, Inks, Glass, Silicon, Quartz, Metals, Alloys, Plastics, Ash, Concrete, Minerals, Paint, Lubricants, Fabricants, Abrasives, Industrial By-products.

SEM services performed by Lab/Cor include, but are not limited to the following:

• Consulting: Recommendations on selection of analytical procedures and instrumentation. Material properties and selection.
• Forensic Investigations: Scientific support offered to fire and accident investigators. Analysis of gun shot residues.
• Failure Analysis: Materials wear, fracture, fatigue, corrosion. Sampling protocols and documentation.
• Particulate Analysis: Particle definition and microchemical analysis of particles such as fly ash and other products.

For a complete list of services offered, please visit Analytical Services.

XRF samples submitted to Lab/Cor may be analyzed by various methods depending on the specific needs of the client. A Lab/Cor representative is available to assist in determining what method is appropriate for you.

XRF analyses performed by Lab/Cor include, but are not limited to the following:

• Lead: PUD
• Lead: EPA 7420

For a complete list of services offered, please visit Analytical Services.